West-Jersey pioneer., 1878-02-28

% IL uHucCiuou WHICH, fOdu 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 onward.
He felt already like one of the dead, to
join whom he was hurrying headlong. 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 WIS.,
ible objects. Nothing earthly 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 to stop; but his course was soon more
effectually arrested by the firm grasped
of mans hand, which seized him by the
arm with the force and tenacity of vice.
He turned fercely round He was in no
humor for the converse of casual acquaint-
ances. Nor was it any gay convivalist of
happier days whose face now greeted him /:
it was the old money lender, who in a
voice husky with loss of breath, or possibly
emotion, said, thrusting couple Of twenty
pound bank notes into Vests hand:
''Here take these notes. Take them, I
say'' he repeated as the young man, dizzy
with amazement, stammered out:
''You accept, then, my terms s?''
NO." growled the usurer; 81 give them
to you. Do you understand me? l say I
give them to you. l am an old man.
never gave away shilling before in my life
Repay me if you will when and how it
pleases you. have no security; ask no ac
knowledgme mt. Iwant none. lido not count
upon it. 1t is gone!'' and the usurer pro-
nounced the last words with an effort which
was heroic from the evident self-mastery
which it cost him. "There. Go! gor' he
resumed; ''and take an old mans advice.
Make money at all hazards, and never lend
except on good security. Remember that!'
The old man gently pushed West away,
and, all hatless and slippered as he was, ran
back muttering to his den, leaving the OBJ
Ject OF his mysterious generosity fixed like
statue of amazement in the centre of the
pavement.
About three months had elapsed, when
Bernard West once more knocked at the
door of the money lender
SIS Mr.. Brace at home?' he inquired,
cheerfully
ooh! if you please, sir, they buried him
yesterday" replied the servant, with a look
of curinusly affected solemnity.
''Buried him?" cried the visitor, with sin
cere disappointment and grief in his tone
"Yes, sir, perhaps you would like to see
Miss Brace. if it's anything very particu-
lar 90
81 should, indeed" said West: ''and
when she knows the cause of my visit,
think she will excuse the intrusion"
The servant gave an odd look, whose
significance West was unable to divine, as
she led the way to her young mistress's
drawing room.
West entered timid!y for he doubted the
delicacy of such proceeding, though his
heart was almost bursting with desire of
expansion under the shock just received
A beautiful and proud looking girl of nine
teen 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 ex-
cited
81 came" he said, in his deep musical
voice, ito repay noble service. Will you
permit me to share a grief for the loss of
one to whom l owe my life-yes, more than
my life?' West paused, and strove vainly
to master the emotion which checked his
utterance.
''My father rendered you service" said
tie young lady, eagerly, regarding with in.
voluntary interest the noble countenance of
Bernard, which, though it still bore traces
of great suffering, was no longer wild and
haggard as at his interview with the money =
lender
"a most unexpected and generous SER
vice, y replied West, who, softening down
the first portion of the scene we have de-
scribed, proceeded to recount to the fair
orphan Che narrative of the great crisis in
his destiny.
81 knew it was SOP cried the yound lady,
almost Historically affected; 81 knew he
was not SO grasping, so hard-healted as
they said-as he himself pretended.
knew he had generous heart beneath all
his seeming avarice! Oh, you are not the
only one doubtless whom he has thus
servedr'
West did not discourage the Illusion -
Nay, the enthusiasm OF the charming wo-
man before him was contagious.
"Thanks to your fathers disinterested
liberality," he resumed, Il am now in com
paratlvely prosperous circumstances. |
came not merely to discharge debt; be-
lieve me, ii is no common gratitude feel!
Doubtless you inherit all yonr fathers
wealth-doubtless it is buJ little service |
can ever hope to render you. Yet | will
venture to entreat You never to forget that
you possess one friend of absolute devotion
ready at all times to sacrifice himself in
every way to your wishes and to your hap
piLess."
West paused abruptly, for the singular
expression of the young lady's features
filled him with astonishment
You do not know, then''-she began.
know what ?"
"That-l-am IA natural chldr' she
with a crimson blush, turning
away her head as she spoke and covering
her face with her hands; ''that | am with
out fortune or relations; that my father
died intestate; that the heir-at-law, who
lives abroad, and without whose permission
nothing can be done-moreover, who is said
to be il heartless spendthrift-will take all
my father leaves; that have but one more
week given me to vacate this house by the
in short that l must work if
would not starve-in word, am beg
gar!" And the poor girl sobbed convul-