Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-10-13
CHATTER OF oRI161s.

CHAPTER OF GRIMES.
From the Philadelphia Balletin
EXTRAORDINARY LOPEMENT.
The business community Of Market
street, has been painfully agitatcd for
the last two weeks, by rumors conc ern-
ing the disappearance of q merchant,
largely connected in q house Of un-
doubted standing, and which has been
engaged up to this time, in o great aud
highly lucrative business. The inii-
vidual referred to was a married man.
and one Of the few who would not
have been supposed susceptible Of so
much infatuation Us to be seduced from
the arms Of virtuous and affectionate
wife and child, by the Establishments
Of female young enough TO be his
daughter. Yet it would appear that
about the early part Of August. he left
the city in company, as'it is alleged,
with an orphan girl, with whom he had
previously been in habits of great in
timacy. and who left the house of her
protector for summer visit Of a week
or two, in the neighborhood Of the city,
from whence she joined her paramour,
unknown to her friends. The gentle
man being largely concerned in bust
ness which sometimes required his
presence in Boston for the purpose of
making purchases. left the city osten.
sibly for that place but though letters
have been written thither enquiring il
he had arrived, yet SO late 40 the mid
die Of this week no tidings whatever
had been received from him.
Alter an absence Of a week from the
city, letters from him were Of course
expected, by those 10 whom he had en-.
trusted the management Of his extern
sivc business in his abse IN &C, but though
none were received, yet his silence
occasioned no uneasiness at the count
ing house. At his own Preside, how
ever, different and most agonizing
feeling of abandonment was entertain :
ed, which the lapse of day after day
without hearing from him, only served
to confirm, coupled as it was with the
knowledge Of circumstances which ap-
pear to have escaped the scrutiny Of
all eyes less keen than those of an az
fectionate wife. His conduct had been
remarked by those within his domes ic
circle, as different from what it had
been previous &, his acquaintance with
the orphan. His growing intimacy
with her had been observed by those
whose happiness il was ca lculated most
deeply to affect, with a presentiment
that it would lead to bitter and heart
rending results. Thus, when il was
ascertained that he had taken with him
large amount in cash; that he had
observed an unusual silence since his
departure; that he was net to be found
at any Of the places whittier he had
represented himself bound and more
astonishing than all, that the female to
whom his attentions had been long and
ardent, bad suddenly disappeared the
same dsy, a strong colouring of truth
was given to the sspposition that he
had eloped with her, and the suspicion
was communicated by her whom he
had most injured, to a gentleman who
held the bond OF the delu 1ed persons
for many thousand dollars.
Painful as this disclosure must have
been to her who made IL. it was listen
ed to with amaZement and incredulity
at first, which the disclosure of ma.
ny eorroboratiDg circumstances alone
served to disSipatc--such was the un-
limited confidence reposed in the ella.
racter and virtue of the absentee. The
astounding facts now spread with "a.
Pidity through the whole mercantile
community, creating a sensation Of
mingled smazement aud regret-a-
maZeineut that one so universally re-
sPected as an upright dealer, should be
guilty OF an act go entirely in Opposi.
ton TO his previous character. and re-
gret TO witness tire spectacle Of an
smiable family and a lucrative bust
ness abandoned for the society Of a
girl Of seventeen.
This infatuated man, was accumu.
latlng money rapidly; his credit was
unimPsaehed, and probably few men
oi his standing ever enjoyed more fully
the confidence snd respect Of most
extensive acquaintanee. Yet all have
been blasted By passion Tor a female
oi ordinary attractions. She is Young.
not yet eighteen, is an orphan, and has
been reared under the protection Of a
worthy man. IN whose family the sb.
scooded indiyIdasl first became &C.
qaAInied with her. Their intercourse
was never imagined - proceeding be-
yond the prspriety which two spps-
realty deyOut members Of the same
meeting ought to observe, and among
those who have been thanderslruek Ly
the event, bone, perhaps, have been
more amazed than those from whvss
protection she has 80 unfortunately
abSented herself Her fate nay b.
regasdsd - II the most meIaneboly
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