Evening star., 1901-11-02

may perhaps find means to adjust this diff
ficulty quietly and without trouble. 1 as
sure you that l have assisted many ladies'
to get through difficulties and at the same
time to pay me their liabilities
II remain. madam, with much respect,
your obedient servant.
PATTY BRYMER"
THE letter is not threatening like the
other" Isabel murmured. but l know
the woman. She is very resolute. I am
more afraid of her than of the man Full
ton What will she say when l confess the
whole to herT'
She started and turned pale. For there
was a step on the stair-the sound of a
step may be sound of terror to debtor.
There was the step OF her dressmaker-the
creditor who was going to call at L. What
should she come for, but to beg, to accuse
and to threaten
A tap at the door. and her visitor turned
the handle and came In.
1t was in fact none other than the dress
maker, Mrs. Brymer, author of the short
epistle you have heard Isabel half rose;
she gasped out certain words that meant
nothing; she sank back In her chair, sick
and faint with terror. She had never be-
fore been dunned and she knew not what
her creditors could do.
The woman was plainly dressed. She
was a little woman, and now old. Her face
was lined and scanned with a thousand
much occupied with affairs, shrewd and
hard. It was also stamped with the wis
dom that comes to some women by expe-
rience and affairs. She looked very wise.
and as inscrutabls as an oracle. She stood
In the door for a minute. looking with GU
riosity at her customer, as II she would
learn the whole truth from her face. Then
she advanced step. closed the door softly
and raped the table, not threateningly.
but softly, with her knuckles. We'll. mad
am?" she said. Mrs Weyland inclined her
| head She could not speak.
II am very sorry. madam. to be importu-
nate"
"If you can give me time"
Mrs. Brymer-everybody knows her shop
in Monmouth street-there is no more cell
ebrated dressmaker in the whole Of Lon
don-smiled quietly. There was no appear
| ance Of threatening about the woman, she
was not unciyil or disrespectful. but her
face expressed her resolu1on-she was
come to get her money.
"You ask for time, madam. Truly. I
would give you with pleasure as much time
as you please-all the time there is-if you
can show me how much the better you
would be- II you had tt-or how much bet
ter I should be. Take time, madam, II you
please. but it Il not unreasonable to ask
what security ,suty you have to ofer In case
NO It is not unreasonable. And yet
and yet-oh, Mrs. Brymer, what answer am
to makef' She began to cry again; the
| tears were real; they were not affected; but
| If they were designed to soften the dress
makers heart they were quite useless. A
woman has very little sympathy with an
other Woman'9 tears. MIS-. bryuer TOOK a
chair and planted It opposite to her GUS
| toner. Then she sat down firmly and with
| resolution.
NOV" she said ST have come for an ex-
| planation and a confession!'
"A confession?" Mrs. Weyland made q
| show Of sitting upright with indignation.
Madam, know q few things, but not
| all. know that you are ruined; you have
| lost, believe, the whole of the fortune
that your husband left you-it was "a, ,0OO-
at the card table: you are in debt to others
beside myself: II you cannot pay what you
| owe-hut, indeed, am sure that you know
the terrible alternative"
| Mrs. Brymer," Isabel replied with some
| dignity. III you know all this there is no
necessity for You to rehearss It, nor ID
there any necessity for mo to confess my
They are my own affairs. Your lady
| ship owes me the sum Of f70, with some
| shillings and pence. can no more afford
| to lose this money than you can AFFORD to
! pay It,"
Madam. viii BE- plain with you. Let ma
know exactly the state Of your affairs, and
/ 1 may be able to help you, but on condi-
| tfons. Believe me, / know the Affairs Of
many ladies' You viii never repent your
| confidencA."
"Ths only help want 10 money or time.
and that you cannot give me-"
'There are other ways besides fndins
money or time. Let me remind your lady
ship that IL You do not get help, and can
not pay your debts, the end IL certain You
| can, therefore, do no harm to your affairs
by letting me know the truth, and you may
nnd II TO your advantage. Ny reason for
Offering to help You 10 nothing In the world
but to get payment Of my olaim''
lclaim?'