Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-24


it," Then, as if anxious to change the conyerea-
ton, she turned to her mother, and said--"l saw
George Renwick to-day, sloighng on Broadway,
with lady, in great style.'
"Did he see you, my child ?" enquirod the moth
err
Yes" returned the girl, "ond he appeared very
much confused, for he colored turned his head a.
way, and put his horse to full speed, if he was
anxious to get out of sight as quick as possible"
O. have heard you mention this Renwick, fire.
quently," said the youth; "who is he Z"
" Is it possible, Robert, that we have never told
you about George Renwick"
"Quite possible, aunt"
dwell, he is the villain who swndled us out Of
our property"
"How ~ exclaimed the young man; "what
property? | thought Uncle Brainard died insol-
vent"
"No, indeed. The circumstances are these:-
When George Renwick came to this city he was a
poor boy, and your uncle took him into the store as
clerk. lie gradually crept into Mr. Brainard's con-
fidence, until he took him in as kind of partner,
and left him to manage the business almost entire
ly his own way. Well your uncle died suddenly
in an apopletic fit the business was settled up in
n very mysterious way, and Renwck gave us two
thousand dollars which he said was all that was
left of Mr. Brainards interest in the concern after
his debts were paid"
"And did you quietly submit" asked the young
man.
"That did not" replied the old lady "thirty
thousand dollars of my own money had been en-
barked in the business, besides the large capital
which MIR. Branard possessed. | brought suit, but
Mr.. Brainard's private papers could not be found,
and the books Of the firm had been in Renwick's
keeping There was one clerk whose evidence
might have helped US, but Renwick bought him
over. So we lost the suit. The lawyers fees cal
up the best portion of the two thousand dollars, and
with what was left | bought some furniture, and
went to keeping a boarding house. You came to
the city after that, and came TO board with
You have seen all our misortunes since then, and
shared them all too-God bless your kind heart
Robert"
When the old lady ceased speaking, the tears
were trickling down her wan cheeks--but the young
man had not noticed her last words. He had ceas
ed eating, and fallen into deep reverle. And sit
ting thus for some moments, he arose with nervous
haste and left the room without speaking.
After the young man had retired, the mother anC
daughter cleared the table, and sat down to sewing
They had not been long engaged when slight raj
was heard at the door on opening it John Williams
ushered into the room. He was struck by the
pale yet beautiful features of Catherine, and saw
that she was greatly in need of air and exercise
He Immediately commenced conversation upor
the subject which brought him to the house.
"Do you not 90 out to sometimes 2" asked
he.
asked her if she was willing to undertake som,
light work.
She replied that she was Just out of employmen
at Madam G's, and would be glad to get anything
to do.
Can you call upon my sister, tomorrow morn
ing?' asked he.
"Yes, sir" she replied "where shall call, ant
at what hour ?"
"At No. - Blocker street, any time during thu
forenoon"
"The name?"
civilians"
"What! Emily Wliams?"
EYES," said he "you know her then ?"
"We used 10 be schoolmates" replied Catherine
but she doubtless does not remember me-"
"Wlll you favor me with your name?'
"Catherine Brainard."
"Well, l shall tell my sister you will call il
the mo ming Miss Branard."
eyes, SIR"
Johu now took his leave, and hurried home t.
communicate the result Of his visit to his sister,
At twelve o'clock that night, the widow and he
daughter had long retired, but the nephew, uncon
scous Of the lapse of hours, sat in his room porn!
over n number of old letters bills and manuscript
which covered his table. The eager attention
which he bestowed upon each paper. the unusua
sparkle of his eye, and the smile that PLAYED upo
his mouth, denoted that his task ono of no or
! binary interest. Before we explain the nature O
it, however, we must introduce the youth more full
| to the reader.
Robert Jordan was an orphan. His parents ha
resided in a village some miles from New Iorf
and at their death had left him little property, tn
income of which was $3.50 per annum With thl
small sum he came to New York to pursue tn
study of law. He found his aunt keeping board
ng-house and went OF course to board with he
| The old lady knew but little of the managemer
| of boarding house, and consequently was unabl
to get along at it. The greater portion of her fur
! nure was seized for debt, and she was compelled
| with what was left, to take rooms in an old hous
| near North River. Robert stuck by her throug
all her msfortunes, and with the little sum he wa
able to give her, and the scanty earnings of Cath
| crimes needle, she was enabled barely to live
| Robert had, just few weeks prior to the date Q
our story been admitted at the bar, and was dai
| expecting to make an arrangement TO get into bus
mess with some old practitioner, which would en-
| able him to better the condition of his aunt an
cousin. What the old lady had told him at the tea
table, that evening, of Renwck's connection wit
| his uncle had made forcible impression upon hi
mind. There was an old-iashoned secretary i
his room, and in examining it, he had dscovere
a secret drawer, filled with papers. A suspcio
flashed upon his mind, that these papers migf
throw some light upon his uncle's business ii
retired Immediately to his room, and upon eXamu
ing the papers, his suspicious were confirmed
They were private papers, relating to Mr.. Bra
nards affairs and contained evidence that at the tim
of his death he had possessed large amount {
property out of which, it was plain, Renwick mus
have swindled the widow.
Nearly the whole night was Robert closely ell
gagged in making himself acquainted with the col
tents Of the papers, when at length he threw hin
self upon his couch, his breast was throbing wit
hope, and his head aching with excitement
When Robert rose late in the morning he foun
that his cousin was gone to keep her appoinmeI
with Emily Williams. He communicated to h
aunt the discovery OF the papers and his hopes, an
begged her to place the whole affair in his hant
as attorney. The old lady, nearly beside herse
with joy, gladly consented Her next thought wa
TO send for Catherine, and communicate to her tn
agreeable tidings. This Robert opposed, and az
vised his aunt to keep the affair perfectly secret
He stated that the recovery would be both diff
cult and uncertain, and that it might be dangerou
to excite IN GATHERINGS breast hopes, the disal