The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-03

over. IDO VIC lOSG lIlC suit L NC law Vi D lSN
B, eat up the best portion Of the two thousan
dollars, and with what was left bought som
; furniture and went to keeping boardin
house. You came to the city soon after thai
: and came to board with me. You have see
= all our misfortunes since then, and share
: them too-God bless your kind heart, Rob
+ ert"
| When the old lady ceased speaking, tn
, tears were trickling down her wan checks
but the young man had not noticed her las
: words. He had ceased eating, and fallen IN
to deep reverie. And sitting thus for SOM
moments, he arose with nervous haste ant
left the room without speaking.
; After the young man had retired, the mo
Their and daughter cleared the table, and sa
down to sewing. They had not been Ions
engaged when a slight rap was heard at the
door. On opening it John Williams was ush
cred into the room. He was struck by tho
pale yet beautiful features of Catharine, anC
saw that she was greatly in need of air and
y, exercise. He Immediately commenced con
versation upon the subject which had brought
him to the house,
"Do you not 60 out to sew sometimes =
asked he
She answered him in the affirmative. He
then asked her if she was willing to undertake
some light work.
She replied that she was Just out Of employ
ment at Madame G's, and would be glad to
tget any thing to do.
Can you call upon my sister tomorrow
morning 2" asked John,
Yes sir," she replied " where shall call,
and at what hour :"
At No. - Blecker-street, any time during
the forenoon"
"The name ?"
civilians"
"What Emily Williams ?"
eyes" said the young gentleman; you
know her then? ?"
awe used to be schoolmates," replied Cath
crime, " but she doubtless does not remember
me-"
evil you favor me with your name ?"
"Catherinc Brainard"
"Well, | shall tell my sister you will call
in the morning, Miss Brainard."
eyes 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 and
her daughter had long retired, but the ne
phew, unconscious of the lapse OF hours sat
in his room porting over a number of old let
tiers, bills and manuscripts which covered his
table. The eager attention which he bestow-
ed upon each paper, the usual sparkle Of his
eye, and the smile that played upon his mouth
denoted that his task was one of no ordinary
interest Before we explain the nature Of it,
however, we must introduce the youth more
fully to the reader.
Robert Jordan was an orphan. His pa
rents had resided in a village, some miles
from New York, and at their death had left
him a little property, the income of which
was two hundred and fifty dollars per annum.
With this small sum he came to New York,
to pursue the study Of law. He found his aunt
keeping boarding house, and went, of course,
to board with her. The old lady knew but
little of the management of a boarding house,
and consequently was unable to get along
with it The greater portion of her furniture
was seized for debts, and she was compelled
with what was left to take rooms in an old
house near North River Robert stuck by
her through all her misfortunes, and with the
little sum he was able to give her, and the
scanty earnings of Catharine's needle, she was
able barely to live. Robert had Just a few
weeks prior to the date of our story, been adj
mtted to the bar, and was daily expecting to
make an arrangement to get into business
with some old practitioner, which would ena-
bic him to better the condition of his aunt and
cousin. What the old lady had told him at
the tea-table that evening, Of Renwicks con-
ncxion with his uncle, had made forciblc
impression on his mind. There was an old
fashioned secretary in his room, and in exam
lining it he had discovered a secret drawer
filled with papers. A suspicion flashed upon
his mind that these papers might throw some
light upon his unclc's business. He retired
Immediately to his room, and upon examin-
ing the papers his suspicious were confirmed
They were private papers relating to Mr..
Brainard's affairs, and contained evidence
that at the time of his death he had possessed
a large amount Of property, but Of which it
was plain Renwick must have swindled the
widow.
Near the whole night was Robert engaged
in making himself acquainted with the con-
tents of the papers, when at length he threw
himself upon his couch: his breast was throb-
bing with hope, and his head aching with eX-
element.
When Robert arose late in the morning, he
found that his cousin was gone to keep her
appointment with Emily Williams. He COM
municated to his aunt the discovery of the
papers and his hopes, and begged her to place
the whole affair in his hands, as her attorney.
The old lady, nearly beside herself with joy,
gladly consented. Her next thought was to
send for Catbarine, and communicate the
agreeable tidings. This Robert opposed and
advised his aunt to keep the affair perfectly
secret. He stated that the recovery would
be both difficult and uncertain, and that it
might be dangerous to excite in GATHERINGS
breast hopes, the disappointment of which
would be too great a shock for her feeble
health to bear. The old lady saw the justice
of the remark, and however 10th, acquiesced
in Roberts wishes. The latter Immediately
went to work with aacrity to put matters in
train for bringing suit against the swind
Ter.
Catharine, in the meantime, had met with
a reception from Emily Williams as crafty
ing as unexpected. The latter, as soon as
che boor1 tho mann Of Cath R,o;no,,l