The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-03-11
EVAN BLAIR'S BOND.

gy little den called by courtesy hi
office. No one was ever permitted I
cross its threshold except on the sacre
plea of business. In his sight it woul
haye been desecration for woman
touch to have communicated Itself t.
the piles of dusty papers with whlcl
the room was literally lined.
Perhaps a wife might have venture,
but James Howard had lost his wifi
in the second year of their brief mar
ried life, and the tiny infant she hai
left to cheer and console him in hel
place, though reigning mistress of hi,
heart and home, in the eighteen years
that had elapsed since that time, had
never yentured but one fatal time to
restore order to chaos.
Her father had fortunately discover.
ed her good intention before it had
been carried great way into execu.
ton. He addressed her then, In his
impatience, the first harsh word she
had ever heard from his lips; aud
though he repented it the next mo-
ment, she never again offered to re-
duce disorder to order. Nor did she
understand the nature of her fathers
business.
She had meyer 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.
No one entered her fathers house
except the men who came to talk with
him on business, and were closeted
with him in his own private room.
One day, as she was descending the
stairs, her attention was arrested by
the sound of q pleading voice, whose
utterance was rich and musical, though
breathed in the accents Of despair. In.
voluntarily, she stopped to listen.
Il tell you, sir she heard the un-
known say, that unless 1 have this
sum before five hours have passed over
my head l shall be ruinedl Give it to
me, and 1 pledge you the honor of my
to return itWithin the next
year.
Impossible, sir r her father answer
ed, his voice q little raised, and dis
linctly to be heard-since tho Office
door, contrary to all custom, stood
somewhat ajar. your request is the
request of madmanl You ask me to
give you one hundred pounds-to
throw it away-to bsggar my childl
Il ask no gift, sir-I ask a loan, at
any rate of interest you choose to
claiml
sHa, ha that is goodl One can af-
ford to be liberal in interest whom the
principal can be plucked as the fruit
from the trees. Let me listen to such
and how long, think you, l
might avert ruin7
'Oh, sir, let me plead with you
through human sympathy. II you re-
fuse my prayer, you condemn me not
to loss of hope but loss of life. 1t is
true 1 have no security to offer you
except my solemn pledge. oh, Mr..
Howard, you would hardly miss this
will prove my salvationi
So he went on, in a torrent of resist
less eloquence, pleading, until it SEEM
ed to the young girl listening that her
father must lay his fortune at his feet
but instead came the stern, harsh and
refusal at it's close.
A silence 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 head
worthy prince. but his features were
with the sadness of despair,
and she noticed a 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
the young man on the shoul-
der.
He turned.
sYou need one hundred pounds ?
she questioned, in whisper, fearful
of the half-formed idea growing with.
in her brain.
Il shall soon be beyond the reach of
any need, he answered, as though un.
conscious of his spoken thought, or as
to who addressed him.
sNo,' she replied. you said that
you must have this sum within five
hours. Wait-I will bring it TO you
within three hours.
A sudden light leaped into his eyes.
For the first time his glance rested on
her face.
What do you say p he questioned,
in hoarse, eager tones. you mock
mel You are as cruel as the usurer
who has denied me. 4
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