Evening star., 1901-11-02

| HoAlc iOohcu uoWu upon The uedT ucliS
| epitome of the town; she looked. but she
paid small attention; If she noticed the
moving panorama at all it was only to ask
| herself, with a sinking heart how long it
| would be before the sight of this free and
/ cheerful life, this contemplation of the
| world In action which fills the young with
! longing, inspires manhood and makes old
age forget it's cares would be finally closed
| to her by the shutting of a door-ln imagt-
| nation she heard it slam; and the turning
| of key in the lock-in her mind she heard
| It's harsh grating. The thought of this pos
| sibility transformed the crowd below her;
| they were no longer common people, pre-
tenders of fashion, demireps; they be-
! came glori1ed; happy beyond all express
| sion; enyiable beyond all words Truth to
| say the current Of life in King street Is a
turbid stream at best; there are dens and
purlieus about Covent Garden Of which
men do not speak to women; which women,
| even with other women, profess not to
| know either by name or by reputation
| But to Isabel, this morning, the street be-
came sparkling brook, bright and trans
parent prattling over pebbles, In compar-
| ison with the murky stagnation Of the
prison which awaited her.
For, indeed, the hour had at last arrived;
| the time certain to those who live beyond
| their means when the Catchpole threatened
itor, truculent and relentless person, held
out his hand and said, PAY me! will wait
no longer Pay me! or else
| "Or' she grOaned. II have been fool
| Heavens! What fool I have beenv'
| She had, indeed, yet at such a crisis in
her affairs, self-reproach helped her not
| way had to be found-some way-any
| way-of borrowing, of raising money; Of
| prolonging credit; some way-else her cred
| itors-she shuddered and trembled.
She might write to them, she might call
| upon them and plead with them. If they
| would forbear she would, perhaps, at some
| future time-but she had no security to Of
fer. If they would not forbear, if they
took such revenge as was in their power.
she would never be able to pay them. Alas!
| She was herself the daughter of city mer-
| chant; she knew what was thought and
said, of the debtor who would not or could
| not pay his debts; she knew the rage, the
| thirst for revenge, that fills the breast of
the tradesman who finds that he has made
a bad debt Why, his business, his profits,
his livelihood. all depend upon the payment
| of debts; nothing can be invented al
| lowed by the law which can be too bad for
the defaulting debtor; the prisons are full
| of poor wretches who would pay if they
could; but, being locked up and forbidden
to work, cannot pay; she knew that an APP
peal to the mercy of her creditors would
only harden their hearts, while it would
| only humiliate her with no result.
She thought of fight-but whittier? And
| when her slender stock was gone, what
| should she do next?
And again she clasped her hands and
walled Alas! L have been fool! What
a fool 1 have beenI'
She took up one of the letters and read
IT again, although she knew it by heart.
The first was from the draper on Ludgate
HILL Why" she moaned, II have been
customer of the man ever since l was
| widow. Yet he threatens mer' 1t was
true that she had ordered many things OF
him and had paid for most But then she
had not paid for the last things which were
| costly. And now he had written to her
| with words unmiStakable.
| ''Madam-I beg respectfully to call your
| immediate attention to the very large ac-
count now standing unpaid in my books. l
| find that it Is now nothing less than f9o
5s lid. 1 must therefore most reluctantly
| request you to discharge this debt at once.
cannot believe that the widow Of the
Hon. Ronald Weyland and the sister-in-
law of Lord Strathmona is unable to pay
bill of EOS only. Indeed. my own posi-
tion forbids me to wait. I have therefore,
to inform you that If within four and
| twenty hours do not receive the money
sue a writ. In that case the money must
be paid in full with costs and Immediately.
| If 1t is not paid l shall have to instruct
my attorney to proceed as the law permits
and directs.
Madam, 1 cannot believe that a lady who
| has dealt with me for so long and until
this year with no difficulty about payment
will fail to meet her just liabilities. could
| In ordinary circumstances wait your pleas
ure, but at the present moment my position
Is serious, and know not what may hap
pen to me unless this money Is paid ]
| have the honor to remain, madam your
most obedient and humble servant
! JOSEPH FULTON"
When she had read this letter through
for the tenth time, she laid it down upon
the table, and, with her chin in her hand.
she fell into another meditation Of a most
| unpleasant nature.
She was interrupted by the servant of
the house. who came to tell her that Mr..
Fulton was below and begged the honor
| of speech with her.
The writer Of the letter followed the
maid upstairs and entered without further
| ceremony. He was a man OF short stature
and OF appearance displeasing. Although
he was dressed as a citizen Of substance
and position, his face was marked by in
temperance; his short neck lay in folds
| over his lace cravat; his cheeks were red
| and swollen; his nose was painted; these
are all indications Of strong drink More
| over, his voice was thick and his shoulders
unsteady as IT, which was. indeed. the case,
he had recently come from tavern. Ii
Is not uncommon for a respectable citizen
| to show signs Of drink In the evenine-per-
/ haps in the afternoon; but it Is not Chap
| pfly) usual for a man Of business to betray
| this Indulgence in the morning.
Madam" he said. 81 came to ask II YOU
have received my letter" = :
"Sir. i have received it have read II
Here it Is on my table" ....E. ! -
"And what, madam. may I ask, is your
answer?' J : = =
My answer, my answer-Mr, Fulton
have not yet thought of the answer. The
letter only arrived this morning Perhaps
in month or two
| mo, madam, by your leave. Not q
month or two-but day or two"
Permit me to remind you, Mr., Fulton
/ that when 1 ordered those things one o.
the reasons which persuaded me to take
them was your assurance that I should bt
allowed six months credit" :
} Il do not remember any such assurance, >
. he replied boldly.
Come, Mr.. Fulton, I think IL you racl
your brains a little you will remember that
promise Of six months credit. Of which
only six weeks have expired. My answer
J sir, Is that must take that credit. / wan
; that credit and must have It."
/ Madam. as regards that promise" )" hii
voice grew thicker, IT cannot remember
It How. then can allow it?''
Sir-the lady's temper began to rise
Il perceive that you do not intend to re-
member your promise. have therefore
nothing more TO say-I have no answer ts
give. You win do what you please But
| demand that credit"
: The mans manner changed. He .becam,
, | suddenly crtnging and he tried to be per
saasive. He leaned over the table and es
| saved smile which became hxed grin
. Madam" he said. II am most unwiliinf
! to press YOU But my own affairs
Your own affairs. sir?''
3 My own Affairs. madam" He hesftatef
T I and spoke at random. They are In con
/ fuston-I know not what may happen II