Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-03-28

Especially was he Mortified at Toms intima-
cy with lady, whose name he didn't know,
but whose na'ure he felt sure, so the really
grieved and unhappy old man. told me, WAS
next worst to the Prince Of Darkness him
self For the alarmed father sought me out,
knowing my friendship with Tom, and sup
posing had influence over him he sought
me out and told me that the young man was
sometimes absent from home all night, and,
as near as could be found out, he spent his
time in splendid and seductive gambling
house, kept by an old Jewess and her daugh-
Ter, in great style, up town.
really felt sorry for Peterson, although
could not promise 10 interfere, any further
than to give Tom a chance TO explain the
matter, if he thought fit. At the same time,
| comfoIted the grieyed man, by reminding
him how unlikely the story seemed Tom
vas no saint, we ali knew but he had been
equally free from any thfng Ike dissipation,
or coarse tastes.
6 Have you spoken to him about these
things p l asked Calvin
'sNo, not o word; / had not the heart
to-"
It seemed to me that this was a great
pity; but l knew, from what Tom himself
had told me, that the father and con took
such different views Of things; and ! fore
bore to advise any further
That very evening / made it my business
to see Tom and we took walk together
out into park that lay at no great dis
tance
opened the subject with some misgivings,.
and told the young man Of his fathers sOr-
row. He answered me with his natural
frankness and, as | suspected, the rumOr
which had come to the ears Of the elder Pc
terson proved to be much ado about nothing
A. the same time, the young man almost
cried when 1 told him OF his fathers genu-
inc distress
50 Come with me for half an hour" said
Tom, land then will tell you all about it %
We walked up one Of the Avenues for
nearly mile, and then turning round
corner, Tom stopped at plain but elegant
house, rang the bell, and was admitted
'' Tom Peterson and friend said he to
the inquirng look of the servant who after
drawing chairs for us in an open space at
the side Of the hall seemed to be waiting for
something. The servant vanished instanter,
and in q minute or two made his appearance
again, and said
* The ladies wish you to step up stairs -
We walked up and were shown into rich
ly furnished psrfor, we'll carpeted, and with
sofas, lounges and gas lights; the walls or
namented with pictures, and the corners
with two or three voluptuous pieces Of sta
tuary.
One upon sofa, and one upon lounge,
who should bless my sight but Mrs Seligny
and her showy looking black-eyed daughter
Rebecca
''We will sit down moment" answered
Tom to their polite invitation, " but only for
a moments as we cannot stay -
* That's q pity" said Rebecca, with an
Enthusiastically loving glance at Tom, 6 for
Re are to have nobody here tonight; at
least nobody we care for, if you go away"
''No doubt we are precious treasures"
said Tom. laughiugly, 6 but We can't stay
more than fifteen MINUTES by the watch"
Mrs Selgny spoke of Covert, whom she
praised, though l thought it was with dash
Of sarcasm Rebeoca bluntly expressed her
nion-interruptiDg her mother to that
stfoct-thas he was one of the greatest
scoundrels in Wall street, or its neighbor-
aood apparently considering that she had
put the case about as strongly as the Eng
ish language allowed
s" Don't abuse him," joined in Tom, " foT
ny friend here will fight in behalf of his
very shoe strings"
| l disoiaimed any intention Of committing
myself SO deeply; and Tom added;
Rsbecsa behaves like a true woman
| She set her cap for th~-~'-1 ---'---' - -
| zoo cunning Tor ncr
We all laughed at this sally, the young
Jswess as much ss the rest.
Is You are mistaken there again." said
she, you put the saddle on the wrong
horse
"Tell the truth now don't you 20 down
TO Wall street at least once week, and try
70 captivate that innocent old man? And
have you not lnred him sven into this house
Heaven only kno US what you have done to
him hereP'
Rcbecca laughed heartily.
| - What would you say cried she, 4" if
you knew that not one hour ego this worthy
gentleman was in the very room where We
now"
" Abs didn't say So"
&c In this very room, making love TO me =
msking love, tell you -
" And you accepted him ?"
{" Come, Tom, you ere zoo bad"
",Wel, tell me your answer to Covert, if
this be true, and have done"
| Rebecca smiled mischievously.
ssTo confess the truth" said she, " did
not answer at all by word of mouth. gave
him look, kicked over footstOol, and sail
cd out Of the room with a magnificent bang
| of the door behind me - So"
And she rose, struck an attitude, frowned,
gave Tom q good kick on the shins, and
| marched off with comico serious mir, as of
a tragedy queen, giving the same effect with
the door wherewith she had celebrated her
departure from the lawyer.
When Tom and left this place and walked
homeward-for that was the last we saw Of
the young Jewess that night--he told me all
about it. My friend hadn't lived twenty. one
years in the city, and grown up with the use
Of pair of active legs and TWO tolerably
sharp eyes, to be perfect Joseph, nor to
remain in the snowy preservation Of pastoral
simplicity Favorite IS he was with all who
knew him, he had seen nearly every phase
Of town life, and had been. though not as
habituant, into all sorts Of places
Mrs Selgny's was truly nothing more or
less than a fashionable gambling house. Tom
told me that if had stayed till midnight,
| could have found, on going down stairs,
magnificent suite of rooms, superbly furnish
ed and lit up, and accommodated with the
means for every sort of genteel gaming.
Here visited many people, Of many sorts
but over all, as if by silent consent, was
thrown the thin veil Of Mrs, or, as she was
more often called, Madame Seligny's respec-
liability, and decorOus housekeeping. There
was nothing worse than gaming, and even
that not so deeply and unfairly as in many
places of the sort
Madame was fond of passing herself as the
widow Of an emigrant member ofthe French
nobility but she was neither more nor less
than an old jew trades woman Rebecca was
by no means she least attraction to the house;
although, beyond presiding at the suppers, |
which she invariably did, she had very little |
to say to the visitors.
1t was upon one Of Toms casual visits here
with a friend that the yonng Jewees was in
/ karnckad in his Vyalfora She found ,nao nc -
uform him Of her feelings and after such |
communication it was not exactly the nature
Of young Mr.. Peterson to pack up his valise
and leave in tho first boat
OF any thing in the nature of gambling,
Tom was perfectly innocent One reason |
was, he had no money and another was,
that he hadn't learnt without advantage the |
lessons of the practical student whose books |
are the things and men here in this great |
metropolis Tom had cut hiq eye teeth al |
though he coulin't Join with his father Calvin
in devotional performances
The many nights that Mr.. Peterson com.
planned about Toms spending away. dwindl-
cd down to two; and Tom assured me that
he had not neglected his business nor drank |
glass Of liquor. the three past months --
And moreover there was not straw beyond |
what he now told me.
"Ast to Rebecca," he wound up "vbile |
cannot feel Indifferent 10 her, still you need |
not thiuk ! am in love. AT least not get
Tue woman love must be -; but never
mind what. The nigh6 is late, and the best
move we can make is for each to get himself
to his virtuous bed"
To be continued
Ez11r11azEzszsnnz1.Ens
WHISPERING JOHN.