Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-08

should be able to procure 1t, what securities canst
thou offer for the reimbursement and INTEREST,"
! These questions were rs matter OF course ex.
pected, and promptly answered by Basil, who,
after the discussion of few preiminaries, exc.
cuted bond couched in terms and with consi.
derations highly pleasurable to Amalech, and
tending greatly to sweeten the bitter sneers and
revilngs Of Montague, and both parties separat-
ed with mutual satisfaction.
| A few months afterwards, Basil, with gay
and happy air, encountered his friend Montague
lounsing in st. Paul's
To his eager inquiries, he replied. that the tenn
pOrary em5arrassments under which he had la
bored had been happily removed by The season
able loan from An,aIech; that he had moreover
fallen in love with fair and wealthy helrcss, had
won her affections, and the reluctant consent Of
her father, to whom rumor had busiiy whispered
divers tales OF his sallantres and juvenile indis-
cretions. An earnest promise OF future amend
ment, however, on his part, and the blushlng ir-
rcsistable intcrcesson of his beloved and only
daughter, had induced the father to promise he
would consider of their wishes; which to the ar
dent lovers, was tantam0unt TO an approval, as
thev enjoyed his tacit permission to meet as often
as thew pleased. But there was one spcck, one
solitary cloud in the bright horizon of his hopes:
Basil had rival not in the affections of his ador-
ed Beatrice, but undoubtedly in the iavorite OF
his mistress sire. In the undertaking correct.
ness of his reformed life, however, he still firmly
relied upon ultimately bearing away the prize
! against all opposition.
| To obtain this desired object he was compel
! led to be painfully crcumspec!; at the same time
the reformed regularity OF his life cOnduced great
! Nv 10 the lettering OF his fortune, and he now
found himself in condition to discharge the Jews
bond, and it was On this just errand he was bent,
when unfortunately for Amalech. he met his
ouundam friend aud il.adyiser Montague, who
appearsd to harbor an inveterate hatred towards
| AAalech and all his tribe.
| He laughed at Basi's punctuaity, and, by
force of casuisry and the most poignant rldicule,
d,ssuaded him from putting bis honest Intentions
into practice.
1t were booiless to detail The base, yet base
less arguments wherewi,h he fortified the wayer-
inn resolution of Rasil, or the dishonorable means
they employed to deprive the Jew OF his money
and his right Of claim. Suffice it to say that they
conspired together, obtained the uncanceiled
bond, and left the duped Amalech without re-
source.
Basi, certainly had snme cOmpunctous feel
ings, but the heartless Montague babe him re
member that Amalech was Jew and hereto
, and that as good christians. they were performln:
duty IN Prosecuting him by every means ii
their power.
Amalech did not sit down quietly under TIT
loss, but took every opportunity of rcmonstratin!
: with Basil upon the cruelty aud ingratitudc u
his conduct, and perhaps Basil would have listen
ed to him had not Montague invariably been a
hand to smother his quams of conscience in hi
caus,lc dcrlsion.
D Il. oF .nI Ann
!, lechs intreaties were only answered By the bit
terest scorn and most cutting sarcasm, that lh
Jew, s,uny by Bas's ungenerous conduct so
lemnly vowed to be avenged. aud abruptly quit
; ted the soothing ga!lants with look that efectu
!. ally chilled their forced merriment.
A tavern, however, was at hand. and thithe
they sought for refuge from every obstructive feel
ing of care,
In the height Of their debauch, Gilbert Dor
las, i,asil's rival. CHARGED t0 enter. The mos
overstrained courtesy was invariably observed b
: both; and the fumes OF generous wine having nov
exhierated the spirits af Basil, he was more tina
usually cordial.
AT late hour they quilted the tavern. only {
repair to an adjacent gambling house; for Glider
with careless, playful sort of daring, had chal
lcnsed Basil to the hazardous contest. lie aT
peared at first inclined to Saive'the contest. bu
: his evil genius, Montague, vowed his dear lrien
should p!ay with any man, and the too plant dis
position of Basil yielded. As they were on III
pnint of entering the temple OF chance, Basil
who was in the rear, felt some one pull him Sigh,
lly by the cloak and turning round, he behel
: Amaech. The Jew was about to address him
when the inebriated Basil set up loud laugh
and called to bis companions that they might par
ticipate with him in the pleasure Of sporting wit