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


age and neglect. Nothing more super.
lafively dingy could well be imagined.
The leathern covers were white and
glossy at the edges; the carpet was
almost of uniform tint. notwithstand-
ing its original gaudy contrasts; there
were absurd old engravings upon the
walls-relics of the infancy of the art
and curtains to the windows, which the
smoke of years had darkened from q
delicate fawn to rusty chocolate color.
Tn the centre of the room, and as it
were the sun of this dusty system, stood
an office-table of more modern manu-
facture, at which was seated the old
man alluded TO, sole lord and master of
the dismal domicil. He was by pro-
fession money-lender. His age might
be from sixty to sixty-fve years. His
face was long, and his features seemed
carved out of lockwood or yellow sand
stone, so destitute were they of mobility;
his eyes were of cold, pale, STEEL color,
but his brows were black and tufted like
a grim old owls; long aquiline nose,
a thin and compressed mouth. and a
vast double chin, buried in voluminous
white neckcloth of more than one days
wear, completed the portrait. Nor did
the expression of his cauntenance nn-
dergo any perceptible change as. after
timid knock, the door opened, and
young man entered of singularly inter-
estipg appearance.
The newcomer was well-dressed,
though his clothes were none of the
newest, and had the air of a man ac-
customed to society. His pale brow
was marked with those long horizontal
lines of which time is rarely the artist.
His dark, deep-set gray eyes flashed
with a painful brightness; his long
chestnut hair, damp with perspiration,
elung in narrow strips to his forehead;
his whole manner implied the man who
had made up his mind to some extra
ordinary course, from which no weak
ness or wavering on his own part was
likely to turn him aside, whatever the
opposition of others might compel him
to abandon or determine. Bending his
tall figure slightly, he addressed the
money-lender in a tone of constrained
calmness-
"You lend money, believer
ssSometimes-on good security" re-
piled the usurer intlifferently, forming
critical summary OF his visitors cos
tune at glance.
TIE stranger hesitated; there was
discouraging sort of GOODNESS in the
mode of delivering this answer that
seemed to prejudge his proposition.-
Nevertheless he resumed with an effort.
saw your advertisement in the
paper
The usurer did not even nod his head
in answer TO this prelude. He sat bolt
upright in his chair, awaiting further
Information.
g am.n he continued, Gas you will
see by these papers, entitled to some
property in reversion."
The usurer stretched out his hand for
the papers which he looked over care
fully with the same implaeable tran
,ouility, whilst bis visitor entered into
explanations as TO their substance.
Once only the money-lender peered
over the top of document he was
scanning, and said graffiy--
Your name, sir, is Bernard Westp
1t is,' replied the stranger. mechan-
ically taking up newspaper, in which
the first thing which caught his eye
was the advertisement alluded to, which
ran thus
Money TO any amount advanced on
every description of security, real or
personal. Apply, between the hours Of
ten and FIVE, to Mr.. John Brace,
street, Soho square,
After brief interval of silence, the
usurer methodically rearranged the
papers, and returned them to West.
They are of no use" he said no
use whatever; the reversion is merely
contingent. You have no available
security to offer.n
Could You not advance something
upon these expeetations-not even a
small sum en
Not farthing,n replied the money
lender. go s5s
Is there no way of raising fifty
thirty-even twenty pounds w said the
stranger anxiously, and with the tena-
city of drowning man, grasping at a
straw. ia
aThere is way" said the Insurer,
ecarelessly.
West in his turn was SILENT awaiting
the explanation of his companion.
Con personal security continued
the latter, with sinister impatienee, be-
ginning to arrange his writing materials
for letter.
sI will give any discount said the
young man, eagerly. my prospects
are good; cam
'sGet friend to be security for the
payment of the interest 20
aOf the interest and principal, you
mean ao
aOf the interest only-and the life
insurance. added the ususer, with q
slight peculiarity of intonation thai
might have escaped the notice of one
whose nerves were less exalted IN theil
sensitive power than those of his visitor
eAnd what sum can borrow on these
terInssn said West, gloomily.
"A hundred pounds--more il Won re-