The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-10-07
THE USURER'S E
From Household Words.

From Household Words.
Fred Page was perhaps the ~best-looking
young fellow in the vicinity of Branchley, a
large village, or small town, in the west oil
England, and was, when our story opens,
about 20 years of age. His father was
a small farmer and cattle dealer on the out
skirts Of the town-so they called it there
Without being wealthy, Farmer Page was
in a respectable position, and his only son
Fred-active, good looking. six feet high,
good tempered and intelligent-was certainly
the most admired of all the Branchley
swains, and many glances were cast at his
handsome figure at church, or at anysocial
gathering, by girls OF higher position than
his own, and it was supposed that he might
pick where he pleased. So we may conclude
he did, and, as so often happens, chose most
unfortunately-for himself, at any rate.
He chose to fall in love with Carry Sum,
mers, the acknowledged beauty OF the dis.
trict, who encouraged his attentions-O he
thought she did-sufficiently to induce him
to cherish hopes which were soon cruelty
dashed. Miss Summers was in much the
same sphere as was Page himself, but there
was a little more "style" about her people,
and every one who knows anything OF small
provincial town life will now what is
meant by that.
She professed to be astonished when
young Fred spoke openly, and within a
fortnight her engagement To the SON OF the
principal lawyer OF the place, Mr.. Waller
ton, was generally discussed, and it was
said their marriage would soon take
place. With the gossip came all sorts OF
satirical and ironical congratulations to
Fred Page, who, being regarded as only one
of half a dozen disappointed %suitors, was
supposed to be likely to get over his rebuff
as quickly as the Others did.
But this was not the case with Fred-his
disappointment was perhaps more severe
than that OF his associates in misfortune;
at all events, it o a more serious turn,
and, in the expressive colloquialism OF our
own time, che went to the bad" From
bad he went to worse, and ere the day OF
the wedding OF Carry his friends were glad
to smuggle him away, and. it was said, to
send him across the sea. No one professed
to know where he had gone; it was certain
he had disappeared from Branchley, and
equally certain that, if he had remained
there, he would have been involved in SER
ious trouble.
Well, many years had gone by since the
occurrence OF these events, and our story
no longer concerns the dwellers in Branch
ley. At this second period, one Mr.. Hylt-
man carried on the business OF money-lend-
er in Cliffborough, a large seaport city. He
was what used to be termed a usurer; but
this word, although we have employed it,
seems to have dropped out OF fashion OF
late; he was as mOrose, gloomy and retired
in his habits, as the Insurer OF old was al
ways represented to be. !
In a large and busy city like Cliffborough,
the people approached nearly to the Lon
don standard in respect to caring very little
about their neighbors; yet even there the
silent, u~ngenial old man was regarded with
dislike. He was not very old, but his bent
figure, his wrinkled face and gray hair gave
him an appearance Of age beyond his real
years. No one entered the tall, dull house
which he occupied in one OF the old streets
built when streets were built, it would
seem, to look specially dull and cheerless,
SO narrow were they and lined with such
high, fiat-faced brick houses-no one, we
say, entered his house save OF business, but
OF visitors of this kind there was no lack.
In ~alllarge towns-and in all small ones
too-there are plenty OF persons who want
money, and who will go to any place, or to
any body, where there is a chance OF OBJ
tanning it; so Mr.. Hyltman had as many
visitors as he cared for. His business
hours were over for the day. and he was
seated at his solitary tea-table in the dull
parlor of his dull house, the black, old
fashioned furniture making the hamber
more somber still. His old housekeeper
came in and removed the single cup
and saucer, but Hyltman maintained his
seat and his thoughtful gaze upon the fire,
until a loud and long knock at the street
door startled him.
Few OF his clients knocked like that, and
he listened for the opening Of the door
more keenly than was his wont. The house
keeper appeared, and said that a gentle
man-Mr. Lashbreigh-wished to see him.
The old man somewhat angrily retorted
that it was past his business hours, and
that he could not be troubled with any Wis
itors.
$50 1 odd him, sir" replied the house
keeper; 'but he says he will see you, ii he
has to wait in the hall until you go out in
the morning."
The usurer knitted his brows sternly, as
though about to say something harsh, but, |
apparently changing his mind, told the
woman to show the visitor in, and the next
instant a young man, OF some 20
years or so, presented himself.
This was a tall young fellow, well dressed,
and undeniably go~od-looking. Nevertheless,
there was something, both in his dress and
looks, which scarcely pleased, and while it
was, perhaps, i~ndefinable, was best con-
veyed by the word ''lashy." Not that the
young fellow was in any way coarse or re-
pulsive-far from it.; but assuredly there
was something in his look which called up
the idea OF ~racecourses, billiard-rooms and
toe many cigars.
Now, Mr.. L%ashbreigh," began the old
man why are vow here again? You know
my hours, and you know, too, that | told
you this afternoon l would have nothing
to say to your application"
IL know you did" returned the visitor,
who had seated himself, unbidden, and
placed his hat and cane on the table; "but
it was so unfair on your part that felt l
must try you again. Why won't you lend
mt this 1902"
II do not usually give my reasons re-
torted the money.lender; sit is not a mat
ter for borrowers to argue upon; but l do
not mind telling you. You want the money
too desperately for me to have anything to
do with you"
"Well!' exclaimed the other with an aston
isbment which was evidently genuine; do
you suppose anybody would come to you
and pay 20 or 80 per cent, who was not
thoroughly hard up? There's no mystery
about that"
homeless thar you think" replied
Hyltn,an; but you will do no good with
this money. You want it to pay losses by
betting, and will have no means OF repay
ment."
"Oh, shall / not?" exclaimed the young
fellow, luck won always be against me;
besides, you must own l paid the $50 l had
OF you honorably enough, and l wanted
that for the same reasUn-to clear my
losses and you had that no time"
TIL usurer nodded an affirmative.
"Well, them" continued his visitor. "if
my friend, Jem Brace, will put his name to
the bill again, won't that do?"
NO." returned the old man decisively,
lit will not. Brace is a reckless profess
sional gambler; you are-I will not say
what you are, but you will some day see
what you nave been. l was surprised to
receive my money when l learned your re-
lation to him, and that you were mixed up
in his pursuits. l will lend you no more on
such security"
The young fellow looked angrily at Hylt-
man for a few seconds, and then san into
what was evidently an unpleasant train Of
thought for a somewhat longer space. At
last he turned round with a muttered ex-
preston, which sounded very bitter, and
II must have the money, and that by to-
night. You have kept me on and
off, SO that there is no time to go any
else. If l give you satisfactory Sc
curity can l have it,"
you can," was the brief reply. !
Another pause followed, during which the