Autobiography of a Pocket-HandkerchiefCooper, James Fenimore
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Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief
Cooper, James Fenimore
Fables; Handkerchiefs -- Fiction
As some of my readers may feel an interest in the fate of poor Eudosia,
I will take occasion to say, before I proceed with the account of my
own fortunes, that it was not half as bad as might have been supposed.
Mr. Halfacre commenced his compromises under favorable auspices. The
reputation of the affair of the pocket-handkerchief was of great
service, and creditors relented as they thought of the hardship of
depriving a pretty girl of so valuable an appliance. Long before the
public had ceased to talk about the removal of the deposits, Mr.
Halfacre had arranged every thing to his own satisfaction. The lots
were particularly useful, one of them paying off a debt that had been
contracted for half a dozen. Now and then he met an obstinate fellow
who insisted on his money, and who talked of suits in chancery. Such
men were paid off in full, litigation being the speculator's aversion.
As for the fifty dollars received for me, it answered to go to market
with until other funds were found. This diversion of the sum from its
destined object, however, was apparent rather than real, since food was
indispensable to enable the excellent but unfortunate man to work for
the benefit of his creditors. In short, every thing was settled in the
most satisfactory manner, Mr. Halfacre paying a hundred cents in the
dollar, in lots, however, but in such a manner as balanced his books
beautifully.
"Now, thank God! I owe no man a sixpence," said Mr. to Mrs. Halfacre,
the day all was concluded, "and only one small mistake has been made by
me, in going through so many complicated accounts, and for such large
sums."
"I had hoped ALL was settled," answered the good woman in alarm. "It is
that unreasonable man, John Downright, who gives you the trouble, I
dare say."
"He--oh! he is paid in full. I offered him, at first, twenty-five cents
in the dollar, but THAT he wouldn't hear to. Then I found a small
error, and offered forty. It wouldn't do, and I had to pay the scamp a
hundred. I can look that fellow in the face with a perfectly clear
conscience."
"Who else can it be, then?"
"Only your brother, Myers, my dear; somehow or other, we made a mistake
in our figures, which made out a demand in his favor of $100,000. I
paid it in property, but when we came to look over the figures it was
discovered that a cypher too much had been thrown in, and Myers paid
back the difference like a man, as he is."
"And to whom will that difference belong?"
"To whom--oh!--why, of course, to the right owner."
CHAPTER XIII.
When I found myself once more in the possession of Bobbinet & Co., I
fancied that I might anticipate a long residence in their drawers, my
freshness, as an article, having been somewhat tarnished by the
appearance at Mrs. Trotter's ball. In this I was mistaken, the next day
bringing about a release, and a restoration to my proper place in
society.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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