The Argosy, January 1906 — page 112: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

294 ments so far. I’m three payments be- hind already.” “Oh, Arthur, Arthur, Arthur!” cried the girl. “ How could you deceive me so cruelly?” “T was a coward!” groaned the other. “A miserable coward! I did not have the money, and I didn’t have courage enough to tell you so. So I went to this jeweler on Nassau Street and bought this ring. I thought I should be able to pay off the instalments easily, week by week, without you or your father or anybody else being the wiser; but my extravagant habits got the best of me. from the jeweler, threatening trouble. I went down to see him, and he threat- ened to tell your father and to tear the - ring from your finger unless I paid him all that was owing on the ring this very day.” a Good heavens, Arthur, and what did you do? “T lost my temper, and gave the blackmailing scamp a lesson he won't forget for many days, I guess.” “You used violence, Arthur?” “T certainly did. He deserved it.” “ Oh, Arthur! How could you? And now he will write to father, and he will break off the match. How foolish you have been. Do you think I would have eared if you had asked me to go without a ring for a while? What kind of girl do you think me? You might have trusted me to that extent. But I must send the ring back this very night. We must not keep it another day if it isn’t paid for.” “My poor Rosa!” groaned Arthur. , “What a brute I am to put you to all this humiliation.” “Stop!” eried the girl suddenly. “I have an idea. We won’t return the ring at all. We'll pay for it—every cent in fall.” “Pay for it!” gasped Arthur. “I tell you I haven’t any money, Rosa.” “No; but I have—in the bank. I _have a private account of a thousand dollars.” “Your money!” said Arthur. couldn’t take your money, Rosa.” “Don’t be foolish, boy. You’re not taking my money. I’m spending it to buy this ring with. Isn’t that better a To-day I had a letter THE ARGOSY. than sending the ring back and having to explain to my father and friends the reason why? ” “ But we are going to break the en- gagement right now. You will have to give me back my ring, anyway, won’t you, so what’s the use of your paying for it?” “We are not going to break the en- gagement at all, sir! Not unless you have grown tired of me and very much desire it. You have been a very wicked boy, Arthur, but you don’t think I am going to give you up so easily, do you? We must try all over again. We will go to the bank right now and get the money for the ring. If you want to make atonement for what you have done you will do me one great favor.” What as-it, Rosa? ~ “You will let me loan vou the money to settle your board bill and pay to get your watch from the horrid pawnshop. No, don’t make that wry face, Arthur. You simply have got to take the money. It’s only a loan, mind. Surely. you would as soon have me for a creditor as a horrid money-grabbing pawn- broker.” “Oh, I can’t, Rosa; you dear, kind little girl. I really can’t take any money from you ”—and Arthur shook his head - determinedly. “You can, sir and you will. You shall pay it back to me week by week, if you like, and we won’t go out any- where until the debt is paid. You have been spending too much money enter- taining me—if only I had known the true state of affairs! Come, we will go to the bank immediately. We have just time to get there before it closes. How glad IJ am that dad always believed in my having my own private little bank account.” They went to the bank together, Ar- thur remaining silent most of the way, and feeling thoroughly ashamed of him- self. “How much shall I draw?” asked Rosa, as they entered the building. “Will seven hundred cover every- thing?” “Yes,” groaned Arthur. “ Oh, Rosa, please don’t doit! You make me feel so horribly cheap “That’s a punishment for plunging comichbook (Eo)