The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-11

the man whom ho no less feared than hated
And, for while, every thing seemed tC
promise fair 10 operate ms he had designed i
should The story was studously kept from
Maryland, in the shape Of dar; hints al least
coniidentialIy whispered to others, who, in
heir turn, impaired it to n second round of
friends, I'LL it thus passed,in constantly wild
cning circles, TO tho public,
Meanwhile the intended victim Of this sud
denly devised and deteslable plot TO destroy
his fair fame, continued diligently to dis
charge The daily duties Of his fast improving
school, having not the least suspicion of the
whitening whispers Of dctraction thar were IN
progress around him. lie was not permitted
however, 10 remain long without perceiving
indications that something intimately affect
lug his Interests Wns secretly operating to lis
Disadvantages but what that something could
be, he was wholly unable 10 conjecture. lie
at first noticed a certain air Of GOODNESS and
disIrust towards hmselfamong many of his
village acquaintance, by whom he had been
before met with respectful Cordiaiiy. Ills
feelings were next trcd by n withdrawal by
their parents, on different prctcXts, Of some
otthe best pupils of his school. And,umong
the rest, his lovely friend, Mary Maverick,
was nnconsciousy made to add poignancy 10
his regrets, and increase his growing uneusi-
ness ut The inausplcious appearances that
seemed TO be gathering over his path. She
had been requested by her aunt to leave her
school 10 assist in some business in the house
hold line, which, rs it was pretended, had I'M
eNpeClcdly arisen, but which,it was also urg-
ed, must Immediately be executed. And,
feeling herself under obligations TO comply,
she had left the school, without giving her
instructor, or decmng it necessary TO give
him, any definite reasons for so doing, since
she then had us little suspicion Of the true
motives Of the hypocritcal request that had
induced her TO iurGgo the pleasures Of her
pursuits ut sChool,as she had Of the existence
ofthe contemplate plan laid for undermining
the Influence aud character other respected
instructor.
But, although Amsden was made, for II
while, to suffer, in the miuds OF many,by this
piiiIul conspiracy, intended to put the flush
ing touch to tue other means which had been
used TO disparage and destroy him, he was
yet destined soon to he eXoncrated from eve
ny injurious impression, in Il manner, which,
had revenge been any part of his nature,
would have afforded him all the triumph lac
could have desired over his despicabc foe.
One evening, as DR.. Lincoln sat in his
study, II boy entered, and, handing him n
closely sealed billet disappeared. On OPEN
ing it, he was surprised TO find ii confdcn
tial note from Mary Maverick. lie had be-
fore heard several vague hints relating To
AmsGen, which, owing TO his unlimited con-
iGencc in the man, he had not understood.
Some of the multiIorm aspersons, indeed,
which had grown out of the professors nota-
BILE scheme Of ruin, had lately reached his
ears; but he had considered them so little
worthy of notice, that they had passed from
his mind. The note before him, however,
brought the subject again TO his thoughts, and
nc paused in its pcrus,l TO try 10 recall what
he had heard. The writer commenced by
the various attempts of the pro-
tcssor TO aspcrsc Mr. Amsdeu, related briefly
what took place at Carriers while she was
present, described the coin which she her
self had noticed lying on the table, and con-
rludcd by divulging what she had that day
overheard IN the fdmily--thc
whole circumstance attending the pretended
loss of the piece, which She 50 much feared
was being made use Otto injnre one whom
she believed innocent, that she could not
rest till she had taken the present step,though
by the act she run the risk, she said, if her
name should be brought in question, of max
ing still more unpleasant her present not over
happy position in the family.
'Well, well, my dove among juckdawsyou
shan't be hurt for the noble act you have
here performed" sad Lincoln to himself
But that insuilerable puppy--ay, villain, as
he has now proved himself! Why, there's
not doubt that he slyly caught up tIis guir-
ca with his gloves, and pocketcd it HIMSELF,
rs she evidently suspects. We'll, hG will be
a lucky fellow if he don't eventually find him
self in the pit he has been digging for anoth
Cr III could get hold of that Same cuiu!--
stay, what is the reason have not seen one
with similar marks on it lately, somewhere;
yes, suinowherc-let me think. All! | have
it-and if lam right no time should be lost"
hc added, splinging from his chair, Selling
his bat and cane, and hastily leaving his office
for tho destination TO which his conclusions
had directed him.
Prompted by his hatred, rendered more in
vetcra;c by the conscious defeat he had re-
ceived in his insolent attack on Amsden AT
Carriers, the professor had taken bold step,
and one which, to be successful, required OIL
his part, no little management and caution.
But, having seen the story, or rather the obi
um oftIe charge putaflout in the shape he
had con'rivcd 10 make it, intangible to his OPP
ponent, and having already cxuIlingly wit
messed many finttcring results from his
scheme, he soon became unmindful Of one
point which he should have particularly guar
ded With the iniatunted blindness with
which Providence seems often TO visit the
secret perpetrators ofcrimc 10 make them be-
come the instruments oftheir own detection
and punishment, he had recently put away
the coin, and thus thrown within the reach Of
his intended victim a weapon which the lat
ter could not only WELD triumphantly in his
own defence, but hurl back upon The head of
the nggressor with fatal effect.
The professor had put off the coin in ques-
ton at the shop of a jeweller in the village,
where he often mndn Dlrchnses in The line of
trinkets. And it was to this shop that the IL
reused and indignant Lincoln was now di-
recling his steps; having, the day previous,
accidentally had Il glimpse of the important
piece, as he was receiving change for Il bank
note offered in pnYment for sonle slrgical in