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

4
spoken of her father. Was he a
man who had grown rich by grind
ing the poor-who. IN his plenty,
had his iron heel or the necks of
the starving-who lay back in his
luxurious ease, while want drove
those who pandessd to it, by the
bitter thongs Of adversely, to his
door?
But the minutes were passing.
In three hours she had pledged Shis
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, flash
ed 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, conceal
ing the case in bar hanG, stole ike
u thief out into the street.
1t Tas her FIRST deception. and it
weighed on her young soul. Here
tofore her fathers word had been
her law. She had had no outside
interest. Nov an absorbing inter-
est she cocid not define led her on
with swift, hurried steps, until she
entered the jewelers. and drew from
her pocket the ease.
Zen minutes later she left the
shop, with the needed sum in her
hands. She had pledged her Jew.
elry as its security. Now, to re-
deem her promise.
In poor and scantily furnished
room in one of the perlieus of the
great city, she found the object of
her search On a miserable pallet,
in one corner of the room, lay a
seemingly dying child. and bending
over 1t woman whose face bore
traces of youth. refinement and
beauty. Far apart sat man with
his head bowed on bis hands, and
near him, as though trying to COM
fort him, the stranger who had
awakened such interest in her
heart.
She understood it all now. These
We're his wife and child. II was for
their sakes he had so humbled him.
self. She bent quickly forward
and placed the roll OF notes in his
hand. He looked mp bewildered,
amazed.
You have Gomez" he said.
"Did | not promise?" she an
swered.
He strove to speak again, but
his lips quivered. and the tears he
turned bis head to hide trembled
on his lashes.
She felt as though her presence
longer were an intrusion. She hur-
rled from the room As she reach
ed the threshold she heard him
murmur:
Saved saved!"
That night little note vas put
into her hand 1t had been left by
stranger at the door:
81 swear to you. by my grateful
heart that twelve months from to-
day will return your loan, with
whatever interest you demand.
Until then / ask you to have faith
in one you have SO nobly befriend-
ed"
The page bore no other writing,
but as she turned the key upon it,
having placed it within her jeweiry |
box, it seemed to her more preci- |
Gus possession than the diamond
it replaced.
Three short months later, and |
one morning her father was found |
dead. i'll the little room where he !
lived.
His wealth was hers now. to do
with it as she willed. He had lef.
it uureservedly to his only child.
bnt it brought no pleasure in its
possession. The word "usurer"
seemed stamped upon every golden
coin, on every deed of mortgage.
You will ruin yourself. = y dear
young lady," her lawyer said, wien
she insisted that from the face of
many Of the luttsr the large inter
eat should be swept away, but she
stood firm.
"Aly father did it for my sake."
she said. Il am happier without
1t"
Slowly the year wore away. until
came around the anniversary of the
day TO which time the stranger had
asked her to have flith in him.
Had she, too. GROWN coyetOus.