Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-06-21

This day have spent my last shilling.
am too proud 10 beg, and TO borrow is to
beg when a man is known 10 be in rea
distress. Within one hour from this time
| shall be beyond all the torurcs Of a life
which for my own sake | care little to
preserve. And yet have spent my youth
IN accumulating treasures, which but a
brief space might have rendered produc-
tive OF benefit to man, and of profit TO my
SELL My fathers little means and my
own have vanished in the pursui. of sci
ence, and in the gulf Of suffering more inn
mediate than our own. If | die also, with
me perish the results of his experiments,
his studies, and his sacrifices. There are
moments when all ordinary calculations
and prudence are empty baubIes. Life is
the only real possession we have, and
death is the only certainty. Listen!
will MAKE one last proposal to you. Lend
me but ten poundS-that is but len weeks
OF liie-and l swear to you that If live,
will repay you for each pound lent not ten
or twenty, but one hundred-in ell cne
thousand pounds Grant that it be but
chance upon the one hand, yet upon the
other, how small is the risk and then, to
save human lile-is not that something
in the scale ~
And the stranger laughed at these last
words with bitter gaiety, which caused
strange thrill TO creep along the nerves of
the usurer.
However, the lender of gold shrugged
his shoulders without relaxing his habitual
| lmpassability of manner. lie did not
speak. Possibly the idea occurred to him
that bis strange client mpditated some act
Of violence upon himself or his strong box.
But this idea speedily vanished as the stran-
ger, relapsing suddenly into silence and
conventional behavior, removed bis hand
from the usurer's shoulder, and strobe rap
idly but calmly from the apartment.
The door closed behind the ruined man,
and the usurer drew a long breath, whilst
his bushy brows We're contracted in sort
of agony of doubt and irresolute purpose.
Meanwhile Bernard West paused for an
instant on the threshold of TIE outer door,
as if undecided which road 10 take. In
| truth all roads were much alike to him at
/ that moment. Some cause too subtle TO be
seized by the mental analyst, determined
| his course. He turhed to the right, and
strobe rapidly onwards.
He felt already ike one Of the dead, to
join whom he was hurrying headlong.-
! He looked neither to the right nor to the
| left and before him was d mist, in which
/ the phantoms Of his Imagination diSported
themselves, 10 the exclusion OF all other
visible objects. Nothing earthly had any
/ further interest for him. He did not even
hear the steps OF some one running behind
him, nor hear the voice which called after
him to stop; but his course was soon more
eHtctuaIy arrested by the firm grasp Of a
mans hand, which seized him by the arm
with the force and the tcnacIty OF aNice.
He Turned fiercely round. He was in
no humor Tor the converse Of casual ac-
quaintances. Nor was it any gay convi-
viaist Of happier days whose face now
greeted him; it was The old money lender,
who, in voice husky with loss Of breath,
or possibly emotion, said, lhrustug a cou-
pie OF twenty pound bank notes ints Vests
hand
"Hrre take these notes. Take them,
! say !" he repeated, as the young man,
dizzy with ama4ement, stammered out
"You accept, then, my terms"
'tNo." growled the usurer, 81 gjCe them
to you. DO you understand me! say
gire them to you. ! am an old man; !
never gave away a shilling before in my
life Repay me if you will, when and
how il peases you. have no security
| ask no acknowledgment ! want none
do not count upon it. II is gone!" and
the usurer pronounced the last words with
an effort which was heroic, from the evi
dent self mastery it cost him. "There
go-go." he resumed, "and take an ole
: mans advice-Alake money at ali hazards
and never lend except upon good security
= Remember that e" The old man gently
pushed West away, and all batless ant
Slippered as he was, ran back mutterlng Il
/, his den, leaving the object of his mySteri
GUS generosity fixed like a statue Of amaze
ment IN the centre OF the pavement.
About three months had elapsed, wher
Bernard West once more knocked at tn
: door of the money lender.
SIS Mr.. Brace at home ~ he inquire
cheerfulIy.
, ooh, if you please, sir, they buried hir
yesterday" replied The servant, with
looI, of curiously affected solemnity.
"Buried him." cried the visitor, wit
; sincere disappointment and grief in HI
u tone.
ayes, sir perhaps you would like
, see Miss Brace, if it's anything very pal
ticuar 20
~ should, indeed,n said West can
Il when she knows the cause OF my visit,
g think she will excuse the intrusion"
l. The servant gave an odd look, who:
e significance West was unable TO divln", ;
a she led the way 10 her young mistress
IS drawing room.
, West entered timidly, for be doubte
a. the deicacy of such proceeding, thoug
= his heart was almost bursting with desil
"a of expansion under the shock just receives
A beautiful and proud looking girl of nin
4 teen or twenty years rose to meet him.
a. Her large blue eyes which bore traces
u many and recent tears, worked strangel
ID upon his feelings, already sufficiently e!