Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-09-06
the USURER'S REVENGE.
From Household Words.

large village or small town, in the west of
England, snd was, when our story opens,
about 20 years Of age. His father was
small farmer and cattle dealer on the out,
skirts Of the town-so they called it there.
Without being wealthy, Farmer Page was
in s respectable position, and his only son
Frej-sctive gOod-lOoking, six feet high,
gOod-;eupered and inteligent-vas Ger
tsiDly the most admired Of all the Branch
ley swaiDs, and many glsnces were cast at
his handsome figure at church, or at any
social 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 often happens,
chose most unfortunately-fo himself at
any rate.
He chose 10 fall in love with Garry Sum
mers, the acknowledged beauty Of the dis
trict, Who encouraged his attentous--Or he
thought she did-suf6cisntly 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 little more style about her people,
and every one who knows anything Of
small provincial town life will know what is
meant by that.
She professed to be asSonished when young
Fred spoke openly and within fortnight
her engagement to the son Of the principal
lawyer OF the place, Mr.. Wallerton, was gen
orally discussed and il was said their mar
ri6ge would soon take place. With this
gossip came sll sorts Of satirical and ironicsl
congratulations to Fred Page, who, being
regarded only as one out Of halt dozen
disappointed suitors, was supposed to be
likely to get over his rebuff as quickly as
the Others did
But this was rot the case with Fred-his
Disappointment was perhaps more severe
than that of his associates in misfortune;
st Gil events, it took a more serious urn,
ard, in the expressive colloqUisism Of our
own time he went to the bad From bad
be went to worse, and ere the day fixed fJr
the wedding Of Garry and his friends were
glad TO smuggle him away, aud it was ssid
TO send him across the sea. No one pro-
ftsstd 10 know where he had gone; it was
certain that be had disappeared from
Rranchley and equally certain that, If he
had remained there he would have been il
volved in serious 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. Hyl:-
man carried on the business Of a money
lender in Chf0orough, a large seaport city.
Re was what used to be termed q 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 usurer Of Old was al
ways represented 10 be.
In large busy city ike CGfoorough
the people approached nearly to the London
stan srd in respect TO caring very little
about their neighbors; yet even there the
silent. unsenisl old man was regarded with
dislike. tie was not very DID, but his bent
figure, his wrinked 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 wodld
seem. to look specially dull and cheerless
80 narrow were they, and lined with such
high, dat-faced brick houses-Ro one, we
say, entered his house save on business, but
Of visitors of this kind there was no lack.
In all large towns-aId in all small ones,
too-tbere are plenty OF persons who want
money, and who will go to any place, or to
ANYBODY, where there is a chance Of obtain
ing il: so Mr. Huffman had as many visit
ors ss he cared for. His business hours
were over for the day, and he was seated at
his solitary tes-tsble in the dull parlor Of his
dull house, the black, old-tashioned furui-
ture making the chamber more sombre
still. His old housekeeper came in and re-
moved the single cup and saucer, but Hflt-
man maintained bis sea. and his though
full gaze upon the fire, until loud and long
Ln.ck st the street door startled him.
Few Of the clients knocked like that aud
be listened tor The opening Of the door more
keeuly than was his wont. The housske P.
ST spp5 AIRED, and said that q gentleman
Mr. Lashbrtigh-wished TO see him. The
cid man somewhat angrily retorted that it
Vas past his business hours, and be could
not be troubled with suy visitors.
so told him sir replied the house
keeper; but ne saws be will see you, if he
has 10 wait in the hall until you 60 outinthe
morning.
though about to say something hard, but
apparently changing his mind told the NO
man TO show the visitor in, and the next in
slant 3 young man, OF some twenty years or,
so, presented himself
This was a tall Young fellow, well dressed,
and undeniably good-ooking. Neyerths-
less. there was something, both in his dress
and looks, which scarcely pleased, and
= nd haak
convened by the word "Hashy." Not that
the Young fellow was in any way coarse or
rep1lsive-far from it; but assuredly there
was something in his look which called up
the idea Of race courses, billiard rooms, aud
TOO many cigars.
Now. Mr.. Lashbreigh," began the cd
man, why are you here again? You know
nv hours and you know, too, that | tod
Won this afternoon | would have nothing 20
say to your application
Il know you did, returned the visitor,
who bad seated himself, unbidden. and
placed his hat and cane on the table; but
4 was 30 unfair on your part that felt |
must try you again. Why won't you lend
me this ninety poundsT
Il do not usually give my reasons re
torted the money-lender; lit is not matter
for borrowers to srgue upon; but do not
mind telling you. You want the money too
desperately for me to have anything to do
with you"
"WeIlr' exclaimed the other with Sn as
Punishment which was evidently genuine;
do YOU suppose anybody would come to
Won and pay twenty or thirty per cent, who
was not thoroughly hard upH There's no
mystery abOutthat.
'.None-less than you thiak,' replied
Hyltuan; but you will do no good with
nt---- w u,nnt n 10 NV hssns Ok