The Forrest City times., 1899-01-06

crease my allowance, for he considered
it ample for my needs.
"One day when in panville / went to
a shoe store to buy pair of pumps,
for | was going to a party that evening
and my old ones were not presentable
But as J entered the store suddenly re-
membered that it was almost the end
of the month, and had only dollar in
my pocketbook.
II hesitateG moment before reply-
ing to the clerks inquiry as to my
wants, for knew that if bought the
pumps they would have to be charged.
| and had learned from my grandfather
to have horror of debt.
But the thought of the shabby con-
dition of the old pumps decided me to
! make the purchase, and no comment
| was made when, in low, hurried voice.
l said: Charge them as the package
was given into my hands. l was so
well known and my grandfather was so
highly respected that l could have OBJ
tanned credit at any store in the town
without the least difficulty.
The party was a great success; but
l had never enjoyed myself so little,
for, whenever l happened to glance at
| my feet, / was reminded of that debt,
and the thought of what my GRANDPA
| ther would say if he learned of it made
me, old as l was, turn fairly sick at
| heart.
But as time passed my conscience
| troubled me less, and l did not carry
| out the determination l had formed
at the party to pay Cor the pumps out
| of my next allowance. l concluded
that it would do no harm, now that the
| debt was contracted, to defer payment
until | could spare the money without
making any sacrifice.
"Not long after this, l needed pair
of boots, and, though had the money
J to pay for them, l had them charged
to my account, for / had not enough to
pay for the pumps also, and was
ashamed to confess the fact.
| ITO the account, little later, were
added pair of slippers and pair of
leather leggings, and, at the end of six
months, my debt was so large that the
idea of paying it out of my allowance
was ridiculous, and as is generally the
case with people who get things ON
credit, l was losing all sensltiveness
about it. My face did not flush when
accidentally met the proprietor Of the
shoe store, and on his asking me, one
| day, when l could settle with him,
turned him off with joke.
"But the day of reckoning was close
at hand. One morning in early sum-
mer, when l sat at breakfast with my
grandfather, old Pompey came in with
the mail.
HE always went to Danville for it
some time during the forenoon, but, as
fate would have it, he had gone earlier
than usual this morning by severai
hours.
| my grandfather looked over the le--
ters, and, selecting one on which was
a printed advertisement, handed it over
to me. AT the same moment, he dis
missed the two servants from the room.
II have never forgotten how that en-
velope looked, with Bailey & Co., Fine
Boots and Shoes in big letters, in one
corner; and l can see now the ominous
frown on my grandfather's face.
".'What is that, sir?' he asked, in a
stern voice.
| II knew perfectly well that 1t was
remained silent.
| Hand it here, sir!' said my grand
father.
| Il dared not disobey, and in less time
than it takes to tell it, my grandfather
knew my secret.
| "Never before had 1 seen him so
angry. He denounced me as unworthy
to bear his name, and told me in the
plainest possible language what he
thought of my conduct.
| "'You contracted this debt. knowing
that you had no means of paying it, Le
said. You have taken this mans goods
under false pretense. You have traded
OH my wel-known integrity. You were
trusted because you are my grandson
But until that debt Is paid through your
own endeavors. l refuse to recognize
you as in any way related to me. You
will keep your room in this house, IL 1t
so pleases you; but our meals will be
served at different hours
And, without giving me chance to
reply, he left the room.
81 was completely overwhelmed at
| the consequences of my folly, and for
time could think of nothing else. Blu.
at length the question of how was to
earn money to pay the debt intruded
itself.
II was 17years of age, but had never
| earned a dollar in my life. never done
| a stroke of work. | knew my grand
father too well to imagine that any ar
guments | could use would have any
effect upon him. There was no hope
whatever that l would be restored to
his good graces until that debt was
paid.
l took my gun and went out into the
woods to think the matter over, but,
after a tramp of four miles, turned
my steps homeward without having ar
rived at any solution of my difficulty.
81 had to cross a ferry in order to
| reach my grandfather's plantation, and