West-Jersey pioneer., 1878-02-28
THE USURER'S GIFT.

"A lew mOnCnS ago III LOnuOn an Ola man
sat in large panelled room in one of the
streets near Soho square. Everything in
the apartment was brown with age and neg
lect Nothing more superlatively dingy
could well be imagined. The learther n
covers of the chairs were white and glossy
at the edges; the carpet was almost of a
uniform tint Notwithstanding its original
gaudy contrasts; there were absurd old en-
cravings upon the walls-relics of the in
fancy Of the art-and curtains to the win
dows which the smoke Of years had dark
ened from delicate fawn to rusty choco-
late color. In the centre of the room, and
as it we're, 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 dis
NAL domicle. He was by profession a
money y-lender. His age might be from six
ty to sixty i've years; his face was long,
and his features seemed carved out of box
wood or yellow sand stone, so destitute
were they of nobility; his eyes were of cold; :;
pale steel color, but his brows were black
and tuited, like a grim old owl; long,
a4uiline nose, a thin and compressed mouth,
and vast double chin, buried in volumi-
nous white neckcloth of more than one
days wear, completed the portrait. Nor
did the expression of his countenance un-
dergo any perceptible change as, after a
timid knock, the door opened, and young
man entered of singularly interesting ap-
pearance.
The newcomer was we'll dressed, though
his clothes were none of the newest, and
had the air of a man accustomed 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 painful brightness; his long chestnut
hair, damp with Precipitation, clung in mar
row strips to his forehead; his whole man
ner implied the man who had made up his
mind to some extraordinary course, from
which no wavering or weakness on his part
was likely to turn him aside whatever the
opposition of others might compel him to
abondon or determine. Bending his tall
figure slightly, he addressed the money
lender in a tone of constrained calmness.
"You lend money, believe %
'SomeCimes-on good security" replied
the usurer, indifferently, forming a critical
summary of his visitors costume at glance.
The stranger hesitated; there was dis
Uin IF orl1pocc in tbo of
delivering this answer that seemed to pre-
judge his proposition. Nevertheless, he re-
sumed with an effort 81 saw your adver-
tisement in the paper" The usurer did
sat bolt upright in his chair waiting further
information. 81 am, as you will see by
these papers, entitled to some property re-
version"
The usurer stretched out his hand for the
paper, which he looked over carefully with
same implacable tranquility, while his visi-
tor entered into explanations as to their
substance.
Once only the money-lender peered over
the top of the document he was scanning,
and said gruffly: "Your name, sir, is Ber-
nard West? ?"
''lt is,'' replied the stranger, mechanical
ly taking up newspaper, in which the
first thing which caught his eye was the ad-
vertisement alluded to, which ran thus:
"Money to any amount advanced immedi-
ately on every description of security, real
or personal. Apply, between the hours of
10 and s. to Mr.. John Brace, street,
Soho square,
After brief interval of silence the usurer
methodicaIly rearranged the papers and re-
turned them to the stranger. "They are
of no use." he said, "no use whatever-the
reversion is merely contingent. You have
no available security to offer?''
"Could you not advance something upon
these expectations-note even ID small sum %
''Not ii farthing," said the money lender
''Is there no way of raising fifty, thirty
even twenty pounds p said the stranger
anxiously, and with the tenacity of drown
ing man grasping at straw.
"There is way" said the usurer care
lessly. West in his turn was silent, await
ing the explanations of his companion
Son personal security" continued the lat
ter with a sinister impatience, beginning
to arrange his writing materials for letter.
81 will give any DISCOUNT said the
young man, eagerly. "My prospects are
good. can"
"Get a friend to be security for the pay
ment of the interestH'
''Of the interest and principal you mean?'
''Of the interest only-and the life insu-
rance" added the usurer, with slight pc
culiarty of intonation that might have es-
capped the notice of one whose nerves were
less exalted in their sensitive power than
those of his visitor.
''And what sum can borrow on these
terms?" said West, gloomily.
"a hundred pounds; more if you require
it. In fact, any amount if your security
be good"
''The interest will doubtless be high ?"
"Not at all; or per cent AS much is
often given for money on mortgage of land.'
'And the life insurance ?'