The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-06-25


whom her sou had involved himself, an,
was there to procure from her ladystiI
any information she might be possessed
Of, likely to forward so desirable
result, but fortunately the remem
brance Of my actual position, in spite o
nv genileman's attire, flashed wildly dpol
my mind, and instead Of permitting m!
glib tongue TO wag itreverently in th'
presence Of a right honorable, | bowes
with defereniial acquiescence.
Her ladyship proceeded, and lin sub
stance, obtained tho following informa
tion: f .@ "A 'Ht ae
Mr.. Charles Merton during the few
months tha, elapsed since the atlainmen,
Of his majority, had very literally "faller
among thieves" A passion forgambline
seemed TO have taken entire possesssor
Of his beings and almost every day; as
we'll os night, of his haggard and feverist
life was passed al play. A run orill.luck
according 10 his own belief, had set in
against him, and he had not only dissipat.
ed all the ready money he had inherited
and the large sums which the foolish IN.
dull ence Of his lady mother had supplied
him with, but had involved himself in
bonds, bills and other obligations 10 a
frighIful amount. The principal agent
in effec,ing this ruin was one Sandford ;
man of fashionable and dashing exterior,
and The presiding spirit Of the knot of
desperadoes whom was commissioned
to hunt out. Strange TO say, Mr.. Msrton
had The blindest reliance upon this mans
honor; and even now, tricked and dispoil'
ed as he had been by him and his gang
relied upon his counsel and assistance
to escape from the desperate position in
which, he was involved.
The Everton estate has passed, in de-
fault of male issue, TO distant relative
of the late lord (; so tina, ruin, absolute and
irremediable, stared both the wretch ed
dupe and his relatives in the face. Lady
Everton's joiDture vas not very 'arge
one, and her son had been permitted to
squander sums which should have been
devoted to The discharge Of claims which
were now pressed I,arshlv against her.
| listened with The deepest interest 10
lady Everion's narrative. Repeatedly,
during the course of it, as she incidental
~ alluded 10 the manners and appearance
oGSandford, who had been introduced by
Mr.. Merton 10 his mother and sister, q
which the police papers had
first awakened, that the gentleman in
question was an old acquaintance Of my
own, and one moreover, whose favors ]
was extremely desirous TO return in kind,
flashed with increased conviction across
my mind. The surmise 7 of course KEEP,
10 myself, and after empha'ically caution.
ing the ladies' to keep our proceedings a
profound secret from Mr.. Merton, took
my leave, amply provided with the re-
sources requisite for carrying into effec.
The scheme which had resolved upon.
also arranged that, instead Of waiting
personally on her ladyship, which might
excite observation and suspicion, ! should
repor, progress by letter through the
post.
"If II should be he," thought I as l
emerged into the street. The bare sus-
picion had sent my blood through my
veins with furious violence. "If this
Sandford be, as | suspect, that villain
Carbon, success will indeed be triumph
Lady Everton need not in that
case seek to animate my zeal by promi-
ses of morey recompense. A blighted
existence, young gentle wife by his
means cast down from opulence 50 sor'
did penury, would stimulate the dullest
craven that ever crawled the earth to en-.
ergy and action. Pray Heaven my sus.
picion prove correct; and then, oh mine
enemy, look we'll to yourself, for the
ovenger is at your heels"
Sandford, I had been Instructed, was
usually present at the Italian Opera dur
ing the ballet, the box he generally oc-
cupied was designated in the memoranda
Of the police; and as I saw by the bills
That very successful piece was TO be
performed that evening, determined on
being present.
l entered the house a few minutes af-
Ter ten o'clock, Just afcr the commence
mem of the ballet, and looked eagerly
round. The box in which was instruct.
ed to seek my man was empty. The
momen,ary disappointment was soon re.
paid. Five minutes had not elapsed
when Carbon, looking more insolen,ly
than ever, entered arm 10
lrm with pale aristocraic. looking young
nan, whom had no difficulty, from bis
triking resemblance to a portrait in Lady
Sverlon's drawing room, in deciding
o be Mr.. Merton. My course Of action
vas at once determined on. Pausing
nly TO master the emotion which the
littering reptile in whose poisonous folds
had been involved and crushed, inspir-
d, l passed 10 The opposite side of the
ouse. and boldly entered the box. Car.
op's back was towards me, and tapped
i'm lightly on the shoulder. He turned
ulckly round; and ifa basilsk had con.
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