St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1880-12-04
EVAN BLAIR.S BOND.

MS once. NO one was ever per-
mitted to cross Its threshold eX-
ceDt on tie sacred plea of business
In his sight it would have been
desecratien for woman's touch to
have commuRic ted itself to the
piles of dusty papers with which
the room was literally lined.
Perhaps wife might have yen
tured, but James Howard had lost
his wife in the second year Of their
bret na-ried life, and the tiny ill.,
FAINT sh. Ls6 left to cheer and con-
sole him in .er place, though reign
ing mistress of his heart and home,
LIN the eighteen years that bad elaps-
ed since that time, had never ven-
tured but one fatal time TO restore
order to chaos.
She had never known the want
OF money. Luxury and ease sur
rounded her, though in her youth
and beauty she seemed cut OF from
the rest Of the world. One dmy. as
she was descending the stairs, her
attention was attracted by the
sound Of q pleading voice. whose
utterance was rich and musical.
though breathed in the accents OF
despair. Involuntarily she stopped
to listen.
Il tell you, SIR" she heard the
unknown say. "that unless / have
this sum before five boufs have
passed over my head ] shall be
ruined, Give it to me. and ! pledge
you the honor of my manhood to
return it within the next year"
Impossible, sirl" her father an
swered, his voice a little raised. and
distinctly to be heard-since the
Office door, contrary to his custom
stood somewhat ajar. Your re-
quest is the request of mailman.
You ask me to give you one hun
dred pounds-to really throw it
aSay-to beggar my child!"
Il aSk no gift. sir--I only ask a
loan, at any rate of interest that you
would choose to claim!"
"Ha ha! that is good! One can
afford to be liberal in interest when
the principsl can be- piucked Us the
fruit FROM of the trees"
"Oh, sir. let me plead with you
through human sympathy. If rou
refuse my prayer, you condemn me
not only to lose hope but los, Of
life. "
SO he went on, in q torrent of
resistless eloquence. pleading, until
it seemed to the yonng girl listening
that her father must lay his fortune
at his feet; but instead came the
stern, harsh and inexorable refusal
at hls close.
A silence followed. She stood,
pale and breathless. as the door
opened and the stranger came with
Ill sight.
He was young and handsome,
tall, with broad shoulders bearing
a head worthy u prince, but his fea-
lures were clonded with the sadness
Of despair, and she noticed drop
Of blood upon his lip, as his teeth
had met upon it.
A sudden impulse oye:came her.
She few lightly down the steps. and
touched the young man on the
shoulder.
He turned.
You need one hundred p-unds?"
she questioned, in whisper, fear
full Of the half-formed sentiment
growing within her brain.
Il shall soon be beyond the reach
of any need" he answered. rs
though unconscious of his spoken
thought or rs to who addressed
him.
NO." she replied. Vol said
that You must have this sum within
five hours. Wait-I will bring it to
you within three"
A sudden light ieaped into his
eyes. For ,he first time his glance
rested upon her face.
"Wdat do YOU say ?" ht ques-
toned, in hoarse eager tones. You
mock me! You are as cruel as the
usurer WHO denied Ius."
Give me thrae hours and / will
prove to you that speak truth.
Where can / find you ?"
Here" he answered, writing OH
n slip OF paper. and thrusting it in
her hand. 81 will wait for you nn
til four O'Clock this afternoon"
She stood motionless long ats I
he had Left her, one word of all thai
ne had spoken written upon the air