The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-03-11

hand. Il will wait for you until fouI
O'Clock this afternoon.
She stood motionless long after hi
had left her, one word of all that hi
had spoken written on the air about
her, as it pressed upon her surging
brain.
'Usurer,' he had said. He had
spoken of her father? Was he a man
who had grown rich by grinding the
poor-who, in his plenty, held his iron
heel on the necks of the starving-who
lay back in his luxurious ease, while
want drove those who pandered to it,
by the bitter thongs of adyersity, 10
his door.
But the minutes were passing. In
three hours she had pledged this sum.
How could she obtain it2
Going to her room she drew from
their case her jewels. In one box, on
their bed of purple velvet, flashed the
radiance Of her fathers last glft-the
diamonds which had been his birthday
! greeting to his only child.
Before her courrge could fail her,
she tied on her hat, and, concealing
the case in her hand, stole like thief
out into the street.
1t was her first deception, and it
weighed on her young soul. Hereto--
fore her fathers word had been her
law. She had had no outside interest.
Now. an absorbing interest she could
not define led her on with swift hur-
ried steps. until she entered the jewel
er's and drew from her pocket the
case.
Ten minutes later she left the shop,
with the needed sum in her hands.
She had pledged her jewels as it's Sc
curity. Now, to redeem her promise.
In = poor and scantily furnished
room in one of the purlieus of the
great city, she found the object of her
search. On miserable pallet, in one
corner of the room, lay a seemingly
dying child, and bending oyer it a
| woman whose face bore traces of
youth, refinement and beauty. Far
apart sat q man with his head bowed |
on his hands, and near him, as though |
trying to comfort him, the stranger |
who had awakened such strange in
terest in her heart.
She understood it all now. Those
were his wife and child. 1t was for
their sakes he had so humbled himself.
She bent quickly forward and placed
tho roll of notes in his hand. He look.
ed up, bewildered, amazed.
tYou have come p he said.
did I not promise ? she answered.
He strove to speak again, but his
lips quivered, and the tears he turned
his head to hide trembled on his lashes.
She felt as though her presence long
er were An intrusion. She hurried
from the room. As she reached the
threshold, she heard him murmur:
Saved! sayed!
That night little note was put into
her hand. 1t had been left by . strang-
er at the door:
Iswear to you,by my grateful heart,
that twelve months from to day will
return your loan, with whatever inter-
est you demand. Until then 1 ask you
to have faith in one you have so nObly
befriended.'
The page bore no other writing, but
as she turned the key upon it, having
placed it within her jewel boz, it seem.
ed to her a more precious possession
than the diamonds it replaced.
Three short months later, and one
morning her father was found dead, i'm
the little room where he had lived.
His wealth was hers now, to do with
it as she willed. He had left it un.
reservedly to his only child, but it
brought no pleasure in its possession.
The word Insurer seemed stamped on
every golden coin, on every deed of
mortgage.
You will ruin yourself, my dear
young lady, her lawyer SAID, when
she insisted that from the face of many {
of the latter the large interest should |
be swept away; but she stood firmly.
My father did it for my sake she 8
said. Il am happier without it,
Slowly the year wore away, until {
came around the anniversary of the
day, until which time the stranger had {
asked her to have faith in him.
Had she, too, grown covetous, that, t
as the morning deepened into noon,
and the noon waned to night, heavy
seemed to settle upon herP q
Had che forgotten that this man had
wife and child? J
She did not pause to think, only d
when the evening lamps were lighted,
q sudden sense of loneliness crept over !
her-a bitter, unnamed disappoint- i
msnt, which brought the thick and Y
tears in an unchecked tor I
rent. {
She did not hear the outer bell, nor t
the opening of the door, until voice, G
close beside her, said: ..
Miss Howard, have come to re-
deem my promise. {
She started to her feet. In the dim,. |
light with which the room s
was yelled, she yet recognized the man t
whom she had served on such sud- t
den impulse one short year ago. He I
had come! A glad rush of thanksgiv- I
ing thrilled her, yet she shrank when l
he placed an envelope in her hand. 1t c
was as though some hidden tie had t
united them, which this, action sever I
ed. {
The principal only is there. 1t is
for you to name the interest. c
Il have no FRIEND she answered.
Be my friend. G
He raised her hand a moment to his I