The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-15

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about Miss Porterfed. For two weeks lie
mel her daily at his table, and felt her pres
ence as a shifting rebuke. In that time he
noticed that her temper was gentle and
sweet, her department modest, YET easy and
| lady-like, and her whole character one ofun-
usual excellence. when she left the house
on completing her engagement, Wiley felt
strong sense of relief and he prayed that she
might never cross his threshold again. But.
year after year she came nj the desire of his
wife, aud year after year her presence was
felt us a stern rebuke. She was worthy TO
fi higher sphere, and probably would have
! filled it but for him.
Time passed. Porteriicld continued TO
pursue the business oln collector, and Wiley
grew richer from his practice and his specu-
lnIions. The heads Of both gradually lost
their etty hue, but ihnt of Porterfeld whiten-
ed most rapidly. The two younger daughters
OF the latter grew up and were married to
worthy young men in the humber walks of
life, but the two eldest remained single, and
yeur after year patiently walked in the paths
that opened before them.
Old age at length bent the forms and made
icebler the frames Of the Two men. Wiley
was rich ard give up his practice TO his son
and hmseflived at case hut Porterfield still
trnyersed the streets in heat and cold, and
earned the bread that he eat, daily by the
the retired attorney sat in his easy chair, he
daily saw the bent form of his step seeming
to grow feebler and feebler, and his body to
bend lower and lower towards the earth into
which it must in few years sink. After
awhile Purterlield moved into small house,
aud, TO Wiley, il seemed II most comforless
house that stood opposite his own aud he had
him in still more direct aspect, and saw him
as if Porerfeld had moved here with the in
tenIion Of disturbing his peace. Ia the day
/ tine lie saw him come in and 20 out bend
! ing beneath his burden of years and care,
and at night he dreamed OF him, and of his
son whom, in n moment Of ungovernable an
ger he had killed.
Tie hunting ghosts Of wrong oud passion
hnd indeed arisen in his old age, and he had
no power TO 10y them.
! AZ last his unhnppincss became so great as
! to force from his selfish heart consent to
make restitution of some kind, aud he sent
! for Porterfcd. The old man came aud sat
down in the luxurious mansion ofthe lawyer.
! He sat firm and composed, while the lawyer
felt strong internal agitation; and could not
look steadily into the face otthe man lie had
wrongcd.
MIR Poyterfeld,' said Wiley, speaking with
ms much compOsure as lac could nssuue.-
Do you remember--it is now ut least forty
! years 6rn-our meeting in New YORK AT an
! Ihtei in Broadway whittier we had both gone
on business
Por;eriield bent his head aud thought for a
moment.
'Yes, very WELL lie replied.
i was then young lawyer just commence
! ing The world and you merchant who could
already count your lhousands.'
'Well?' Porierfield looked wondering at
the attorney, whose disturbance OF mind was
too great 10 be concealed
a., "a 4 lat
who could mid me in the world desired to
make your more intimate acquaintance, and
thoughtthis most fitting opportunity. },
therefore, Immediately on your arrival nj tbs
hotel, where | had been for some days, met
you with more than usual frankness OF maui
uer, bur was coldy repulsed. thought per-
haps, you might have been in an absent or
preoccupied state Of mind on my first APP
proach. and tried it again, but was met in
the sane frigid manGcr.
'Wus rude TO you% asked Porterfed.
will hot resent your manner, but lelt it
as n deep personal insult. ............... l. .
The old man bowed his head and sighed.
THAT insult resumed the attorney, Il Meth
or forgot nor forgave. When cume home
met you, as you well know, often. You were
TO me as yol had been before | saw you in
New York polite and af1able when we met
But stunned you and hated you. When
YOU built the elegant house opposite TO Where
| j live, could moi divest myself of the idea
that you had chosen that particular site in or
der that your wealth and my poverty, SO 10
speak, might be contras,ed. 1t seemed to
me that those who went by, made tho con-
trast But my time for retaliation came at
last, and was wicked enough 10 obtain and
use power over YOU ...
When you failed, purchased your paper
at discount, and placed myself in the way
of an nmicabIe arrangement with your cred-
tors--You were broken up and had my tri-
umph nj your downfall. But l have never
been happy about it since.'
| 'You hated meT said Porterield, looking
calmly into the disturbed face Of his enemy,
us the latter ceased speaking.
Il did, ...
You hated me without cause. well
remember my visit TO New York OH the oc-
cnsion 10 which you refer. If | had met my
brother at the time shonld have treated him
as treated you. The nature of my business
will not now srate II will he sufficient to
say that it was one causing great attiictlon OF
mind. fl was cold aud reserved towards
YOU, was so towards my best friends
A deep silence followed this declaration.
The lawyer had 40 words in which to respond.
In a few moments Porterfield said
| "A gentlennn called upon you few days
after INV arrival in New York To engage you
To attend TO some busihess in Philadelphia|
! Yes
Bid he say by whom he Ind heen recon-
mended 10 yoH? ..
lie did not. lie merely said that he had
been advised to employ me in the case by IL
friend from Philadelphia, who happened TO
know that wuI IL the city, r.
did it never occur TO you TINT might be
| the uprsDu TO whom lie rnterrcuP ... ..... Oh.