Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-08-05
CORA, The oCToRooN
by MISS N. z. BRADDON.

Ike gray eyes; hypocrisy and sensuality
alike were visible in the thick lips and
wide animal mouth. The usurer's hair,
of a reddish yellow, was worn long,
parted in the middle, and pushed be-
hind his ears, giving sanctimonious
expression to his face. For it must be
known to the reader that SiIas Craig
had always contriyed to preserve a
character for great sanctity. His voice
was loudest IN expressing horror in the
backslidings of others; his presence
was unfalling at the most frequented
places Of worship; and men who knew
that the usurer would strip the widow
or the orphan Of the utmost farthing,
or the last rag Of clothing, beheld hlln
drop his dollars into the plate at the
close Of every charity sermon.
BY such pitiful articles as these the
world is duped, and Silas Craig was
universally respected i'll New Orleans;
respected in outward seeming by men
who in their utmost soul loarhed and
eXecrated him.
With bland smile. he obcyed Gerald
Ieslie's gesture. and seated himself IL
loW rocking chair opposite the pian-
vi.
Charming weather, NJ. Lie" lie
said
Charming" answered Gerald, alb
sently.
= trust I see you well ny dear
friend" mnrmHred Sitas Craig. in the
fat. oily voice peculiar to him" "and
yet" he added. almost sffectionately,
Il do not think Won are looking we'll
no. decidedly not, you look Il little har-
ra,sed: a little care worn, us if the
business IF this life was pressing too
much upon yoto
4 have good need TO look harrassed
and care-Worn," answered Gerald Les
lie, impatlently; Come, Mr.. Craig, do
not let rs waste our time upon fine
speeches, and sympathy which we can
not either Of us expect 10 feel know
What loa haze come here for, and you
know that | know it. SO why beat about
tile BUSH You have my acceptance,
due to-day Ill your pocket, and you
nome to claim payment"
y 81 arc rs proud as ever, Mr.. Les
lie" said the usrrcr, an angry CLEAN
shooting ont Of his small eyes in spite
Of tie affected smile upon his lips.
Why should | be less proud than
ever" answered the planter, haughtily.
If you call Il contempt for faisehood,
md loathilg Of hypocrisy pride, am
certainly amongst the proudest."
Gerald Leslie knew that every word
nc uttered was calculated to infuriate
SilaS Craig, and that, at the moment
when lie had to ask favor OF him; but
the naughty spirit Of the planter could
less brook to stnop now than ever-the
very fact Of having to ask this favor
stung him to the quick and urged him
on to show his contempt of the man
from whom he had to ask it.
Tie uSm.er sat for some few mo-
ments III silence, rubbing his hands
slowly one over the other, and looking
furtlycly ut Gerald
OH may ask me why You should be
less proud to-day than ever, Mr. Les
lie" he said, with malicious grin
shall | tell you why? Because the
tables are turned since the day when
yoH passed oilas Craig in the streets Of
New Orleans, as if he had been one of
the slaves Of your plantation; when
vou spurned him us if he had been the
dirt beneath your feet. | know what
YOU said Of me III those days: | came by
my money by crooked ways; [ was a
rogue Ill uSurer; my ill-gotten wealth
would bring me to the galloWs some
day. These are tine sort Of things you
said. and took them quietly enough;
for am Of i patient disposition, and I
knew INV turn would come. 1t has
come. The times are changed since
tilsA. NJ, wealth was il-gotten, was
it You We're glad enough to borrow
a hundred thousand dollars Of it. i'll
gotten as it WAS; and now when | come
to-day to ask you for the payment of
that money You take such high tone
that | can only believe You have it
ready for me Ill your cash-boX yonder."
1t WAS With a malicious chuckle that
he uttered those concluding words:
for the crafty wretch we'll knew the
nature of Gerald Leslie, and he had
suspected from the first that the money
was not forthcoming.
Not one penny of it," cried the plan
ter; mot one penny of it. Mr. Craig"
Indeed" said Silas "Then I'm ex-
tremcly sorry to hear it: as. of course,
under those circumstances, | can 10
longer delay putting an execution upon
your property, and sending the Leslie
plantation and your valuable lot of
niggers to the auctiOneer s hammer"
Having uttered this threat he sat
for some little time with his hands on
his knees, and smile of triumph upon
his face, watching the countenance of
the planter.
Gerald Leslie's was gloomy face to
look upon III that moment; but it nei-
ther expressed grief nor humiliation,
and his enemy was disappointed.
1t Was not enough to ruin the man he
hated. Sllas Craig would have given
half his fortune to see that naughty
spirit lowered in the dust
The planter sat for some minutes in
perfect silence, as If he Were resolving
some plan III his mind. Presently he
looked up, and, without amy alteration
OF his former manner, addressed the
usurer thus:
"SilaS Craig, sooner than ask a favor
OF YOU, | would see every scrap of pro-
pertv possess sold III the public sale
room. aud would leave my native land
heggar. | do not ask YOU a favor,
then; | offer YOU a bargain. Ii my pro-
perty IS sold to-day, it Will be sold at
loss. loa will he paid, il is true, but
others, for whom >partlon me1 | feel a
great deal more concern, Will lose.
Two months hence that same property
viii. for certain commercial reasons
known is well 20 You as IL me, realize
much larger amount. Besides Which,
have friends III the North who may
come forward il the meantime to save
me from ruin Renew Your bill ut two
months from to-day, aud for those two
months | will give YOU doHbte the enor-
nous interest have been already pay
ing-a rGinous bargain ior ne. and as
valuable a one for You. But no favor.
remember that, Do Won aeeept?'
Il do" said Silas, after a few mo-
meat dtilacratlon. Inc interest
ought to he trebled though"
The planter laughed bitterly.
Il have offered YOU the uttermost
farthing | mean to offer" he said.
Il accept it," answered S.las. Give
me pen. ink. aud paper, and IL draw
up the document
CHAPTER ".