Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-12-20
TALE OF TWO DEBTS.


pensity for gayety with companions of a
prohigate character. He was indeed a man
of engaging and affnble manners, and pos.
sessed of handsome features. He was dressed
in the strict mode, and in the conversation at
table proved that he had pretty wit These
advantages and accomplishments had pre-
Possessed Mistress Giles in his favor.
Nevertheless, the landlady was not enter
tanning guests beneath her roof for any
agreeable stimulus her health might derive
from their presence, and, being desirous of
| discharging the bill of an importunate
tradesman, the good woman in this strait APP
piled to one Cotton, person of judgment
and discrimination, entreatng the advaD-
tage of his wisdom and experience in her be-
half.
"That," remarked Master Cotton, as he
stroked his chin, 'is matter Of small diff
Guilty. l am assured that it would be an
injudicious proceeding to continue to afford
to this youth shelter and food, for, while
the expectation of being repaid at some flu
ture time may be thought reasonable, yet the
probability that the end the indebtedness
will have accumulated to no purpose bene'
fetal to yourself is sufficient to outweigh
that consideration. My advice, therefore,
is that you should at once desire the young
man % remove himself from your premises,
leaving his chest of clothes as pledge for
his prosperous return, for, while delusive
hope still points to distant gain, yet trunk
is somewhat, and even bricks have value be
yond fair assurances and specious promise.
would not rashly condemn fellow crea-
ture for an unavoidable failure to discharge
an obligation, being myself Through an
unusual combination of untoward circum-
stanoes) temporarily in your debt, but
have observed that Master Judd smokes an
excellent brand of Virginia tobacco and that
be can wear a nosegay in his coat with vio-
let's at 35 cents a bunch He is also young
man having no manner of respect for the
maturpd opinions of his elders and scrupling
not to quiz and feer them. Such seldom
come to any degree OF reverence or emf
nence in life"
Mistress Giles professed herself vastly
obliged to the sage, and, presently meeting
with Judd, addressed him with great severity
of censure and peremptorily desired him to
vscate the attic apartment and return to
her the latch key of the street door.
"Prithee, dear madam" said Judd, "toll
me by what i'll hap have incurred your dis.
pleasure Sure it is not possible that the
paltry and mercenary consideration of
board bill can have excited your resentment
against me, nor can | readily believe that
such graees as l see displayed in your person
are compatible with such an austerity of dis.
position as your words would evince. Con
slider, / beg, that l am so far dependent
upon your benevOlence that should you turn
me from your door tomorrow l would be
without resource until Saturday night. Then
indeed | shall have enough and to spare, for
my remittances from home are due, to say
AL IS . he
from my employers"
Had you not told me the same thing con.
cerning your home remittances and salary
six times within the last three weeks ]
might be disposed to believe it; but must
tell you that you can no longer practice up.
on my credulity."
Consider" said Judd, chat prior to the
time you speak Of paid you punctually;
also that in common with the rest of man.
kind l am liable to have my plans frustrated
and my hopes dashed"
THAT, too, would be of greater force and
effect, observed Mistress Giles, "but to the
best of my recollection the punctual pay.
ment was limited to one week"
at is true" admitted Judd 'Yst l am
not to be reproached therefor, seeing that
the duration of my abode beneath your roof
has not exceeded one lunar month. ] be.
lieve that | must now owe you SlS."
"You have correctly estimated the
amount" replied Mistress Giles.
"Would five dollars be of any material
assistance to you, or is that sum too insig.
nificant to merit your consideration"
At this proffer the countenance of the good
woman cleared. With great cheerfulness she
hastened to assure the youth that the
amount named, while below her expecta.
tion, was yet adequate for the relief of her
present necessities, although (she informed
him) other emergencies would inevitably
arise within the next few days, to meet
which she would be compelled to insist upon
a further payment.
This Judd readily promised to do, and
presently delivered over the specie
II will write an acknowledgment" said
Mistress Giles.
But this Master Judd would by no means
permit, protesting that he would as soon
suspect an angel of light as his fair land.
lady las he termed her), and paying her so
many handsome compliments that her face
became suffused with bushes. When nj
length she would have departed Master Judd
caught her hand and begged her not to cruel
ly deprive him of the rapture of her pres
ence.
Yielding to the ardor of his insistence,
Mistress Giles seated herself on an ottoman
and Master Judd, looking on her with ten
der yet respectful admiration, proceeded
to tell her the story of his life and had twice
addressed her as adorable creature!" when
the maid came in to say that the butcher
had called.
Returning from her interview with this
tradesman, MistRss Giles encountered Mas
ter Cotton coming downstairs attired for
the street.
81 perceive that you have spoken with the
fellow Judd" he remarked. 81 trust thai
you will soon be well quit of him, for, in
deed, I do not think that you will get him
to pay what he owes"
At this the eyes of the landlady sparkled
with displeasure. "Hoity Toity!" she ex
claimed. 'He will not pay quotha! must
tell you, Master Cotton, that he has paid and
is to boot an honest, civil gentleman as need
be. Marry! it would be excellent if some
others paid their dues as well as he instead
Of slandering their betters."
may. madam" he began, 81 did not
mean"
"I care not what you mean," answered
the good woman. "Tell me in word wheth-
er you intend to pay me the money that you
owe me or no."
within week or two, trust"
$50 do not l." rejoined the widow.
while delusive hope still points to distant
gain propose to sever our connection right
here and retain your trunk to await its
chance Of redemption. You will favor mo
with the key to your room at your earliest
convenience, and not later than six o'clock
tonight. ! wish you very good day"
So saying, Mistress Giles curtsied low and
then walked away, leaving Master Cotton
standing in dumb amaze. while on the land.