Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-13
EVAN BLAIR'S BOND.


---L----
James Towards castle was the dingy
little den called BY courtesy his Office
No one WAS ever permitted to cross ia
thrcshhoid except on the sacred plea Of
business In his sight ID would have
been dissertation for woman's touch to
have communicated itaelf to the piles Of
dusty papers with which the room was
literally lined
Perhaps wife might have ventured,
but James Howard had lost his wife in
the second year Of their brief married
life, aud the tiny infant she had left to
cheer aud console him in her place
though reignng mistress OF his heart and
home, in the eighteen years that had
elapsed since that time, had never ven.
tnred bur ono fatal time TO restore order
10 chaos
She had never known the want Of
money. Luxury and ease surrounded her,
though in her youth and beauty she
seemed cut off from the rest Of the world.
One day, ~ she was descending the
stairs, her attention WAS arrested by the
sound Of pleading voice, whose utter
auce was rich aud musical, though
br,athod In the accents Of despair. In
voluntarily she stopped to listen.
Ttell you, sir, "she heard theunknown
INV, "that unless have this sum before
Eve hours have passed over my head |
shall be ruined Give it to me, and !
podge you the honor Of my manhood to
return It within the next year.
Impossible, sri' her father answered
his voice little raised, and distinctly
TO be- heard--since the Office door, con
trary to his custom-stood somewhat
ajar. 'Yourrcquest is the request OF
maillnanl lou WSh iuo w S'o w" '"'
hundred pounds TO really throw II away
to beSgar my child"
II ask no gift, sir-l only ask loan
Mt any rate Of interest that you woult
choose to claim
"Ha, hn! that is good One can atior'
9 to he liberal in interest when the prlu
cipal can be plucked as the fruit fromoi
the trees"
ooh, sir, l8t me plead with yo'
through human sympathy. IT you re
fuse my prayer, you condemn me no
only to lose hope hut loss of life"
So he went on, in u torrent of resist
less eloquence, pleading, until it seeme'
to the young girl listening that he
father must lay his fortune at his feet
but instead came the stern, harsh an
memorable refusal at his close.
A silence followed. She stood, pale an
breathless, as the door opened and tn
stranger came within sight.
He was young and handsome, tall,wit
broad shoulders bearing head worth
q prince, but his features were clonde
with the sadness of despair, and she NJ
ticed drop of blood upon his lip, as b
teeth had met upon it.
A snddeD Impulse overcame her. 81
flew lightly down the steps, and tbncl
cd the young man on the shoulder
He turned
"You need one hundred poundsF 81
questioned, in whisper fearful of ii
halfformed sentiment growing with
her brain.
81 shall soon be beyond the reach
any need" he answered, as though III
conscious OF his spoken thought, or as
who addres sed him.
"No" she replied. You SAID that Sc
must have this sum within five hour
Watt will bring it to you with
three"
A sudden light leaped into his eye
For the first time his glance rested up'
her face.
what DO you say'" he questioned
hoarse, eager tones. ''You mock m
You are as cruel as the usurer who DEM
me-"
give me three hours and | will pro
to you that l speak the truth. VINE
can l find you'"
Here" he answered, writing on a 81
ofpaper, and thrusting it iu her han
81 will wait for you until four oclo
this afternoon"
IIsSiI tie ueSIfEu GNU 80 es''>'
:, aoch norlsh Public