Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-05-02
BY OWEN OLIVER
Copyright, 1901. by Joseph b. Bowles

conceded, Tin a case like yours but
he doesn't know your case; at least, |
presume not?"
NO" the Major agreed. "He doesn't
know. l haven't gone whining to him,
Of course He shall have his due. I
shall not even try to obtain the relief
which ! am told the law sometimes
gives in cases of extortionate usury.
My word"-the Major smiled-"is
above the law. There are some men,
cries that | do not wish TO forget. The
memory that l have been an honora-
BILE man is one of them. He would
not understand that"
II don't know" Miss Mellor
looked hard at the wall opposite her,
THE only money-lender l know is l
think, honorable. | doubt II If he is
ever harsh knowingly. He saves the
money because he has nothing to
spend it OIL suppose you hate him.
Yes" saiu the Major. "Yes-No!
| don't hate anybody to-night-because
/ am not one of the people who for
get; come, Miss Mellor, let us drink a
toast together. Here's to everybody
and especially everybody who is I'M
happy"
He drained his glass, and Miss Mel
lor took sip of hers.
ITO everybody who is unhappy she
pledged. ITO everybody but the hap.
Ply people who forget
ITO them, too" the Major entreat
ed; but she shook her head.
| NO" she said No! They have
had the chances of life; the chances
of joy; and sorrow. And they forget!
l have no good wishes for the people
who do not remember Are you sure
that she forgets?'
The Major rose and paced the
hearthrug.
Il hope so. Perhaps there was
nothing, on her side, to forget. l never
spoke to her about it, | was half in
clined, at first, to write and ask her to
wait and see if | could pull round; but
l soon saw that couldn't It's three
hundred year, the interest. l shall
have to pay it for the rest of my ma
tural life"
Unless he forgets!" said Miss Mel
lor.
HE is not likely to forget" the
Major asserted.
You know him."
mo; not personally. | know of
him."
who is her"
He calls himself Levison eco"
hi
with her finger on her cheek Lev
J ison e Co. The offices are in Style
Court, aren't they? He is dead. His
name wasn't Levison, really. His heirs
carry on the business. l know them
slightly. Perhaps if were to mention
your case they might consent to some
reduction of the rate Of interest"
mo, no." cried the Major. "On no
account. l wouldn't ask favor from
them. was not aware that they were
| friends of yours, of course. You must
forget what / said about them"
Miss Mellor smiled slowly.
II am not one of the people who
forget" she stated. Neither are they.
1t is she really. His daughter carries
on the business. She is a dull woman
like me. She never had the chance
of being anything else, any more than
l have had She lived alone with her
father. He taught her to help him
with his books when she was only a
child. She grew up to look upon
money-lending as the natural way of
spending wellordered existence.
When he died she kept on the bust
ness because-because she had to do
something to keep her life-what she
called life-from being utterly empty
| daresay 25 per cent. seemed quite
the natural and proper thing to her.
She knew that most of the people who
borrowed money from her would evade
their debt, If they could, and she had
to cover her risk. She never thought
of-of an honorable man like you;
man who would not forget. If tell
| her"
NO. the Major interrupted. mo!
| | wish favor FROM no one. What l
have done | have done. Twenty-Five
per cent. / agreed to pay, and 25 per
| cent. / will pay. l can manage it all
right. l should get along very we'll
Tiff could only forget; if I could be
sure that she forgot"
He sat down and rested his head on
his hand; and Miss Mellor looked at
him closely
You regard this lady as good
woman" she said. You would not
like to think of her otherwise?'
TIL
wise" he asserted positively.
Miss Mellor nodded several times.
Suppose" she suggested, that
good woman loved man. She did,
didn't she?"