Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-08-23

aware from few enquiries previously made
knew something of Gates past history and
present position. After enthusiastically rela-
ting lc him 10 him the whole matter. asked
him ii lie could possibly guess what tie fellows
object could be in contracting such a marriage
Object" replied Jackson; why, money, of
course: what else? lie has by some means
become aware that the lady is entitled to prop.
ery, aud he is scheming TO get possession Of
! it as her husband
My own conviction Yet the difficulty of
getting at any proof seems insurmounlabl,.'
Just so. And by the way Gates is certain
! y in high feather just now however acquired.
! Not only HIMSELF but Rivers his cad. clerk he
calls hlmse f. has cast his old greasy skin and
now appears quite spruce and shining. And
now rcmcmber-what did you say was the
/ lady's name p
Grey
Grey! All, then suppose i, can have moth
ing 10 do with it ! 1t was person of the name
/ OF Weon or Skelton that called ON US u month
/ or two ago about Gates
! WHAT was the nature Of the communca-
/ ton? 2
| can Lardly tell YOU the charge was so
loosely made and hurriedly withdrawn. Skel-
ton--ycs. it was Skeou-he resides in pretty
good style at KughtsbridgC called, and said
lhat Gaies had stolen cheque or draft for five
hundred pounds, and other articles sent through
him To some house in the city, of VIII ch think
he said the principal was dead He was ad-
Vsed TO apply through solicitor to IA magis
trate, and went away we supposed, for that
purpose but about three hours afterwards he
returned, and in hurried, tlurricd sort Of way
sald lie had been mistaken, and that he with
drew every charge he had made against Mr..
Gates
Very odd
Yes; but | don't see how it can be any way
connected with Mrs. Grey affairs. Still, do
You think it would be- of any use to sound
Rvers | know the fellow WELL and | should
be pretty sure to find him there this evening"
II was arranged he should do so, and | pro-
coeded on TO Sherrard street Mrs Grey was
alone in the front apartment of the ground floor,
and received me with much poleness. She
had, | saw, been weeping her eyes were
swollen and bluodshOt and she was deadly
pale; bat looked in vain FOR any indication Of
I that utter CcSolation which a woman like her,
cnnIcmhed to such "A sacrifice, might naturally
b. supposed to feel. ! felt greatly embarrassed
aS to now TO begin; but at length plunged
boldly into the matter assured her she was
cruelty deceived by Gates, who was in no con-
dluon TO provide for her and her son in even to-
orabe comfort and WAS convinced he had
no other than mercenary and detestable mo
tive IN seeking marriage with her. Mrs. Grey
heard me In so totally unmoved Il manner and
tle feeling that ! was really mcddling with
things that did not at all concern me, grew
upon me so rapidly, as | spoke to that unan-
sweriug countenance, that by the time | had
| finished my eloquent harrangue, was in per-
! feet fever OF embarrassment and confusion and
very heartily wished myself out of the pace.
| 10 my further bewllderment, Mrs. Grey, when
! had quite concluded, informed me, in consi.
dc,dtlrn size SAID, ol The courte scs lad shown
her VIXEN we were fellow travellcrs-that she
WAS perfectly aware of Mr.. Gates motive in
marrying her was purely a m-gccnary one !;
AID her own in conscnting to the union, except
is regarded her son, was, she admitted, scarce
ly better, She added-rddle upon riddles =
t!at she knew Mr.. Gates was very poor-in-
solvent, she understood. | rose mechanically
10 my feet, with confused notion swimming
in my head that both Of US at all events could
not be ~ our right senses. This feeling must
have been visible upon my face, for Mrs. Grey
added with a lt.smile, You cannot reconcile
these apparent contradictions be patient; Won
will perfectly comprehend them before long.
But as wish not to stand too low in your osti-
nation, | must tell You that Mr. Gates is to sub.
scribe To written agreement in It we separate
the instant the ceremony has been performed.
But tor that undertaking, would have suffered
any extremity, death itself, rather than have
consented to marry him =
Su.l confused, stunned, AS it were bv what |
had heard, my hand was on the handle of The
door 20 let myse'! out, when thought arose in
my mind. Is it possible, Mrs. Grey | said,
/ that you can have been deceived into belief
/ That suc..a a promise, however formally laid down,
| OF the slightest legal value ?-that the law
recognizes, or would enforce, an instrument to
render nugatory the solemn obligation you will
after signing it, make, 'to love- honor, obey. and
cherish your husband p had found the right
cnord at last. Mrs Grey, as spoke became
deadly pale; and had she not caught at one Of
the heavy chars she would have been unable
To support herself
DO understand YOU to say she family and
broken'y gaspcd, that such an agreement as !
have indicated, duly sealed and witnessed, could
not b. enforced by magistrate ?
Certainly il could not, my dear madam, and
well Gates knows it to be so ;and | am greatly
mistaken in the man, if, once the irrevncabc
ceremony over, lie would not be the first to de-
ride your crelulity.
Ii that he So exclaimed the unfortun ue lady
! with passionate despair, i am indeed ruined
/ lost! o my darling boy, would that you and
were sleeping in your fathers quiet grave :
Say not so,' | exclaimed with emotion, for
was afflicted by her distress. Honor me with
your cuutidance, and all may yet be WELL
After much cntrea,y, she desparingly com.
piled. The substance of her story which was
broken by frequent ouburss of grief and lamcn-
atiuns, was as io,lnws She was m only d
of a London merchant, Mr.. Walton, We will
call him, who had lived beyond his means, aud
failed rujnonsly 10 an immense amount. His
spirits aud health were broken 10y this event
/, l,, l., L.,