Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-11-16
BETROTHED IN
BANKRUPTCY
By c. B. Lewis
By C.. B. Lewis


After the death of her farmer hus-
band the widow Allen moved into the
village of Fergus. Her husband had
left her snug property and a goodly
sum of life insurance, and at fifty years
she became money lender.
She had no friends as girl, she had
few as a wife, and as widow and a
capitalist people did not speak in her
favor. She drove hard bargains and
had no pity. If her capital or interest
was not forthcoming on the day and
date she invoked the aid of the law
and accepted no excuses. She had al
ways been woman Of stingy disposl-
ton, sure to avenge what she deemed
slight and when she came to know the
general opinion of the villagers she
ground her teeth together and made up
her mind to get even.
The village of Fergus boasted of only
three general stores. That was more
than was needed to supply the wants
of the people. There would not have
been a fourth had not one of the mer-
chants had business transaction with
the widow Allen and been obliged to
go to law over it. She was beaten in
the suit, and to get even she planned
to start another store. Not being an
educated woman and afraid to try the
idea by herself, she lent sum of money
to young George French, who had for
several years been clerk in the store
of the merchant she wished particularly
to ruin. He was bound hard and fast
The widow wanted revenge, but she
didn't propose to lose any money over
1t. She was near fifty years old and
the new merchant not yet twenty-siX,
but she let it be known that when a
marriage took place between them the
firm name of George French s. Co."
might be shortened to George French" !"
There was rush of customers to the
new store. To keep expenses down
and make an innovation young French
employed girl bookkeeper and an
other girl as clerk.
AS the widow insisted on his board
ing with her so that they could talk
business and he be under her watch,
she did not become jealous for time.
The day came, however, when she an
nounced that he must get rid Of both
girls and replace them with men.
He refused to heed her in this, point
ing out the saving and other good rea-
sons. One OF the reasons that he did
not give was that he admired the
fatherless girl, Jennie Warder, the
bookkeeper, who was supporting Il wild
| owed mother by her efforts, and to
| whom he had been attracted from the
| first day His admiration must have
| been patent to her In g hundred ways,
and yet he had spoken no word. The
new store was an experiment; If it was
success he might avDw himself. If q
failure he would have no right to ask
her to share his lot.
The widow Allen concealed her cha
grin and did not press her point. The
| young merchant was hustling and max
ing things gloomy for her victim. AT
the proper time he would offer an alter
native.
Nine months of liberal advertising
low prices and attention to business on
the part of the new storekeeper
brought bankruptcy TO two of the Other
merchants, but they brought no such
profits to French as he had hoped for
lie had bound himself to sell at certain
prices and he dared not depart from
them. lie had bound himself to repay
certain amount of the capital invest
ed at the end OF the first twelve
months, and figure as he would he
could not see his way clear to do SO
The widow was waiting for him tt
speak, and then she laughed and hnted
at matrimny. When her hints were
turned aside she said quietly:
"At the end of the year you must pay
me as agreed. If not the law will pu
me In possession aud you will be out o
employment"
''But you are nos pressed for money
YOU can give me time" he protested
Il have worked like q slave to Makt