, 1860-07-27
The vicissitudes Of a Miser.


lived q rich old usurer, who had passed sixty
odd years of his life without ever being troubled
by the vagaries Of Cupid, when all at once the
little god, as il in revenge for the length Of time
the old man had deied his power, inspired him
with q violent passion for pretty orphan OF
good family, but so reduced in circumstances
that she lived by needlework. Believing that
gold was all-powerfnl, he made his proposals
with very little ceremony; but Blanca, as virtu-
Gus as she was pretty, Tepulsed him with indig-
nation. He then tried the effect Of his darling
gold upon an aunt with whom she lived, but
without any better success. Aunt and niece
were al ke inexorable; the former became ten
times more vigilant than ever over her young
charge, and the latter completely secluded her
self never appearing even at her window. All
this severity, however, did not daunt the usurer,
who, judging by his own heart supposed 1t was
feint TO enhance the price Of her IavOrs. he
accordingly employed an old woman 10 plead his
cause with her. and she readily undertook, on
the promise Of handsome sum, to render her
propitious TO his wishes
Tie old woman soon found, however, that her
task was q hopeless one; but, not willing to lose
the promised reward, she contrived to amuse
Brandini, from time to time, with hopes which
she very well knew to be vain. BY these means
she extracted from him little money; but, impa-
tient at the smallness Of her gains she determined
to venture upon bold stroke, in order to make
the old usuicr draw his puIse-strings.
"GoOd newsi" cried she one day, coming to
him with Joy in her face; "your pretty Blanca
is az last inclined to be more kind. Her aunt is
gone " visit sick friend, and will not return to
night; and If she sees you under her windows
about eleven o'clock, there is no knowing whether
she may not be tempted to let you in"
The delighted usurer made the old wona
Lan and a fail IN IN
the appointed SPOT before the hour named. He
walked up and down for some time in vain; so
full vf the hopes hc had conceived, that he did
not perceive lie was an object Of attention to a
man wrapped up in cloak, who watched all his
mutions This was young student, who was
also an admiTer Of Blanca, but without any bet
ter success than our usureT. Till now, he had
considered his mistress's virtue as the cause Of
her disdain, but the sight Of Brandini put other
notions in his head he lind, as he believed, a
rival and be delvrlniuvd " discover who hc was,
and to seek revenge.
During some time, Brandini waited patiently
enough; he then began to cough, hem, aud give
su, Stiry tokens o his Appruaen; finding these
ali GiNrvgardyd, and il being past midnight be
determined TO climb up to tile balcony.
No sooner did he btgin 10 climb, than the stu
dent, rgariing il as confirmation Of all bis
suspicious, snatched up stone, and flung Il with
all his force at Brandini, whom Il hit on his
forehead, aud he fell back on the pavement and
expired. ,.,... apfsds rei1ys
The student, wlo had acted from the impulse
Of the moment, was equally grivved and ala,med
at the consequence OF his impfudence. He fed
from the spot--but, before he had gone far, he
began to reflect on the risk be ran il the body
should be found before the door Of q woman Of
whom he was known tO be enainOred. He thought
that the best plan he could follow 70 secure him
sell iTOnl suspicion, would be to remove the
corpse to some distance. Accordingly he re-
turned, lifted the body on bis Shoulders-after
first wiping the blood from the forUhead-car-
ried il some distance, and placing il Upright
against the first door he came to, fastened away.
But be strove in vain TO quiet the timult Of bis
mind; and apprehending that his guilt would be
discovered, be quilted the town.
It so chanced that the house against which
the student had placed the corpse; belonged 70
an old captain, one Of the most captious and
qnarrelsOne inhabitants Of the city He was in
the habit Of sitting up late, and happening TO go
to the window just before be retired to bed, be
saw by the light Of the moon, which was then
just risen, q man leaning against the door.
.'Mhat are you doing thereg" cried be, in an
authoritative tone. The other, Of course, made
no answer. The captain repeated his question;
and incensed at receiving no reply, be swore
q round oath that II the intruder did not in
stantly quit his door he would give him good
drub6ing
Finding his threat Intellectual, he hastily de
sc;nded 70 put It into execution. No sooner had
he opened the door than the corpse lost its bal
amce and fell upon him. CoTceiving himself
about 10 be attacked, the sturdy old veteran
seized the supposed assassin by the throat
threw him down, and began tO belabor him with
a ] his might At last seeing that the other lay
still, and neither struggled nor spoke, he became
alarmed, tried 10 raise the man; and soon per-
ceved that he was dead.
His alright aud horror were increased on find
ing that Il was the usureE to whom he owed
large sum Of money For some moments he
gave himself up as lost; but the possibility Of
concealing his crime presently occurred to him.
lie took the unfortunate usurer upon bis shoul-
ders, crosshd two or three streets, and placed
him against column under the gateway Of
magnificent mansion belonging TO young noble
man. He then made of as fast as he could, and
returned, hoping that he had secured himself
from discovery. He tried to comfort himself for
what had happened, by rejecting that twas
the mans own fault, and that the crime Of mur-
der could not with justice be imputed to him,
since he had no intention Of committing It; but
all bis endeavOFs could not stife his terror and
his rcmorse.
Soon after the captain had placed the usurer
against the column, the Gobleman returned home,
aud seeing Brandini standing between him and
bis door. ordered him to get out Of his way.
The other not replying and continuing motion
less, the Eobleman seized him by the collar, gave
him violent shake, and suddenly lOosing his
hold, the unfortunate Insurer fell, Of course, 10
the ground. The nobleman, perceiving that be
did not move. eshclnded that be was drunk.
he first tried 10 assist him 10 rise. In STOPPING
for that purpose, he pereeived that BFundini was
dead, and naturally concluded that Il was either
Ihe shake or the an that had killed him.