Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-28

! looked quite forlorn. The servants lnsteau "
bustIing about in their flaming llveries, now
seldom showed themselves, or appeared IN DIS
habille, and answered the sulky creditors, who
supplied the place Of gayer company, with q
cres: fallen and detected air.-Losses by land
and by sea poured in upon Maurice Kettler; he
had wasted his capital in luxurious feastlng,
after frutlcss effort TO retrieve his affairs, ne
was proclaimed bankrupt
"Well! TO see the changes and chances OF
this world" said Mrs. Bruggemann, as, fatlgu-
ed by walking to the farthest par. OF the city,
she returned the identical parcel containing the
bridal robe, which Lena had packed with inn
mite care. into her daughters hands.-"l have
been all the way up to the Baron's," continued
the Ioquacious matron, sand met with smart
rebuff from Madam Cunegonde. 1t is all OH,
il seems, between her and Maurice; and she has
refused to take the manleau and kyrtle, which
! you have almost lost your eyesigh, IN making
worthy OF queen. Nor will she pay Tor the
materials, or allow you the slightest eompensa.
ton for your labour, think she must have
spite towards You, Lena, for by what l could
see she need not despair Of requiring wedding
robe There was one oil the Em2eror's knights
IN the chamber; and they jeered timely together
| about the downfall of upstart Burghers 1t is
plain tina, she never cared a single dolt Tor
Maurice, and now he has lost his wealth, he
may slarve in prison without giving her the
| slightest concern"
There seemed too great reason TO apprehend
| that this would be the tboughless merchants
fate. His property, diminished by unforeseen
disasters, was insufficient to meet hall his en-
gagements; the extravaganza Of his conduct
| had left him few friends; and the whole city
was filled with the clamorous cutlery of malig-
nant tongues. Lena wept for the misfortunes
Of her carly friend, and felt an anxious wish to
console him in his affections, but he kept aloof
| from the widows apartments, ashamed perhaps
to visit in adversely those whom he had neglect
ed in more ieicitous circumstances; for Cune-
gonde's jealousy would not permit him to re-
new his intimacy with his lovely playmate
The mansion, lately one blaze Of light, now
| frowned darky upon the surrounding scene,
" hen evening drew its shadows over the sky.
One solitary taper shed faint ray from the
chamber OF Maurice Keller, and showed the
anxious haggard coantsnance which bent over
a heap Of papers: the servants were oil dis
Charged; and The house, dismanted, only al.
forded shelter from the weather to man ac-
customed TO recllne upon siken carpets, and to
DC CanOpleQ ny tnc VI Uhoot
celebrated looms Of the Netherlands. He still,
however, remained upon suiieraace in the man
sion which had been the scene Of his revels,
there being some difficulty in procuring pur-
chaser. In the interim, things were not going
on very prosperously with Lena. Mrs Brug-
eeman had suffered herself to be persuaded 10
lend out the rix dollars which Maurice had
paid her, upon interest, to smoolh-spoken
-. 1. a,,I,y do
off with the money; the fowls and the pig were
now to be fed al their own expense; and, disap-
pointed Of obtaining customer Tor the bridal
robe, Lena received no compensation for the
cost Of the splendid materials, Or for the loss
of her time in the workmanship. While sit
ting one morning in penslve mood at her nee.
die, she was surprised by the visit Of an elder
ly stranger, way faring looking man, apparent
" Just returned from The East, who introduced
himself as Caspar Keltler, the uncle OF Maui
rice, and a person whom she recoected having
heard her father say had applied to him, when
refused by his sordid kinsrhan, for money TO
make a voyage to India. The old man had re-
turned laden with wealth; and hearing an ex'
apcerated account Of his nepnew's misdoings,
he repaired to the mean dwelling of the Brug-
gemanns, where, doubly enraged to find the wi
dow and the daughter Of his benefactor in so
friendess and destitute situation, ne vowed
he would make Lena his heir, and leave the un-
grateful spendthrift 10 the consequences oil his
own extravagant folly. Mrs Bluggemans was
fortunately from home, and could not interfere
10 check the work of mercy. Maurice found
an eloquent advocate in the gentle Lena; she
oalIiated the fault, which she could not deny;
justified him from every false accYatlon; ex-
cused his neglect of herself, by pleading his
ignorance Of her forlorn condition, until the
state of his own affairs demanded his whole at
ten,iop; and finally SO wrought upon the feel
ings Of her admiring guest, that he promised
to forget all past grievances, and to assist his
| nephew 10 emerge from his present dltho ultles.
| The old man was somewhat Of humorist-
| He returned to the inn where he had taken up
his abode without making hi. arrival and In
tentions known to Maurice, telling Lena that
she Should be the channel Of this agreeable in
tellicence to the man who would owe all his
unmerited good fortune 10 her generous exer-
| tons.
Maurice Kettler, she knew, was not within,
and never die the gentle girl watch more anx'
ously for his appearance; he came at last, bu'
| bic r,e,, wac hurried and every feature cOnvul-