The Project Gutenberg EBook of Love's Usuries, by Louis Creswicke

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Title: Love's Usuries

Author: Louis Creswicke

Release Date: August 8, 2010 [EBook #33380]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOVE'S USURIES ***

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_Love's Usuries_

BY

LOUIS CRESWICKE
_Author of "Magnetism and Mystery"_

London
HENRY J. DRANE
SALISBURY HOUSE
SALISBURY SQUARE, FLEET STREET, E.C.

[_Several of the following stories are reprinted by kind
permission of the Editor of_ "BLACK AND WHITE," _in which
journal they originally appeared. "On the Eve of the Regatta"
is reprinted by kind permission of the Editor of_ "THE
GENTLEWOMAN."]

TO

H. F. PREVOST BATTERSBY,

IN APPRECIATION
OF MUCH GOOD FELLOWSHIP.

Is happiness courted in vain?
A will o' the wisp--nothing more?
A bubble? a dream? a refrain?
Is happiness courted in vain
A certain begetter of pain--
A fruit with an asp at the core?
Is happiness courted in vain
A will o' the wisp----Nothing more!

CONTENTS

PAGE
LOVE'S USURIES 7
A QUAINT ELOPEMENT 25
TROOPER JONES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 53
THE "CELIBATE" CLUB (DIALOGUE) 70
IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP 78
SOME CRAZY PATCHWORK 94
"THE SOUL OF ME" 112
IN A CORNFIELD (DIALOGUE) 131
ON THE EVE OF THE REGATTA 136
PEACH BLOOM 151
TWIN SOULS (DIALOGUE) 176
PAIN'S PENSIONERS 182
FOR LOVE OR SCIENCE? 201
ROMANCE OF THE COULISSES 228

Love's Usuries.

"The star of love is a flower--a deathless token,