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

if live will repay you for each pound
lent not ten or twenty, but one hundred
in all, one 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
life-is not that something's And the
stranger laughed at these last words
with a bitter gaiety, which caused a
strange thrill to creep along the nerves
of the usurer.
However, the lender Of gold shrugged
his shoulders without relaxing his hab-
itual impassibility of manner. He did
not speak. Possibly the idea occurred
to him that his strange client meditated
some act Of violence upon himself or
his strong box. But this idea speedily
vanished as the stranger, relapsing sud
denly into silence and conventional be-
havior. removed his hand from the old
mans shoulder, and strobe rapidly but
calmly from the apartment.
The door closed behind the ruined
man, and the usurer drew a long breath,
whilst his bushy brows were contracted
in sort of agony of doubt and lrreso-
lutte purpose.
Meanwhile Bernard West paused for
an instant on the threshold OF the outer
door. as if undecided which road to 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
turned to the right and strobe rapidly
onwards
He felt already like one of the dead,
to Join whom he was hurrying headiong.
He looked neither to the right nor to
the left. and before him was a mist IN
which the phantoms of his imagination
disported themselves to the exclusion OF
all other visible objects. Nothing be-
longing to this world 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 10 stop but his course was
soon more efIectnally arrested by the
firm grip OF mans hand which seized
him by the arm with the force and
tenacity of a vice.
He turned fercely round. He was in
no humor for the converse of casual ac-
ouaintanees. Nor was it any gay con-
vivialist 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, as
he thrust a couple of twenty-pound
bank-aotes into Vests hand
Here, take these notes. Take them
T saw p he repeated, as the young man,
iizZy with amazement stammered-
"You accept, then, my terms !o
"No!3 growied the usurer, 81 giue
them TO youl Do you understand me
/ say | eiue them to You. | am an old
man, aud never gave away shilling
before in my life! Repay me if you
will, when and how it please you,
have no security-I ask no acknowledge
ment; wan, none! I do not count
upon it. 1t is gone :" and the usurer
pronounced the last words with an effort
which was heroic, from the evident self
mastery il cost him, There, go-go! !"
he resumed, and take an old mans
advice-make mouey at all hazards,
and never lend except upon good secu-
rity. Remember thatw The old man
gently pushed West away and, all hat
less and slippered as he was, ran back
mntteriug to his den, leaving the object
of his mysterious generosity fixed like
statue of amazement in the centre oil
the pavement 4 s Gs
Some three months had now elapsed,
when Bernard West once more knocked
at tho deor of the old money-lender's
abode. @aa sts
.Is Mr. Brace at home ?p he inquired
cheerfully. da s#
"Ohl if yon please, sir, they buried
him yesterdayln replied the servant
girl, with look of curiously affected
soIemnity.
q Buried timm cried the visitor, with
sincere disappointment and grief 10 his
tone. 9 ~
aYes, sir; but perha ps you would like
to see Miss Brace, if it's anything very
particular lp sl as
SO should indeed" replied Bernard
"and when she knows the cause of my
visit, think she will excuse the In
trusion. /" aG#
The servant gave an odd look, whose
significance West was asunable to divine
as she led the way to the young LADY,:
drawing room. 5
West entered timidly, for he doubted
the delicacy of such a proceeding
though his heart was almost bursting
with desire of expansion under the
shock Just received A beautiful ane
proud-like girl of nineteen or twenty
years rose to meet him. Her large
blue eyes, which bore traces of many
and recent tears, worked strangely
| upon his feelings, already sufficiently
excited -. 5.s.s ~.
g I came,o he said in his deep musi
cal voice, 9 to repay a noble service
Will you permit me to share a grief 70
the loss Of one to whom | owe my life
yes, more than my Iifew West paused
and strove vainly to master the emotion
which checked his utterance.
" MY father rendered you a service 7
/ said the young lady eagerly, regarding
/ with involuntary interest the noble