Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-03-24

4AtkAt WOMAN III the amount Was IL
quite enough she was to make it Il
out Of her weekly purse. II it was TO
much she was to keep the change.
BY some quirk Of fortune it was 10
much. II was several dollars too mucl
The little woman was eIated until tn
driver regarded the check rapher doutt
fully and decided that he couldn't Civ
money for it, He would give the good
freely enough The amount Of them wa
fully ten times as much as the chang
coming, but they were only goods
Money was a different matter. He hat
probably heard OF bogus checks. Thi,
might be one of them. He couldn't ex
change good money, however little. fol-
a bogus check Perhaps he was a new
| driver hope so, for his sake.
The little woman's argument was OF
no avail. He was good-natured. but he
was firm. He was also ingenious He
suggested that another check for the
correct amount would set everything
straight II the missus only had another
check now, she could write it to fit the
figures OF the bill.
The little woman hesitated. She had
never been allowed to perform this eepe-
cial and sacred rite. though she had
signed almost every other kind of paper
from receipt for a load of coal 10 a first
mortgage, with coupons. A check
seemed Of less Importance than these.
Besides, a new check would leave a bal
anee as a starting-point of a new ac-
count We were as one. why not?
She told me about 1t when got home
II seems she had certain misgfvines bv
that probably the promptings of
a subconseious memory Of banking mat
ters and cashiers arbitrary require
ments in the matter Of characteristic
signatures. II was too late to do any,
thing that night The bank was closed
long ago and | did not think II wise to
spend the night in looking up the presi- |
dent or even the cashier. to explain.
Besides, such explanations as | could
invent quickly did not suit me. WANTED |
TO sleep on the matter and take il M |
fresh in the morning. Then. maybe. I |
could make up something that would |
Keep the little woman in the back
ground.
| don't think she slept a great deal
She had some idea that an officer would
be waiting downstairs in the morning
and that she would never look on our
precious ones or her silk waist again
consoled her with the suggestion that
while Ignorance Of the law was regard
Cd as no excuse, there were certain ex-
.enuating circumstances - that
.hought the precious ones would hard
y be grown, and that the silk waist
night be in fashion again by the time
The returned to gladden. our hearts once
more Still, there was an uncertainty
tbout the outcome that made the bright
morning, the new waist, and our gen.
RAJ assortment Of furnishing goods as
shes to the little woman. She was sor-
y now. She wished she had let me buy
ne chair. We had an early breakfast.
The banker regarded me rather doubt
llly when had finished my statement
le had known me on both sides of the
sdger for some time. but this was a new
base.
You say your-eh, housekeeper made
check, without full knowledge Of the !
eriousness attaching to the signing Of :
ames in that promiscuous way?"
YES, that's about it,"
| was covering the little woman's
entity and a lack Of knowledge not :
together unnatural to the sex. but !.
hich ! felt that he, as banker, might !
gard with scorn. I
of course" he proceeded, "as one !
It directly related to you the mat =
r appears somewhat more serious ;,
ad ii been really one of your family !
'W-your sister, for instance, or !,
our" y
oh, but It's just the same. you know" :
put In. i mean, of course. that She :,
at she's really one of the family-that I,
of course, it's all right mean" :,
had not explained my plan to the i
tie woman before starting. | had an j,
dercurrent of wonder. now. what che :,
ould say if she could overhear nv ef- =
rts to get her decently out of the nit :,
i into which her pride had tumbled !,
. | hoped she was enjoying her new !
ings.
A clerk brought the check at that mo- I,
mt 1t had come in from the clearing
use having Travelled safely through -
Veral miles of circumlocution. The ~
inches between the bankers hands !,
d mine would be its hardest tug. The
mixer scrutinized the signature Sc .
rely. 3
Rather delicate hand for a-bouse-
eper. How long did you say she had ~
en- in your service?" s
named the largest number Of wears -
thin human limits. and reviewed the u,
oprietary interest she had always felt o.
our affairs-the amount of reeeipts y,
d things she was daily called upon to ~
iorse-and gave another and i'm
owed version Of the episode with the J
.elligent driver who was willing To
'e any amount Of goods for nv check. en-
I no change. | abused the driver pl
re was no harm in doing that-be M
snt there. and it wouldn't have hurt IN
n, anyhow. | think the driver saved wi