The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-12-27

| "y first born--my only son y
| ! expressed deep sympaihy. ] said. ~
suspect, madam. that something very nnioriu
| nate has happened"
She interrupted me by asking me, nj.
ser pause, If | knew nothing Of his
practices in London, for the last few
months, as she had seen my name several
times mentioned in his letters, as his
medical adviser. l made no reply !
did not even hint my sdspicions that he
had been "a frequenter of The gaming ta-
ble /; but my looks startled her.
"Oh, Doctor -, for the love of God,
he frank, and save a widowed mothers
heart from breaking is there no door
opened for him to escape 7"
| Seeing they could extract little ar no
satisfactory explanations from me, they
ceased asking, aud resigned themselves
to tears and sorrow. After rendering
them what little service was in my power,
and hooking in mt Mr.. Beauchanp's room,
where found him still in n comfortable
sleep, took my departure, for the dull
light ola winter morning was already
stealing into the room, and | had been
1 "
clock. All my way home l felt sure tha,
my patient was one of the innunierable
victims Of gambling, and had involved
his family in his ruin.
Mr.. Beauchamp, with the aid Of quiet
and medicine, soon recovered sufficiently
to leave his bed but his mind was evil
IDENTIFY i'll at ense. Had known at the
time what l was afterwards apprized of,
with what intense and sorrowful interest
have regarded him
The next week was all agony, hunilia-
tion, confessions, and forgiveness. The
only one item in the black catalogue
which he omitted or msT represented, was
the duel he was tn have fought. He
owned, after much pressing, in order 10
quiet his mother aud cousin, that he had
fought, and escaped unhurt. But Beau
champ in his own mind, was resolved, at
all events, to give Apsley the meeting.
on the very earliest opp"r'nni,y.-l'is
own honor was at stake His own re-
v~nge was - he sated The first thing,
therefore, that Beauchamp did, after lie
was sufficiently recovered Ia he lefi.ulone.
was to drop a hasty line to Sir Edward
Slreighton, informing him that ne was
now ready and wilIing-nay, nuxious--
to give ApsIey the meeting which he had
heen prevented doing, only by his sud.
den and severe illness. He entreated
Sir Edward (" continue, as heretofore,
his frien7, and tO hasten the matter as
much US pos' ,ble; adding that whatever
event might attend it, was a matter of
utter indifference to one who was weary
of life. Sir Edward, who began to wish
himself out of very disagreeable affair,
returned him II prompt. polite, but not
very cordial answer; the substance of
which wns, TINT Apsley, who happened
to be with Sir Edward when Beauchamp's
letter arrived. was perfectly ready to
meet him at the place formerly appointed,
at seven o'clock, on the ensuing morning
Beauchamp was somewhat shocked NJ
the suddenness of the affair. How was
he to part, oyernight--possibly for ever
from his beloved, and injured as be-
loved, mother and cousin? Whatever
might be the issue Of the affair what n
monster ofperfdy and ingratitude must
he appear to them
Fuliottlsse bitter, ,iistracting thoughts,
he locked his .roOn,-dOor, aud proceeded
to make his will. He left "every thing
he had remaiuing on earth, IN any shape,"
to his mother, except II hundred gl,iileas
to his COUSIN To buy mourning ring.
That over, and some other arrangements
completed, he repaired, with heart that
: sinote him AT every step, to his mothers
bedside; for it was night, and the old
lady, besides, scarce ever left her he'd.
The unusual fervor of his embraces, to-
ge,her with momentary fits Of absence.
mignt have challenged observation and
suspicion but they did not. He told ME
afterwards, that the anguish lie suffered,
while repeating and going through the
customary evening adieus to his mother
aud cousin, might have atoned for years
Of guilt.
After nearly sleepless night, Beaurhamp
rose about five O'clock. and d,ess-d himself.
On quitting his room, perhaps The last time
he sh"uld quit it alive, he had to pass By his
mothers door. There he fell on his knres
and continued with clasp,d hands aud cl.,sed
eyes, I'LL his smOihrrng cmOtions warned
him To beg0ne. lie succeeded IN getting oui
of the house without alarming any one ; and.
'nuffled IN h's cloak. nmde his way os fast a.
possible To Sir Edward S,reighion's. u was
u miserable morning. The untrodden snow
lay nearly foot deep on the streets. and was
YET fiut,ering fast down. Bcauchamp found
y 40 isrguIng to pimniher on through the
deep snow, and was so benumbed with cold,
that he called coach He had grca, diff
Guilty IN rous,ng the driver. wh", spite of the
bitter incl-mency of'hr weather. wss sitting
"n his box, poor fellow. fast asleep. aud even