The Opelousas courier., 1896-12-19
but could hear nothing more but tas
cIink If p1aepca

UIulu Is uOG y CIV uuLlU-4 Can luiuhs
She heard the door open and Bill
Bradden 90 out. Creeping noiselessly
down the stairs she laid the bundle
down and put on her bonnet and
shawl, then walked over and looked
long at the UNCONSCIOUS face of her
father as he lay in a heavy stupor in
his chair with head fallen on his
breast.
II have done the lest I could by
you, father. I have tried and failed.
| won't stay and be made to marry
that a No! not even to save the
ROOF over your heall"
The girl opened the window tritle,
picked up her bundle and violin, and,
blowing out the light, LETT the house.
PIul Oldfeld sat reading before the
fire in his little back parlor. The
ulaze lighted and Swallowed the walls
lined with bookshelf. musty books
which had lain for years waiting to be
claimed; the little room was oddly
furnished in quaint pieces, also wait.
ing to be claimed, for Paul Oldfeld
was a pawnbroker, as his father had
been before him.
The door opened, jingling the bell
on it's wire. The pavner drew aside
the chintz curtain and entered the
shop. Before the counter stood Sal
Garrick.
"You can sell my things" she said.
81 can't redeem them, and you
needn't save them any longer" .As
she spoke she looked at a bracelet and
a bunch of brown curls in the case.
81 can keep them a while longer,
Miss Garrick. Just to-day a woman
wanted the curis, but I told her the
time was not up. lift you could
pay the interest"
He watched the girls face Is she
gazed STEADILY at her treasures. She
slowly raised her eyes; they were glis-
tening with tears.
"It's no use. Mr.. Oldfeld. can't
do it. Mother will know I tried to
keep them, but couldn't"
Anything I can do for you, Miss
Garrick?"
"Well-yes. I don't suppose you
ever loan money on people, do you?"
The broker was surprised and puz-
zled.
"It is this" she went on. ~ must
have money enough to keep father
from being turned into the street. I
can't make enough by playing to pay
up the back rent, and-I thought T
could pawn myself"
"Why, yes, I could loan money
IN you, though I have never done it
before. How much do you need'"
"Twelve dollars. Oh, Mr.. Oldfeld,
I will play on the streets night and
day to pay the interest and redeem
myself"
"Take your time about paying it,
Miss Garrick I am not in any hurry"
be said, making out the ticket and
handing it to her.
1t was midnight when he locked the
shop and put out the lights, after first
taking a bracelet o bunch OF curls
from the case and laying them care.
fully in a box.
Sal Garrick grasped the money in
mi hand and her violin and bundle in
the other. as she almost ran along the
streets. Going home she slipped
the packet through the partly
opened window and heard it fall on
the floor, then went on.
She had walked a long distance when
she entered a lodging house and paid
the price Of a bed. The adjoining
room was well filled with cots, and Sal
Garrick looked cautiously around at
the sleepers before taking q paper
from her pocket. 1t was a pawn
ticket. By the light of the candle she
read:
INTERNATIONAL LOAN OFF1cE,)
November IL, 1898.
No. 2O5.
Received the following goods, the person
Of Sal Garrick, who will be subject to con-
ditions herein contained as security for
twelve dollars C2).
To be paid in one month from this date
with 10 per cent. per month addition for in
terest, and in default of payment thereof,
the undersigned is authorized to sell the
same at any public auction.
PAUL OLDF1ELD, 6 Penn street.
"No. 205," she murmured. "Al-
ways the odd numbers. All my life I
have been the odd one. The world
didn't want me and has no place for
me-"
II was Christmas night. Paul Old.
field sat by his fire, idly watching the
GOALS and thinking, thinking,
thinking. He was thinking of
the wlstful. earnest face of Sal Gar.
rick, of the poverty and unhappiness
crowded into that young life. He was
thinking of his own life; solitary,
lonely, almost melancholy in the mon.
otony Of its days.
just then the bell tinkled. He
went into the shop and found Sal Gar
rick gazing intently into the case.
"You have sold them, them" Her
voice trembled in spite Of her effort to
hide her disappointment.
"Miss Garriok, I couldn't"
"Mr. Oldfeld," she interrupted,
''the loan is due-overdue. I have
sent the little I could pick up to faith
er, and tn>ya is none left for interest.
Take this-tSusa It'll" she demanded,
the ylee;a on the country.
Il won't need 1t al more" :,
Inc broker srartf-- be saw the ex.
preston in her ey6-wild, desperate,
He ok the girls hand
md drew her toward him.
"The loan is up" he said, slowly. +.
In default of payment thereof, the