Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-13

"Usurer,' he had said. He had spoken
Of her father. Was he u man who had
grown rich by grinding the poor--who,
In his plenty, had bis iron heel on the
necks Of tho starving--who 10y back IN
his luxurious ease, while want drove
those who paudered to 1t, by the bitter
thongs of adversely, TO his door.
But the minutes were passing. In three
hours she had pledged this sum How
could she obtain ity
Going TO hor room she drew from their
case her jewels. In one box, on their bed
ofpurple velvet, flashed the radiance of
her fathers last gift---the diamonds
which had been his birthday greeting to
his only child.
Before her courage could fall her, she
tied on her hat, aud, concealing the case
in her hand, stole like thief out into
the street,
II was her first deception, and tt
weighed on her young soul. Heretofore
her fathers word had been her law. She
had had no outside interest. Now, an ali
sorbipg interest she could not define led
her on with swift, hurried steps, until
she entered tho jewelers. and drew from
her pocket the case.
Ten minutes later she loft the shop,
with the needed sum In her hands. She
had pledged her jewelry AZ its security.
Now, to redeem her promise.
In poor and scantly-tnrnished 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 n seemingly dying child, aud
bending over 10 woman whose face
bore traces Of youth. refinement and
beauty. Far apart sat n man with his
head bowed on his hands, and near him
as though trying to comfort him, the
stranger who had awakened such strange
interest IN her heart.
She understood n al now, These
were his wife and child. II was for
their sake he had ~ humbled himself.
She bent quickly forward and placed
the roll of notes in his hands. He look
cd up, bswildered, amazed.
"Yon have come |" he said
did not prom 50 ~ she answer d.
He strove to speak again, bnt his lips
quivered. and the tears he turned his
head 70 hide trelnbled on his lashes
She fit ~ though her presence longer
were m intrusion. She hurried from
the room. As she reached the thresh-
hold, she heard him murmur;
Saved saved !"
That night little note was put int"
her hand. II had been left by IL stran-
ger ut the door:
II swear to you, by my grateful heart,
that twelve months from to-day will
return your loan with whatever inter
est you demand. Until then ! ask you
to hay faith in one you have 80 nobly
befriendeh.'
The page bore no other writing, but
~ she turned the key upon II, having
placed it within her jewel box. 1t SEEM
cd to her more precious possession
than the diamonds it replaced.
Three short months later, and one
morning her father was found dead. In
the lttle room where he bad lived
His wealth was hers now, to do with
it IA she willed, He had left IL unre.
servedly to his only child, but it brought
no pleasure in its possession. The word
Insurer seemed stamped on every gold
en- 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 firm.
"My father did it for my sake" she
said. 1 am happier without it, ,
Slowly the year wore away, until
came around tho anniversary of the
day, until which time the stranger had
asked her to have faith in him.
Had she, too, grown covetons, that,
as the morning deepened into noon, and
the noon to night, a heavy oppression
seemed to settle upon her. Had she
forgotten that this man had wife and
child?
She did not pause to think, only when
the evening lamps were lighted, a sud
den sense of loneliness swept over her
a bitter, unnamed disappointment
which brought the thick and binding
tears in an unchecked torrent.
She did not hear the outer bell, MOI
the opening of the door, until voice
close behind her, said;
"Miss Howard. 7 have come to redeem