Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-11
IAL JOURNAL OF THE PARISH AND CITY.


| W. WV J'"'N 81 s'o"S"'"S "''"' ''S'
father must lay his fortune at his feet;
but instead came the stern, harsh and
inexorable refusal at his close.
Aslence followed. She stood, pale and
breathless, as the door opened and the
stranger came within sight. ~.
He was young and handsome, tall, with
broad shoulders bearing a head worthy
a prince, but his features were clouded
with the sadness of despair, and she no
ticed drop of blood upon his lip, as his
teeth had met upon it.
A sudden impulse overcame her. She
flew lightly down the steps, and touch
cd the young man on the shoulder.
He turned
"You need one hundred poundsi she
questioned, In whisper fearful of the
half-formed sentiment growing within
her brain. .........
| 81 shall soon be beyond the reach of
any need" he answered, ~ though un-
conscious of his spoken thought, Or as to
who addressed him.
"No" she replied. "You said that you
must have this sum within five hours.
Wait--I will bring it to you within
three"
A sudden light leaped into his eyes
For the first time his glance rested upon
her face.
"What do You say9' he questioned, In
hoarse, eager tones. "You mock mel
You are as cruel AZ the usurer who denied
NO."
"Give me three hours and / will prove
to you that | speak the truth. Where
can l find your
"Hcre," he answered, writing on a slip
of paper, aud thrustng it in her hand.
II will wait for you until four o'clock
this afternoon"
She stood motonless long after he had
left her, one word of all that he bad
spoken written upon the air about her,
as it pressed upon her surgiug brain.
"Usurer," he had said. He had spoken
of her father. Was he man who had
grown rich by grinding the poor-who,
in his plenty, had 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 adversely, to his door.
But the minutes were passing. In three
hours she had pledged this sum. How
could she obtain it'
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 gift-the diamonds
which had been his birthday greeting to
his only child. .-
Before her courage could fail her, she
tied on her hat, and, concealng the case
in her hand, stole like thief out into
the street.
It was her first deception, and it
weighed on her young soul. Heretofore
her fathers word had been her law. She
had had no outside interest. Now, an alb
sorbing interest she could not define led
her on with swift, hurried steps, until
she entered the jewelers. 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 jewelry as Its security.
Now, to redeem her promise.
In poor and scantly furnished room
in one of the purlieus of the great city,
she found the object of her search. On
a miserable pallet, in ono corner of the
room, lay seemingly dying child, and
bending over it woman whose face
bore traces of youth, refinement and
beauty. Far apart sat man with his
head bowed on his hands, and near him
rs though trying to comfort him, the
stranger who had awakened such strange
interest In her heart. ss.
She understood it all now. These
were his wife and child. 1t was for
their sake he had so humbled himself.
She bent quickly forward and placed
the roll of notes in his hands. He look
cd up, bewildered, amazed.
"You have come 7" he said.
"Did | 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 longer
were an intrusion. She hurried from
the room. As she reached the thresh-
hold, she heard him murmur:
Saved! saved p
That night little note was put into
her hand. 1t had been left by stran-