Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-07
CHAPTER Xxx.
The DUTY Of Courtesy.

Leonard was getting very tred OF Walt
ing when he received his summons to
Normanstand.
But despite his inpatience he was Ill
pleased with the summons which came in
the shape of polite note from Miss
Rowly asking him to come that afternoon
at teatime: he had expected to hear from
Stephen.
However he turned up at a little before
s O'Clock. spruce and dapper. and we'll
dressed and groomed as usual. He was
shown. as before. into the blue drawing
room Miss Rowly. who sat there. rose
as he entered. and coming across the
room. greeted him. as lie thought, EMU
s:vely. He actually w.nced when she
called him my dear boy before the
butler.
She ordered tea 10 be served at once.
and when II was over she opened a large
OF folios looked over them carefully.
Holding them In her lap she said
quietly:
You will find writing materials en- the
table. I am all ready now to hand you
over the receipts" Fl s eyes glfst ned.
This was good news at all events: the
debts were paid. He was free again! In
faHlQ HdSn OF lnOugNt lie CdHe u the
conclusion that If the debts were actually
paid he need not be civil to the old
lady. As II was. however. he could not
yet afford to have any unpleasantaess
There was still to cCme that lowering in
tervfew with his father. and he could not
look toward it satisfactorily until he had
the assurance of the actual docum ents
thar ne was safe. Mss Rowly was in her
own way. reading his mind In his face.
Her lorgnon seemed to follow his every
expression Ike searchlight. He remem-
bered his former interview with her. and
how he lad been bested in 1t: SO he made
up his mind to acqniesca In time. He
went over to the table and sat down.
Taking pen he turned to Miss Rowly
and said
What shall l wr.te?" She answered.
calmly:
Date j.. and then say. Received from
Miss Laet:tia Rowly the receipts for the
following amounts from the various firms
hereunder enumerated. Shen then pro-
ceeded to read them out. he writing and
repeating them as he wrote Then she
added:
The same being the to- amount of
my debts which she has kindly paid for
me" He paused here; she asked:
why don't you go on?
II thought 1t was Stephen-Miss Nor
man." he corrected. catching sight of her
lorgnon. who was paying them
Good Lord. man. she answered.
what does it matter who has paid
them SO long rs they are paid?"
But. I didn't ask you TO pay them :
he went on. obstnately. There was a
pause. and then the old lady, with dis
t,nctly sarcastic smile. said:
1t seems to me. young man. that you
are rather particular as to how things
are done fer you. If you had begun to
the debts as you are In the way Of hav-
ing them paid. there would be little
less trouble and expense all around. How
ever the debts have been paid. and we
can't unpay them. But of course. you
can repay pe the money II You like. 1:
amounts in all to four thousand three
hundred and seven cen pounds twelve
shill ngs and sixpenca. and / have paid
every penny of II out of my own pocket.
If YOU can't pay it yourself perhaps your
father would like to do So
The last shot told: he went on writing:
/" kindly paid for me-" she continued.
in he same even voice:
lin remembrance of my mother. of
whom she was an acquaintance. Now
sign it, He did so and handed Il to her.
SheE read II over carefully. folded 1t and
put 1t in her pocket. She handed him the
bundle of receipts and then stood up. He
rose also and as he moved over to the
dcor-he had not offered to shake hands
with her-he said:
Il should like to Sc Miss Norman"
Why
she is over at Heply Regis She went
there for Lady Heply's ball and will re-
main for few days. Good afternoon"
The tone in which the last two words
were spoken seemed in his ears like the
crow of the victor after cock fight.
AS he was going out of the room a
thought struck her. She felt he de-
served some punishment for his personal
rudaness to her. After all, she had paid
l. ~
his account: and not only had he given
no thanks. but had not even offered the
usual courtesy of saying: goodbye She
had intended to have been silent on the
subject. and TO have allowed him to dis
cover 1t later. Now she said. as If it was
an afterthought
by the way. did not pay those items
which you put down debts of honor;
you remember you gave the actual names
and addresses
why not?" the quest on came from
him involuntarily The prosecuting lorg-
non rose again:
Because they were all bogus, Ad
dresses. names. debts. honor! Good after
noon
Cock "A doodle
He went out flaming: free from debt.
money debts. all but che. And some
o: her debts-not financ al-Whose magri-
tude was exemplified in the grinding OF
his teeth.
After breakfast next morning he said
to his father:
by the way. you said you wished to
speak to me- sir Their was something
in the tone of his voice which called up
antagonism.
Then you have paid your debts?"
AM
Good. Now there Is something which
T. Is necessary l should call your atten-
tion do. Do you remember the day on
which I handed you that pleasing epistle
from Messrs. Cavendsh & Cecll?
certainly. sir
Didn't you send d telegram to them?"
II did
You wrote it YOURSELF"
"Certainly.''
Il had courteous letter from the
money lenders. thanking M for my eNer-
lions in securing the settlem mt of Their
claim. and saying that in accordance with
the request in my telegram they had held
over proceedings until the day named.
l did not quite remember having sent any
telegram to them. or sany letter either.
So. being at a loss, l won: to our excel
lent postmaster and requested that he
would verify the sending of telegram to
up the file. which was ready for trans
ference to the G. p o.. and showed m.
the form. 1t was in your handwriting"
IIs paused so long tia. Leonard presently
said:
"Well.''
1T was signed Jasper Everard Jasper
Everard. my name. and yet it was sen
by my son. who was christened. IL re-
member rightly. Leonardo" Then he
went on. but in a cold. acrid manner.
which made his son feel as though a