Year: 1869

tlence. 1t is, therefore, needless TO say
that the rate of interest offered by my
self for the renewed postponement Of
the liquidation of this loan was, in the
last instance, high one. | am happy
TO say that | have, this afternoon, had
the pleasure of refunding to my friend
the entire capital of the debt. On that
capital, however, years interest was
still owing. OF course added the
amount of it to that of the capital
But he (wonderful man y refuses-ab-
solutely refuses-to receive it. Tell
him, judge (you know me), that he is
depriving me of luxury which have
too seldom enjoyed ,-the luxury of
paying my debts,--and that the capi-
tai"


"Was a very large one," interrupt
ed Mr.. Ackland, who had been listen
ing with growing impatience to this
speech. "Pardon me if l confess that
l had not counted on the entire recovery
of it,-especially so soon. The inter-
est to which Mr.. Cartwright has refer
red was fixed in accordance with that
erroneous impression. For which
ahem-my excuse must be, sir, that
well, that am not--never was--a man
of sanguine temperament. Sir, Mr.
Cartwright has greatly embarrassed me.
under present circumstances, / really
could not--ahem-tax my friend here
so heavily on a debt of--of--well, yes
of that amount, which has been so
unexpectedly-ahem / really--I--am
not usurer, sir, though am mer-
chant"


Mr.. Ackland said all this with the
difficult hesitation-of an exceeding shy
man, which he was, and blushing up to
the roots of his hair. AS soon as he
had struggled through the effort OF say
ing it, and thereby worked himself into
state of feeling SO defensive as to be
almost offensive, he extricated his arm
from the embrace of his host, and, with
an awkward bow, hastened to join the
ladies in the arbor,


"Odd man, that" said Judge Griffin


"Shy and proud" said Cartwright,
''but as fine fellow as ever lived"


John Ackland wrote from Glenoak to
bis cousin Tom, expressing much plea
sure in his visit there. The change of
scene and air had agreed with him, not
withstanding the great heat Of the sea-
son, and he already felt in better health
and spirits than when he left Boston
He related the result of the interview
which had taken place between himself
and his host on the day of bis arrival at
Glenoak. He had the cash now with
him in notes. But the amount was so
large that he should of course exchange
them at the Richmond Bank for credit
on their correspondents at Charleston.
1t was strange notion of Cartwrights
10 insist on paying the money in notes.


"IIe seems to have been under the
impression that should not have been
equally well satisfied with his signature,
which made me feel very awkward, my
dear Tom"


He had felt still more awkward in
consenting to take the last years inter
est on that loan at the rate originally
stipulated. Tom knew that he would
not have raised it SO high if he had ev-
er had any hope OF recovering the en-
tire capital at the expiration of the
term. However, there was no help for
it. Cartwright would have it. Cart
wright had behaved exceedingly well,
very much like gentleman He had
really conceived great regard for his
present host. In despite of some OBJ
vious faults of character, and he feared
also of conduct, there was so much
good in the man. @. was a most pleas
ant companion, and had shown the
greatest delicacy in this matter. The
mans affection for his daughter, too,
was quite touching; and the child her.
self was charming.


John Ackland then described his i'm
pressions Of a slave plantation at some
length. His adherence of the whole
system was even more intense than be-
fore. Not because he had noticed any
great cruelty in the treatment of the
slaves on this plantation, but because
the system was one which rendered ev-
en- kindness itself an instrument o.
degradation and these unfortunate
blacks appeared to him to be in men-
tai and moral condition which, without
justifying it, gave hideous plausibili.
ty to the cool assertion of their owners
that colored humanity is not humanity
at all. He avoided all discus
sion on this subject, howev-
er, for, as Tom knew, there was moth
ing he hated so much as controversy, =
At first he had felt" little awkward
, at being the only Northerner amongs
so many slave proprietors. But nov
he felt quite at his ease with them all
especially with Cartwright. It was
pity that man had been born South. =
He had been brought up there to idle
J ness and arrogance, buthis natural dis
| position fitted him for better things. -
Glenoak was a very pleasant place, 81
} pleasant, that he was reluctant to leave
. It. And, in fact, there was no real ne
cessity for going to Charleston so soon
} The weather was horribly hot. IL


had not yet been up to the exertiol
! even ofsgoing to Richmond to deposl


the notes he had received from Cart
wright. He thought he should remail
9 some days longer-perhaps tortnlgh