The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-26
Clement Sutherland entered with a forbid.

al trust you are in good health this morning,
Mr.. Sutherland" said the Colonel, urbanely.
al am well, sir" replied his guest, coldly.
al was sorry to miss you at the breakfast
table this morning. trust my little girl made
you comfortable in your own apartment"
Thank you, sir"
Colonel Ashley was silcnced and repealed for
little while by this churishness on the part
of his interlocutor, but speedily recollecting
that it was his guest who had sought this in
tervew, he inquired, with some reserve of man.
ner-
"Can be 80 happy as to serve you in any
way this morning Mr.. Sutherland?n
"Who recommended that young man whom
you have engaged as q tutor 2" asked Clement
Sutherland, CURLY
Now, Colonel Ashley might well have been
exasperated by the impertinence q this ques-
ton, to make some indignant answer, but Col.
Ashley was gentleman and host he re-
piled with the utmost courtesy, yet in a man.
ner that administered the keenest and most
delicate rebuke. Looking at his guest he said,
slowly and with meaning, His name recon-
mended him, Mr.. Sutherland"
"That is Just what feared That is tho
one thing unhsppily, of which we cannot de-
prive him, and makes us in some degree, re-
sponsble for him Pray, sir, did you know
anything of this young mans past history"
Nothing
"You fancied him a relative of ours?"
Certainly"
"Now, then, will you be go kind as to give
me your attention for few minutes!"
Colonel Ashley settled himself in an attitude
of fixed interest and Clement Sutherland COM
menced a narration of some considerable length,
which, at its close, left Mark Sutherland with
the character of graceless son, faithless
lover, an unprincipled man, and mad re-
former.
Sir" said he, in conclusion, "you should
not give him house-room for an hour He will
pervert your children, steal the heart of your
neice, SOW fatal dissension between your son
and his wife, and incite your slaves to revolt "
Colonel Ashley went through all the degrees
of incredulity, doubt perplexity, and alarm,
exclaiming, 81 should never have believed it OF
him He does not LOOK at oil like an incendi-
ary!"
"Sir, an inoendiary does not parade his COM
bustible matter before your eyes, and look like
he was going to fire your house,"
He does not seem to me to be at all dan
gerous"
"Sir, dangerous people never seem danger
ousn
al rather liked the young gentleman, ! con.
fess" said Col. Ashley, slowly and besitatingly
"Sir, would you like your children to imbibe
Anti Slavery principles? Would You like your
slaves melted to rise and cut your throat
Would you like an arrangement and separa-
ton brought about between your son and
daughtcr-in-law Would you like your neice
to elope with fanatic z"
"Mr. Sutherland must say that you shock
me beyond endurance. You ruthlessly grasp
subjects that man of honor and delicacy
scarcely likes to touch. You have dealt severe
ly with the young man, also, in your speech
he may be an Observation-Disclosures is a fault
appertaning to youth and genius-and, more
always the growth Of cowardice. am az faf
from the spirit of persecution as am from the
spirit of fear. do not fear that my children
will be perverted, my negroes maddened, my
neice infatuated, or my son and daughter d.
vorced by the presence Of this high-souled but
mistaken young gentleman in my family
and cannot hate him to order. Nevertheless
as it is not expedient that one formerly beroth
ed of Mrs. Ashley should be here to annoy hel
man, and arrange our-the speedy termination
OF our engagement"
Mr.. Clement Sutherland expressed himf eli
satisfied, arose, and left the room.
Colonel Ashley remained with his head upon
his chest in an attitude of serious thought, fol-
few minutes; then pulling the bell.rope, he
summoned a servant
"Go,n he said to the man that entered
"and request MIR. Mark Sutherland to favor
me with his company here for a few moments u
The messenger went out, and in search of the
tutor.
Meanwhile, Mark Sutherland was in his
own room, engaged in reading a letter that had
arrived by tho mornings mail 1t was from
his old college friend, Lauderdale 1t was a
very long letter, being the first that he had
written to Mark Sutherland for more than two
years. He began by reproaching Mark for
dropping the correspondence, and leaving him
in ignorance of his whereabouts He next in
formed his friend that he owed his knowledge
Of his present residence to happy accident
namely to information given him by fair
lady, with whom he had been 30 fortunate as
to maintain an epistolary correspondence that
he expected soon to arrive at Ashley Hail. on a
visit TO this fair friend, from whom he had re-
NO'VSu III hNsoesou. ksftio Jc1iOuo pdIlH
shot through the heart of the reader "a fair
friend"-might that be Resale! Had she kept
up constant correspondence with Lauder
dale! And had she even invited him to the
house? lie could not endure the suspicion for
a moment. No, not even if it were only cool,
friendly correspondence. He could not endure
that Rose should be on friendly terms with any
man except himself) He read on. The letter
IL 4. Al 4 ell Al
writer since he had last written; how he had
settled in Western country town how, after
some difficulty, he had been admitted to the
bar and how he had already got into toler.
ably lucrative practice. Finally came the most
startling news of ALL via : that two months pre-
vious, he-L. Lauderdsle Esq.-had come into
the possession Of an estate Of sixty thousand
dollars, by the demise of bis godfather, a
widower without children or near relatives, and
who, dying, bequeathed him the whole Of bis
considerable property. al do not fully realize
this event dear Mark he wrote; Z" cannot
realize my personal interest in it, All do
feel-but that is much, that is everythiDg--s,
that now ! may 20 to Ashley Hail. and lay my
self and my fortune at the feet Of my fair
friend, the beautiful widow, Mrs. Vivian"
Mark took long, deep breath.
what do you want, sir :" he said, looking
up, and for the fret time seeing Col Ashleys
servant standing in the room.
The man delivered his message, and Mark
promised TO attend Colonel Ashley soon, and
dismissed the messenger.
He resumed his letter. There was little
more to be read, but that little was full of fate.
at matters not TO me, now, dear Mark, what
quarter of the country live in. That shall bs
decided by the will Of my fair queen, Valera.
One thing is ccrtain--this law shop and this
village must be given up. My evacuation Of
the premises will leave fair opening for any
enterprising young gentleman who may choose
to I'll it. What say youi" If you are still
seriously inclined to tho ingenious profession
OF theiaw, 10. me know. II you are dispOsed
to step into my shoes, you win find them not
much worn, with not even the gloss OF, only