The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-09-20

For M hundred !" Salo WeSl, nesi-
tating. chat is if I borrow"
"0ne hndred," replied the usurer,
sharply. Men who lend money do not
run risks. You may die, and four out
of five instance Offices may fail; but
the chancs are that the fifth would
pay"
But it inot likely" began Bernard
West, amazed at this outrageous dis
play of cauon.
81 do notiay it is likely" snarlcd the
usurer, witfa contemptuous sort OF pity
for his visitors dullness of apprehension.
81 say it is pssible, and like to be on
the safe side,'
"WeiI, and how is the affair to be
arrangedw
.Your secuity, who of course must
be a person known to have property, will
give bond guarantying the regular
payment of interest and premiums
that is all" Z
West reflected for some minutes in
silence. The faint expression OF hope
that had for IN instant lighted up his
countenance vanished. He understood
the money.lader and his proposition.
A sufficiently clear remembrance OF
the tables of life assurance which he
had seen, en.bled MIN to perceive that
the interest and premiums together,
would amount to nearly twenty per
cent, and that the bond engaged his
security to pay an amount Tor his
(INest's) life to that amount. 1t is true
that, full of energy and hope, he felt no
doubt of his capacity to meet the pay
ments regularly; it is true that, mon
strous as were the terms, he would have
accepted eagerly still harder ones, had
it simply depended on his own decision.
But where find, or how ask, friend to
become his bondsman? He ran over in
despair the scanty list of acquaintance
whom his poverty had not already
caused to forget him. He felt that the
thing was impossible. There was not
one he could think Of who would have
even dreamed of entering into such a
compact. He turned desperately to the
money-lender.
ri have no friend,' he said. "of whom
could or would ask such service. IT
had should not be here. Are there no
terms. however high, on which you can
lend me even the most triiling sum, tor
which myself alone need be respon-
sible?D
Z. None" replied the usurer, already
commencing his letter
Il will give thirty per CENT
Impossible"
" Fiftyn
The usurer shook his head in angry
impatience.
a hundred-cent per cent"
.Nom
The strange seeker of loans at length
rose to depart He reached the door,
Suddenly he turned back, his eyes shohe
with the sombre radiance of despair
He strobe up to the table, and planted
himself. with folded arms, immediately
in front of the tisurer.
Mark me!lv said West, in a tone oil
deep suppressed passion. like the hollow
murmur of the sea before a storm; sit
is question of life or death with me to
get money before sunset. Lend ME only
twenty pounds, and in twelve months |
will repay You one hundred. will
give you every power which the law
can give one man over another; and |
will pledge my honor. which never yet
was questioned, to the bargain" "
The usureralmost smiled, so strangely
sarcastic was the contraction OF hls tea
lures. as he listened to these words.
~ do net question your honor" he
said icily, but honor has nothing to do
with business. As Tor the law. there is
an old axiom which says, Ont of no
thing, nothing comes"
Bernard West regarded the cold, pas
sionless face, and the frigid mouth from
which these words proceeded, with that
singing wrath which man feels who
has hnmiliated himself in vain. Never
theless he clung to the old fiinty usurer
as to the last rock in a deluge, and q
sense of savage recklessness came over
him when he advanced yet closer to the
living cash-box before him, whilst the
latter shrank back half terrified before
the burning gaze Of his visitors dllated
pupils.
Laying his hand npon the money.
lenders shoulder, by gesture thai IN
sisted upon and commanded attention
to his words, West spoke with sudden
clearness and even musical distinctness
Of ufterance that made his words more
appalling in their sudden despair
aOld man, | am desperate; | am
ruined. lis but few months since
INV father died, leaving me not only
penniless, but encircled By petty obliga
ttions which have cramped every move
ment I would have made. | have hae
no time, no qniet, to make an effort such
as my position requires. This day have
| / spent my last shilling. I am too prone
to beg, and 70 borrow is to beg, when
man Is known to be in real Distress
Within one hour from this time ! shal
be beyond all the tortures OF a ilte
which for my own sake ! care little tt
preserve. And yet | have spent my
youth in accamulating treasures, which
but q brief space might have rendered
productive IF benefit to man, and o
profit to myself My fathers ittls
means and nv own have vanished II