The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-08-29
ST. Johnsbury Vt, August 80, 1916,

w tll,dlt ~ llb Nlllillll WIN bNIllNllIh w WI
of.our properly
How?' exclaimed tho young man; what
thought Uncle Brainard died in
solvent
NO, indeed. The circumstances nro
these; When George Rcnwick came TO this
city he was poor boy, and your uncle took
him into the store, as clerk He gradually
crept into Mr. Brainard's confidence, until he
took him in MS IL kind ofpartner and 10 man
age the business almost entirely in his own
way. Well, your uncle died suddenly in an
apoplectic iit the business was settled up IN
Il very mysterious way, and Renwicll gave
us two thousand dollars, which he said was
all that was left of Mr. Brainnrd's interest in
the concern, after his debts We're paid
and did you quietly SUBMIT asked the
young man.
'rhot did not' replied the old lady; thirty
thousand dollars of my own money had been
embarked in the business, beside the large
capital which Mr. Braiuard possessed. /
brought suit, but Mr. Brainards private pa
pers could not be found, aud the hooks ofthG
firm had been in Renwick's keeping. There
was one clerk whose evidence might have
helptd US, but Renwck bought him over
So we lost the suit The lawyers fees eat up
the best portion oithe two thousand dollars,
and with what was left bought solEc fur
niturc, and went TO keeping boarding house.
You came to the city soon after that, and
came to board with me. You have seen all
our misiortunes since then, and shared them
too God bless your kind heart, Robert
When the old lady ceased speaking, the
tears We're trinkng down her wan cheeks
but the young man had not noticed her last
words. He had ccnscd eating, and fallen i'll
10 Il deep reverie. And sitting thus for some
lno t.tl, bngfp md
left the room without speaking.
After the young man had retired, the moth
or and daughter cleared the table, and sat
down TO sewing. They had not long been
engaged when slight rap was heard nt the
door; on opening John Williams was ushercd
into the room. lie was struck by the pale Yet
beautiful features of Catherine, and saw that
she was greatly in need ofar and cGerciSc.-
He Immediately commenced conversation
upon the subject which had brought him n
the house.
"Do you not go ont to sew sometimes? ask
ed he.
She answered him in the affirmative. Tic
then asked her ifshc was willing to undertake
some light work.
She replied that she was just ont of en-
ployment nj Madam G's, and would be glad to
get any thing to do.
Can you call upon my sister tomorrow
morning. asked John.
Yes, Sir;' she replied; where shall cal
and at what hour
at No.-Blecker street, any time during
the forenoon
The name;'
Williams
what. Emily Williams"
Yes; said the young geutlcman you know
her then?'
we used to I've schoolmatcs,' replied Cath.
crime, but she doubtless does not remember
me-
'Will you favor me with your uame|
Catherine Brainard.'
| 'Wcll, shall tell my sister that you will
call in the morning, Miss Brainard.'
Yes, SIR
John now took his leave. and hurried home
to communicate the result OF his visit TO his
sister.
| At twelve O'Clock, that night, the widow anC
! her daughter had long retired, but the ncph
ew, unconscious ofthe lapse of hours, sat ii
his room, porting over number ofold letters
bills and manuscripts which covered his table
! The eager attention which he bestowed upol
each paper, the usual sparkle of his eye, an,
the smile that played upon his mouth, dcnot
cd that his task was one ofno ordinary inter
est Before we explain the nature oft, how
ever, we must introduce the youth more tul
| ~ to the reader.
Robert Jordan was an orphan. His par
cnts had resided in n village, some miles from
New York, and at their death had left hin
little property. the income ofwhiCh was twt
! hundred and fifty dollars per annum. Will
this small sum he came to New York to pur
sue the study of law He found his aun
| keeping boarding house. and went of course
to board with her. The old lady knew bu
! little of the management ola boarding house
and consequently was unable to get along a
it. The greater portion of her furniture wa
seized for debt, and she was compelled wit
what was left to take rooms in an old hous
near North River, Robert stuck by her throuG
all her misfortuncs, and with the little sum h
was able to give her, and tho scanty earning
of Catherine's needle, she was able barely t
live. Robert had Just few weeks prior t
the date of our story, beeu admitted to til
bar, and was daily expecting to make Nil al
rangement to get into business with some OF
practitioner which would enable him to bet
ter the condition of his aunt and cousin
What the old lady had told him at the tea-tf
ble,t that evening, of RenwiclS's connection wit
his uncle, had made torcible impression NJ
on his mind. There was an old-tashone
secretary in his room, and in examining it h
had found secret drawer, filed with papers
A suspicion flashed upon his mind that tines
! papers might throw some light upon his ur
, cle's business. lie retired Immediately TO hi
room, and upon examining the papers hi
suspicious were confirmed. They We're pr
, waite papers relating to MIR Brainard's affair:
: and contained evidence that nj the time ofhi
death he had possessed Il large amount Of
, property, out of which it was plain Renwic
must have swinded the widow. ......
| Near the whole night was Robert closel
, engaged in making himself acquainted wit
the contents Of the papers, when at length h
i. throw himselflInon his couch. his breast WA