Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-05-02

.mtsceJEGm ny.
From the Columbian Magazine.
THE DOUBLE RUSE,
BY mas. CAROLINE H. BUTLER.
CHAPTER

THE DOUBLE RUSE,
sros e BY mas. CAROLINE H, BUTLER.
49,. - .~ "a CHAPTER 1.
-.sNnoSe psha! Walter, talk not such absurdity
TO me- What has love to do with business u Isl
the fortune, my boy, we want, not throbbing
hearts--it is the chinlE of gold we wish to hear,
not alanguishing signs. | say, Walter mention
not l0De to me again" So saying, MIR. Newman
pushed back his chair, struck the table with great
violence, aud fixed his eyes sternly ON the counte
nance of his son, who was standing before INN
with his arms folded over his breast-the heeisof
his boot grinding upon the polished marble, and
tho expression Of his features denoting any thing
but pleasure in the subject of debate.
"Fortuner' answered Walter, with shrug of
contempt, is she so potent that she can blunt the
sting of conscience at deceiyng an amiable conf
ding girl into the belief that sought her hand for
love-" 'sf
4" Psha lone againn'
&c And not for the gttering trash it bestowed!
No father, God forbid should ever perure my
seIf!"oat
oi" And pray sir let me ask >" rejoined Mr. New
man, ''if you have duly weighed the consequence
es of refusing to satisfy this engagement! have
already.tohl YOU that unless you consent to my
wishes we must hencet0rh be as strangers. You
know, too, the girl loves you-and yet your fool
ish scruples of conscience, orsooth, must he obey
edi And thus you ruin the happiness OF the girl
thrust from you fortune-destroy your own pros
poets, and sever for ever the holy bord of father
and son!''
IS However much it may grieve Inc to be forever
banished from your Affections" replied Walter,
must repeat my firm determination never to marry
Miss Lee. know her to be anlable, and to be
endowed with talents of superior order. She
must ever command my respect and esteem, but ]
never could feel any warmer sentiment"
And who wants you to, foolish boy'" inter
rupted; Mr.. Newman-then bowling with mock
Difference he added: C but perhaps the fastidlO'ts
young gentleman has already broken sixpence with
some lac-a-daiscal maid who can sing my face
ismy fortune,' and intends to practice the theory
of love in cottage and sup upon signs and moon
shine! If so, the idea of gold and hunchback
must be exceedingly unromantic"
There was so much of contempt and bitter sar-
casm in this speech, and the look with which ii
was accompanied, that indignation flashed from
the eyes of Walter, aud the blood mounted to his
temples as he replied;
Such remarks are wholly uncaIIed for, sir; nor
can hear the unfortunate Hester Lee spoken oil
in such terms even by a parent! True, in out
ward form nature has dealt with her unklndly-but
she has nobly endowed her with mind and even
were she penniless she would prove a treasure to
any nlsn.} As TO my own particular feelings or
views, do not feel disposed to communicate"
8s For.some moments Mr.. Newman made no re-
ply; at length, rising from his chair, and eXamin-
ing the doors to see they were closed, he locked
them, and resuming his seat, said in a tone and
manner entirely different:
"a sit down, my dearest son and listen to me-
Y0ul reluctance, nay, your positive refusal to this
marriage with Miss Lee, compels me to a mos
painful disclosure, and one which ! hoped might
have been avoided, but now see no alternative
Walter, am ruined! yes, ruined both in fortune
aud reputation unless have immediate relief
Through the neg lgence, perhaps dishonesty of my
agents, both at home and abroad, my affairs are
much embarrassed but not irretrievably So Mr.
Fleece assures me that few thousand dollars OF
so, judciously managed, will set all right. Other
wise, the reputed millionaire of to-day, sinks int
poverty and disgrace, wrecking hundreds in hi
Iescent-ruining the hopes of widows and orphans
whose little hoard was entrusted to his care. Re
fleet upon this, my dear Walter, and consider by
how trAng sacrifice you can redeem my pecu
mary losses.' #u.t
MY dear father, these are most unexpected
and distr :ssing tidings," replied Walter " B.
assured that every thing that | can do consisen
with my honor shall be done, hut you surely can
not mean that the fortune Of Miss Lee shall b.
sacrificed 70 this object" ...
&C Not sacrificed, Walter-Hot sacrificed, boy
only loaned for a term"
/" Work for you, father | will, both day ant
night; will toll unceasinglY; all the energies will
which my Creator has endowed me shall be use'
in your BEHALF but to lend myself party to sucI
base imposition and treachery as must be practc
ed upon Miss Lee, cannot do it SIR
7" Say not so, my sou; be not hasty in your dc
cisior. To you do look to save me from ruin
to save your father, Walter, from immediate dis
grace Take ono week for reflection, and in tn
mean time let us not again refer to the subect."-
SO saying, Mr.. Newman ferVenty pressed tn
hand of his son and left the apartment.
Poor old mani Does he not deserve our CON
miseration to be forced to make his only son vi
liam that he may yet bask in the golden beams c
wealth! And poor Walter too There will
strife between fiIial love and his own self respect
s. .tH. CHAPTER IL.
"Good morning, Fleece"
GOOD morning, Mr. Newman"
Chow are clients Fleece?"
every rare, sir"
"WeIl, Fleece, look We have a little matter
which to request your assistance, and perhaps at
vice; is any person within hearing?"
''Not soul in the office, sir, but ourselves"
hVery we'll. You are aware that have Ion
had n contemplation the marriage of my SO
with Miss Lee, the rich heiress: but now, Just
the moment when expected to clinch that gre
fortune as it were, the foolish boy refuses to MARI
her-yes, refuses: alegingno other reason tha
that he cannot love her! LoUe-dd you ever he;
of such absurdity?"
ba' "Never, upon my honor"
"What is more, | have reason to believe tn
the girl loves him; but that cannot content his +
mantle notions; no no, he harps upon the mutu
affection! Wen now, Fleece, ! am coming to Il
object of my visit Finding him so obstiDatey S
against this marriage, regardless alike ofmy col
iihands aud threats | have had recourse to lit
estratagem--a harmless ruse to effect my object
'F Appealing therefore to his tender feelings as
son. have set forth false statement of my pee
MARY circumstances; impressed him with the b
lief that am ruined in toto unless Thaye immet
ate relief, and that his marriage with Miss l.
can alone redeem me from ruin and Disgrace"
Ha, ha! very good.''
g / think this will bring him to reason. Dur
our conversation watched his countenance ma
rowly, and his emotion escaped not my eye. /
pend upon it, he will yield. But little more
Fiifce is still required, and it is to further this +
Is good FRIEND that wish your assistance"