The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-14
BetrOthed In
Bankruptcy
The New Partners Part In
a Moment of Trial.
BY c. 3. LEWIS.

Dan0 the willow Allen moved INTO the
village of Fergus. Her husband had
left her snug property and goodly
sum OF life insurance, and at fifty
years she became a money lender.
She had no friends as a girl, she had
few as a wife, and as a widow and
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 a woman OF stingy disposi-
ton, sure to ayenge 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
I1p w luOW hlltli huN OOiieNu
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 mon
ey to young George French, who had
for several years been a clerk in the
store of the merchant she wished par
ticularly to ruin. He was bound hard
and fast. The widow wanted revenge
but she didn't propose to lose any mon
ey over IT, She was near fifty years
old and the new merchant not yet
twenty-six, but she let It be known
that when marriage took place be
tween them the firm name OF George
French & 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 a girl bookkeeper and anoth-
er girl as clerk.
As the widow insisted on his board
ing with her 80 that they could taik
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 aud 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 ne .did
not give was that he admired the ia
therless girl, Jennie Warder. the book
keeper. who was supporting widow
ed mother by her efforts, and to whom
he had been attracted from the first
day, His admiration must have been
patent to her In hundred ways. and
yet he had spoken no word. The new
store was an experiment. IL 1t was q
success he might avow himself; II
failure he would have no right to ash
her to share his lot,
The Widow Allen concealed her cha
grin and d1 not press her point. The
young merchant was hustllng and
making things gloomy for her victim
At the proper time he would offer al
alternative.
Nine months OF liberal advertising
low prices and attention to business
on the part of the new storekeepel
brought bankruptcy to two of the 9th
er merchants. but they brought NJ
such profits to French as he had hoped
for. He had bound himself to sell al
certain prices and he dared not depart
from them He had bound himself e
repay II certain amount of the capita
Invested ut the end OF the first twelve
months. aud figure as he would h'
could not see his way clear to do SO
The widow was waiting for him Il
speak. aud then she laughed and hint
ed ut mNtrimony. When her hints
were turned aside she said quietly:
AT the end of the year you mus
pay me, as agreed. II not, the Law
\ Will put me in possession and you VII
he out of employment"
"But you are not pressed for money
You can give me time" he protested
81 have worked like slave to make
the store n success. ! put In thou
sand dollars of my own money. fol
; would not drive me into Bankruptcy
2 "If we are not married on the do!
your notes are due shall demand IN!
money IL you 30 into bankruptcy
shall buy In the stock and put som'
one else In your place"
Her declaration lost her her boarder
but when hc walked out OF the hous
he knew that he was ruined In bust
ness lie could not pay her the hal
OF what he owed her, and call at tn
4 lawyers brought him no comfort. Sh
n had spoken of marriage, hut he turne
f, away in disgust at the thought Sh
had said she would ruin him, and sh
was a woman to keep her word.
There Is always way out for tn
" merchant who finds bankruptcy stnl
q Ing him Ia the face, aud few take
l. who cannot excuse themselves TO the
g own consclences. The merchant wer
Z. over the ground time ana time agail
ID but he always came back to the on
thing II his store was burned out b
fore the year was up the insuranC
money would pay the widow Ale