Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-08-14


comes
Bernard West regarded the cold rocky
face and the passonless mouth from which
these words proceeded with that singing
wrath a man feels who has Inundated HIM
self in vain. Nevertheless he chung to the
lold hinty usurer as TO the last rock in de-
LUCE, and sense of savage reckessness
came over him when he advanced yet clos
or to the living cash-box before him. whilst
the latter shrank half terrified before the
burning gaze Of his visitors dilated pupils
Laying his hand upon the mouey-endet's
shoulder, by gesture of terrible famliari
ty that insisted upon and commanded at
tention to his words, West spoke with
sudden ciearness aud even musical DISTINCT
ness of ntierance that made his words yet
more appalling in their sudden despair
Old man, | am desperate; am ruined -
1t IS but few months since my father died,
leaving me not only penniless, but encircled
by petty obligations which have cramped
every movement | would have made. |
have lad no time, no quiet, to make an eff
fort such as my position requires. This
day have spent my last shilling. am too
p roud to beg, and to borrow is to beg,
when a man is known 10 be in real distress.
Within one hour from this time shall be
beyond all the iorures Of life which for
my own sake | care little to preserve. And
yet | have spent my youth in accommodating
treasures which but a brief space might
have rendered productive Of benefit to man,
and Of profit to myself Ny fathers little
means aud my own have vanished in the
pursuit Of science, and in the gulf Of suf-
4 IL. 4
die also with me perish the results of his
experiments, his studies, aud his sacrifices
There are moments when all ordinary cali
culatious and prudence are empty bubbles
Llie Is the only real possession we have,
and death Is the only certainty. Listen
VIII make one last proposal to YOU. Lend
me bat ten pouuds-that is but ten weeks
of llic-and ] swear to YOU that If live,
VAL repay you for each pound lent not ten
or twenty, but one huudred-iu all, one
thousand pounds Grant that It be but a
chance upon the one hand, yet upon the 9TH
or, how small is the rsk aud then, to save
= a human ilie--is not that something ia the
scale g Aud the stranger laughed at these
idsl words with btiler galeiy winch caus-
2 ed strange thuil TO creep along the nerves
OF Tie usurer.
However the lender of gold shrugged
has shoulders without relaxing his habltual
= impasshillty Of manner He did not speak.
% Possibly the idea occurred TO him that his
client medtalcd some act Of violence upon
himself or his strong box. But this idea
S speedily vanished, as the stranger. rclapsng
e suddenly into silence aud conventional be-
havor. removed his hand from the usurer's
j. the apartment.
l. The door closed behind the ruined man.
and tine Insurer drew a long breath, whilst
l. hls bushy brows we're contracted in a sort
of agony of doub, aud irresoutc purpose
.- Meanwhile Bernard West paused for an
$ instant on the threshold of the outer door,
f. MS &c undecided which road to take In
e truth all roads were much alike to him al
that moment. Some cause, too subtle to be
d seized 10y the mental analyst determined
d his course. He turned 70 the right and
sirode rapidly EDWARDS.
e lie leil already ike one Of the dead, tc
" Join whom he was hurping headong. lie
/ looked neither to the rght nor to the eli
Re and before him was a INST IA which the
puantous OF las Imagination disported them
l. selves, TO the exclusion of all other visible
objects. Nothing earthly had auy further
interest for han. lie did not even hear the
steps of some one running behind him MOI
Of hear the voice which called after him t,
stop but his course was soon more efectu
T. ally arrested by the iTm grasp of man'i
at haEd, which seized him by the arm with III,
D. force aud the tenacity of a vice.
He turned iercely round. lie was il
nttu tar ha &
u quantances. Nor was it any gay conviyial
h 'st OF happier days whose face now greeie,
at him; it was the old mouey-lender, who il
r, voice husky with loss OF breath, or posi-
B., bly, emotion, said, thrustIng a couple O
10 twenty pound bank-noies into Vests hand
at Here take these notes. Take them,
I'd say he repeated, as the young man, dizz
TO with amazemeut, s.ammered out
Il, You accept, then, my terms p
We Nor groSled the usurer, give then
II TO YOU Do you understand me &! / say
VI give them to you. | am an old man
ne never gave away a shilling before IN my life
ne Repay me II you viii, when and how
" plelses you. have no security, ask IA
n. acknowledgements want none do nc
- count upon it, 1t Is gone aud the usure
10 pronounced the last words with an eiIor
to that was heroic, from the seIl-mastery
10 cost him.
There they go-gov he resumed, am
] take an old mans advice Make money
| all hazards, ana never lend except upo
no good security. Remember that The oil
nd man gently pushed West away, and all hal
less and slppered as he was, ran back mu
terlng TO his den, leaving the object Of hi
n mysterious generosity fixed like "A statue
amazement Ia the centre Of the pavement
About three months had elapsed, whe
Bernard West once more knocked at th
door Of the money-lender.
Is MIR. Bruce at home p he inquire
cheeriully.
Ohl if you please. sir, they buried hin
IA yesterday replied the servant, with a loo
d. of curiously affected solemnily.
tn Buried him - cried the visitor, with sir
de cere disappointment and grief in his tone.
IN Yes, SIR; perhaps you would like to Sc
he Miss Bruce, if its anything very particular
| should indeed, said West, aud whe
ep she knows the cause of my visit, think sh
ur wall excuse the intrusion
On The servant gave an odd look whose sif