The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-08-29
THE SWINDLER;
or, Ill Gains Never Thrive.
A PRIZE TALE
ny j. AUSTIN spERRY.

APRIZE TALE.
BY J. AUSTIN sPERRY.
A clear bright February day, after heavy
fall of snow! Any one who has visited the
Great Emporium during slcghing time may
imagine the brilliant scene which Broadway
presents on such day. Thousands Of
sleghs of every shape, size and variety are
dashng hither and thither, in such thick con
fusion ms to make it matter of incXpGcnble
establishment how they find room to pass
each other without coming into colsion.-
Here and there great omnibus sleigh, piled
up with human freight, glides along like an
overloaded steamboat out of its element,whte
gliuering establishments offairy-like lghtness
and beauty are glancing by them and around
Them like birds upon tho wing. The spray
| thrown up from the heels of the toaming
courscrs, flashing and cleaning and sparkling
and cleaning and sparkling in the bright ut
mosphere, resembles a shower of burning dia-
monds; while the Jinglc, jingle, jingle of the
! bells floats upon the breeze so nierrlly and
chcerly that your heart leaps with JOY at the
sound. You might almost fancy that the
bright sunbcams were all golden bcll-wircs,
and that old Winter, with his white fingers,
was pulling them for very fun. Then, too, the
happy faces that peep out from the warm,
rich furs-the glimpse ofbeauty and glnnces
Outright eyes that beam on you ms they fit by,
radiant MS sunshine and transient as meteor
flash! Oh what gee is there in old Gotham
III segh-time!
Such was the day and the scene. In Il
magnificent little shell that glided along
Broadway, were seated lady and gentleman
almost buried in costly turs. The lady's face
was one of rare lovelinessand the gentleman,
as he listened to her animated words,secmed
to he so much absorbed i'm the contemplation
lNfh rbo hut hn M or a. rpin u
left his s.eed to trot along thro' the throng ut
, his own discretion. While the lady chaued
away in lively strain, her glance was wan-
dering over the crowd that moved along the
side walk. Suddenly laying her hand upon
the gentleman's arm, she exclaimed
Look, George sweet face that poor
girl hast
The object ofths remark was n girl ap-
parently about seventeen, rather uucomiort-
ably clad for the season, with a thin tndcd
shawl over her shoulders, and her light ring
lets straying playfully from beneath Il melnn-
choly apology for bonnet. Her features
We're pale and thoughtful but full of sweet ex-
preston, and her large, intelligent blue eye
beamed with touching sadness. The gentle
man looked in the direction indicated by his
/, fair companion; but his eye no sooner rested
upon the girl than shade Of displeasure or
, pain crossed his brow, and giving the roins a
, nervous jerk, his mettlesomc stced bounded
fleely onward, bearing the sleigh quickly ont
cfsight ofthe poor girl who had so interested
his companion.
"Why, Georgcr exclaimed the lady, what
do you plean? 1t was very disobliging in
you to start off Mt this rate when you knew
wanted to observe that grip
The gentleman stammered out an apology
} laying the blame upon the inlpaticnce of his
. horse. The excuse, however, was TOO lame
} to convince the lady. She was piQued at hay.
! ing her humorthus unnecessarily thwartedunc
D pouted during the rest of the ride. Wher
0 she at length alighted at the door of her faith.
: ers residence, in Blocker street,sho than iied
S her lover for such the gentleman was) witt
D cool civility for the slegh-rde, and entered
the house in a pet, leaving him to drive off
D matchmaking the incident which had thus
D damped the mornings pleasure. He had an
D other source of unpleasant feelings, too, than
- the lady's frowu. The sight of the poor CIR
s on Broadway, whom he very well knew, hat
given rise to reflections of n disagroeable ma.
ture, which will be explained in the sequel.
s TO return to the young lady. Whelr she
n entered her comfortable parlor, she found ;
S young man standing at tho Window who turn.
: ed to her and said
: well, sis, another lovers quarrel on tho
e carpet, eh?'
G why do you talk so silly, John?' returned
: the sister,
g 1t is plain that it is so, continued the broth
1t or, for saw Renwick, as he drove off, look
1t ing as black as thundcr-cloud, and YOU
u own face is as flushed as if you had beer
! scolding for an hour
d 'Pshawn calculated the young lady. Thcl
= after moments silence, she added-'Well
if you will pry into my affairs,you must know
l., that am beginning TO dislike George Ken
f wick, and don't believe shall ever MARI,
+: him, after ALL ...... ...
" 'Ha! hal hap laughed her brother; the OLE
n song-it will be kiss and make up, i'll les
" than six hours, again. .... ..
n Very well, you'll see, she returned as sh
" Withdrew to disrobe herself other riding ap
" parel. .......
Y Emily and John Williams were the onl
ID children ola wealthy New York merchant
ID They had been reared indulgently, and re
st ceiyed an excellent education. John was
Il fine young fellow oftweny-two-had chose
rs the profession ofmedicinc, and was prepar
G. ing TO graduate at the spring commencement
it. Emily was somewhat of spoiled beautyJuS
h. entering her nineteenth year. indulgence
~ had rendered her little self-wiled, and az
re ulation had made her little vain and ca1r
a. cous; but she was, Notwithstanding, girl o
I'd fine feeling, amable disposition, and goo
s. sense. With n voluptuous figure, raven han
IN and dark piercing eyes, classic features,
e!i finely cut mouth, and teeth of poarly white
VS. ness, she had reigned the belle oftwo season
and then pIighted her hand to George Rel
nv wick, merchant of high standing and IT
&C. puted wealth.