Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-04-27
sCorn-chandler.'

| InaI was OapJaln Bramst0ns pleasan
phrase, when I informed him of my father
sudden change of purpose. The proposed part
nership was as distasteful to myself as to Cap
tain Bramston but my father proved inexora
ble-fercely SO, l may say-to my entreaties
and to those Of my sisters; and was placed il
the dilemma, either of immediate banishmen
from home, and probable forfeiture of my in
heritance, or the loss of Ellen Bramston, tt
whom, with all my follies, was and am dsyo
tedly attached. After much anxious cogitation
hit upon scheme, requiring for u time th'
exercise of o considerable amount of deceit anG
dissimulation, which would, fattered myself
ultimately reconcile interest with inclination
give me Ellen and not lose my father. 9'
8 To which deceit and dissimulation you are
doubtless indebted for your present unfortunate
position ,a 98 M
-sXea have rightly anticipated. But to pro.
ceed. Mr.. Hutton himself, must tell you, was
strongly adverse to receive me as a partner
though, for some reason or other, he burst moi
openly oppose the project; his son, John Hut
ton, also bitterly objected to it -
His son, John Hutton l know the charac
ter of Hutton senior pretty well pray what il
that of his son!' . .ll
well, like myself, he is rather fast, perhaps
but not the less good sort of young fellow
enough. He sailed the week before last for Ri
ga, on business
Before you were apprehended =
'On the morning of the same day Let mt
see, where was Oh,-Mr. Hutton aversion
to the partnership, the knowledge of which
suggested my plan of operation. induced hin
to represent to my father that should pass al
least two or three months in the counting house
before the matter was irreversibly concluded
for his, Mr.. Hutton's, sake, in order that il
might be ascertained if there was any possibili
ty of tanning me into habits of method and ap
plication and hypocritically enforced his ar
gument-you see l am perfectly candid-by
promising ultimate dutiful submission to my
fathers wishes, provided the final decision was
thus respited. The main object thought tt
obtain by this apparent compliance was the
efectual loosening, before many weeks had pas
sed, of the old gentlemans purse-strings, which
had of late been over-tightly drawn. had
several pressing debts of honor as they are cal
tled-debts of dishonor would, according to my
experience, be the apter phrase-which it wat
absolutely necessary to discharge; and the sue
cess, moreover, of my matrimonial project en-
tirely depended upon my ability to secure very
considerable sum of money
Your matrimonial project!'
Yes; it was at last arranged, not without
much reluctance on the part of Ellen, but
have good reason for believing with the covert
appreciation of Captain Bramston, that we should
effect stolen marriage, Immediately set off fol
the Continent, and remain there till the parent
al storm, which, on my fathers part, would,
knew, be tremendous, had blown over. did
not feel much disquieted as to the final result
l was an only son; my sisters would be indie
fatgable intercessors and we all, consequent
ly, were pretty confident that general recon
ciliation, such as usually accompanies the ring
ing down of the green curtain at the .wind-uI
of stage-comedy, would after no great interval
of time, take place. Money, however, was in
dispensable-money for the wedding expenses
the fight to France, and living there for con
siderable time, perhaps and no likelier mode o
obtaining it occurred to me than that of cajol
ing my father into good-humor, by affecting t.
acquiesce in his wishes. And here may re
mark, in passing, that had been capable of th
infamous deed am accused of, abundant op
portunites Of plundering Mr.. Hutton presented
themselves from the first hour l entered hi
counting-house. Over and over again has h
left me alone in his private room, with the key
in the lock of his iron safe, where large sum
were frequently deposited, not in bank note
only, but untraceable gold
That looks like singular want of cautol
in so precise and wary man as Mr.. Hutton
remarked, half under my breath.
Nothing of the sort, rojoined Mr.. Edmun,
Webster, with some heat, and his pallid fac
brightly flashing. 1t only shows that, wit
all my faults and folles, it was impossible 70
any one that knew me to imagine could be ca
pable of perpetrating felony
i beg your pardon, Mr.. Webster; l mean
nothing offensive to you the remark was mere
ly the partly involuntary expression of though
which suddenly glanced across my mind
l have little more of preliminary detail
relate he went on to say. Contrary to ou
hopes and expectations, my father became no
a whit more liberal with his purse than befor
the reverse rather and soon found that h
intended to keep the screw on till the accom-
plishment of the hated partnership placed a
insuperable bar between me and Ellen Bran
ston. used to converse frequently upon thes
matters with Mr.. Hutton, as unreservedly as
do now with you and must say that, althoug
extremely anxious to avoid any appearance
opposition to my father, he always expresse
the warmest sympathy with my aims and wlsl
es; SO much so, in fact, that at last venture
to ask him for the loan Of about five hundrt
pounds, that being the least sum which wou
enable me to pay off the most pressing of ii
claims by which was harrassed and carry OF
my wedding project. That favor, however,
fatty refused, under the plea that his havir
done 80 would sooner or later come to my
ther's knowledge
'And did Mr.. Hutton, after that refusal, co
tinue to afford you opportunities of helpi,
yourself, had you been SO minded.'
Yes; unquestionably he did but what
that sharply replied the young man, his pa
face again suffused with On angry flush.
Nothing, sir; nothing. Go on am
attention