Year: 1869

L must have been five minutes about this
business, but .as passed under the next
gas light was startled to notice, standing
with her faceunconsciouSly turned toward
its almost ghastly radiance, the fair young
lady of the brooch, and could distinctly
hear her mutter to herself.


1t must be ten ! What shall l do ?"


Youth, if you will let it alone in its
good impulses, is ever inclined to benev-
olence, and with sudden and reckless
forgetfulness of Miss De Silver, and OF
her father the banker, turned toward the
pale unku kuown and said, with hardly my
customary ease of manner, "Here is five
dollars, Miss. saw you in the shop"


There was sudden start, and painful
flush in the pale cheek, but my voice and
manner were too respectful to admit a
suspicion of intentional Offense, and
added, quickly,


"YOu can pay me whenever you choose
interest too, if you want to-"


"But vOu are stranger"


$50 1 hope is old Moses What's-his-
name over there"


"Ah, 1 saw you therel But then, you
too are poor, and can not consent to
rob you"


"No; Pm not poor. I'm only a fool,
that's ALL Please take the money. /
know you want it. If you don't take it
you will be bigger fool than ! am"


Almost smile struggled with the keen
pain in her face, but the story of her
trouble seemed fairly forced from her
lips-and they were pretty if they soere
thin. 1t was nothing sensatiOnal-a sick
mother, slow pay for work done, rent due,
hard landlord-just an everyday and
commonplace sort of an affair. 1t did not
sound very commonplace, though, as she
told il, and-well, crushed the five dollar
bill into her little hand, and ran as the
congressman did at Manassas, forgetting
that by so doing destroyed all prospects
of ever being repaid


1 was anxious to find brokers' office,
however, and my watch felt heavier
without its chain than it ever did with,
though must say that my heart not only
felt light but warm. A little investigation
made me decide to wait until the follow
ing morning, and my next attempt at the
broad daylight, with my brain cool, and
clear of everything but Miss De Silver.


The office over which found the kind
of sign described by "my uncle was emi-
nently respectable, and frOnted on the
busiest part of Broadway. 1t was even
elegantly furnished, and if that was any
evidence of its character, nothing could
have helped it better than the aristocratic
air of the elegant youth who so politely
greeted me as | entered. No need, GER
tainly, of any qualmish feeling at having
to do with such gentleman as Mr.. De
Roos, the Diamond broker"


Rather Old-fashiOned watch, but the
,fryA Axy, lN1ln
Let me see u


The cases were balanced for moment
daintily in his jeweled fingers, and the
works scanned somewhat disdainfully.


"Seventy- five? Yes, l guess it will
bear that. Thirty days onlyg Longer if
you want it. Well, all right. Nice day,
isn't it ?"


Entries were made in book or two,
the watch carefully deposited IN drawer,
my ticket" was made out and carefully
inclosed in an envelope; my money was
counted out to me with an exceedingly
pleasant smile and bow, and my object
was attained without the slightest ripple
of any thing disagreeable, unless it was
the half-laughing insinuatiOn that my ina
pecuniosity was the consequence of recent
bacchanalian-excesses.


That, however, took in good part, for
| now felt sure of appearing in proper
style at the De Silver mansion. My
thoughts ran wholly on apparel, and the
probable effect to be produced thereby.


II


I must say that when my new array did
come home looked remarkably well in it,
and, of course, put it at once in service.
But Notwithstanding my nearer approach
to Solomon or the lilies, felt more nerv-
business on the De Silver doorstep than
even under the dangling balls of the
Lombard Arms"


AS stood, a moment later, in the fres.
coed vestibule fumbling for card, / could
not help Overhearing suppressed CONVEX
sation which seemed to be going forward
at the lower end of the hall


Indeed, Miss De Silver, would not
have asked, only We do need it 80 very
much"


"Pshaw, Miss Paynei That's always
the story. | won't be angry, though,
really and if you will come in tomorrow
| will try and have it ready for you. Of
course you will throw off something for
prompt payment"


"Oh, Miss De Silverl"


"Well, well-somebody' come, and
mamma is waiting for me-"


l heard a door close, and then-f,r
somehow was quite slow and clumsy
aOOut inding that card-who should come
out through the hall toward me but nv
fair acquaintance of the five-dollar loan =
If did not blush she did; and right be-
fore the astounded hunky she reached out
her hand fer the bit of pastebOard which
had just discovered, say ing, in quick,
curt tone Of voice.


"Your card, Sir, please"


She was gone, after she got it, like a
figure in dream, and was ushered into
the drawing room, staggering under a
vague feeling that there were three balls
on my head, or that somebody had asked
me what time it was.


There was certainly nothing like flattery
-hardly fair appearance of apprecia
tlOn-ln the manner of my reception
when the bankers heiress at last sailed
into the room. could not helm wonder
ing if should ever dare TO call that state
ly creature Matilda Still, I made the
best of my conversational powers. and
was really making some Roadway when.
to my unutterable dismay, the sliding
glass which concealed An inner parlor was
drawn gently back in its noiselcss grooves.
and the faultlessly dressed apparition of
the elegant "dismond broker" came glid-
ing over the carpet to present his adieuA
to Miss De Silver" Certainly the color
did come to my face, but the excellent
young man relieved me in the kindesi
manner. Nothing could be more cordial
or friendly than his recognition.


All, you know each other, them"
1t was the voice of Miss De Silver
and there was tremor i'm it which called