The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-08-09
led next month. He's getting along

0uc CuulC W my SAuC uuu pOAutSu
through an open window.
"He writes 'em in there" said she.
There's his table and his typewriter"
do you suppose" said l, 'that Mr..
Durland would object to my using his
typewriter for about two minutes,
while I'm waiting? l would like to
write little note"
She made haste to show me into the |
authors study, apd presently l had
written upon a sheet of heavy type
writer paper the words, "In payment
of the debt which you may not remem-
ber''
The result was even more conclusive
than had hoped. The Irregularities
that had appeared in the original were
faithfully reproduced in my copy. Be-
yond doubt the line accompanying
the money which had been sent to me
had been written with this instrument
I returned to the veranda and pres
emily Mrs. Colvin came. She greeted
me with sincere good will and without
trace Of embarrassment.
Mrs. Colvin," said l, there Is O
small matter Of business between us.
! l have recently been led to review the
old accounts, and l find that there has
| been nn error. owe you something
like hundred dollars"
She regarded me shrewdly, with an
interest which would venture to call
affectionate.
"How did you learn that was press.
ed for money! she asked. and then.
after a pause: But you needn't tell
me. 1t is very kind of you to offer me
this help, and l do need 1t. had
to make an unexpected payment
"And by a singular coincidence"
interrupted, Il received an unexpected
payment The sum was $0G9.''
"And you don't know who sent it."
she said. How odd! This seems like
some romantic restitution. Have you
ever been robbed? Why, yes, surely
when you lived here. How much was
il. that was taken?"
Eight hundred and fifty dollars" !
replied.
"And this sum?''
"Was $780,"
There was moments silence. Then
she said, hesitating, "Could = could
there be-interest, perhaps?"
Mental arithmetic has been my forte
since childhood, but this was the quick
est calculation that ever l made:
Eight hundred and fifty dollars with G
; per cent interest for twenty eight
months, 1.14xS5O==969. l saw it In a
| fash, and it fairly stunned me.
, Sydney Durland, accepted suitor OF
the woman loved, had striven to ease
his conscience on the eve Of marriage
, by making this restitution, and in SC
| doing he had put his liberty and per
, haps his life into my hands.
| "Well," said Mrs. Colvin, smiling
what do you think Of my explana
: tion?''
r l made jest of it and turned he1
mind away.
g Mrs. Colvin insisted that shouli
l stay to dinner, and Us it had now be
| come necessary that should see Dur
: land l accepted the invitation. So WI
r passed to Indifferent topics of conver
q sation and finally to Amy's approach
: ing marriage, and heard much prais,
= of Durland.
e "He has changed so much!' said she
: Il confess that when he first came her,
j. and began to know him was almOs
e afraid of him, he had such desponden
and desperate views of life. But he !
O different man nOw.''
. Ooxpo tfor of t11n houcoh01d 6o
manded Mrs. Colvin's attention. and
\ was left alone with narrowing thoughts
| am narrow man in my judgmen
of character and have small faith Il
reformation. saw Amy COlvin abOu
to marry thief and housebreaker,
man of weak principle and crimins
tendencies.
was aroused from this black re,
| erie by the sound of Amy's voice, anf
looking through the vine covered tre
j lis. saw her at the gate with Durlant
He entered alone, and she went OF
}. doubtless upon some errand to neigl
81 bors house. l saw how this momer
\ tary parting tugged ut their hearts.
4 read the love in her eyes, and my whol
being became one agony Of bitterness
Il and loss.
a Durland came up the walk. his hea
turned over his shoulder, his eyes fo
!, lowing her, as needless child run
a upon danger in the delight of play. Fl
tripped upon the steps and the next II
Il stant looked up into my face. Not onl
did the blood ebb away from h
: cheeks, but the bronze OF the sun seen
ed to be washed out of them. He ~
up his hand to his heart, and his lii
fell open.
II He assumed instantly that | ha
Il traced his money back to him and ha
discovered his offense
"Durland," said I. 'the truth! l
mand it"
AS He ascended the steps unstealily al
staggered into the house. beckOning n
to follow him. but when we had reac
Dn ed his room saw that he had rcgains
~ command of himself Facing me al
Ic speaking in firm tone, lie said:
"This is my story: never had al
ns money. When was In college 6
u into debt. and stayed in debt.
80 never owed as much as $1,000 nor ey
nc saw day when | was not driven
some obligation and harassed so that
io' couldn't put my mind upon my wor
en- Worry killed my earnings. Do you u
III derstand that? | suppose not.
~ "In February two years and TO
lse months ago, shortly after came he
to live, my affairs were at their wor
'es was menaced by all sorts of petty d
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