Butte record., 1855-11-10


"By the strange interposition of Pro
yidence I found her in the hour of her
utmost anguish, and took her back to
my heart. God has blessed us both with
many happy years since then, and we
have loved you beyond all words to tell,
and now l must tell you who was your
father, and who"
He was interrupted by the opening of
the door, and the servant retiring hastily,
gave place to MIR. Stevens and John
Bromley
No man was ever mole astonished
than was the latter at seeing the grand
father of his supposed victim before him.
He turned furiou-ly to Stevens, but the
next instant flash Of lightning appeared
to have struck him. This was surely
Mr.. Carlton, the same man he had seen
in France; but yet it was not the same.
The red complexion of the French Mar
quis was gone. the dress was altogether
changed, and the man before him was
could he doubt it-how did he fail to
see it before-where were his senses
this man was Judge Cameron, the man
Of all others on the face of the earth he
least desired 60 see.
1t needed but one blow more
Mrs. Carlton entered. He looked at
her, and the strong man quailed before
the presence of the woman he had
wronged and abandoned. Had tie grave
opened he could not have been more ap>
palIed. He thought her long ago folded
in its quiet embrace. He thought the
seal Of everlasting silence set on her tes-
tinony But now he saw himself ar
raigned before the tribunal of innocence
and offended justice
The cooIness of the villain returned
after moments pause, and he prepared
to confront his acausers.
"Thank God, John Bromley, that
you have failed in your designs tonight.
That sneer avails you little here. Thank
God, 1 say, John Bromley.'
'DoubtIess 1 have cause, since you
have seen fit to interfere.'
"Thank God, say"
"And Why"
"Because he has saved you from
bIacker crime than even your black soul
is yet stained with"
"What crime might that be: Has it
a name:"
"It has name. Men call it incest"
"With whom' How: What do you
mean"
"Let me answer him, father. John
Bromley, if there be hell you are des-
tined to it; but even at this point Of your
career would fain save you I loved
you. You deserted me, deserted your
children; and when your youngest child
died in my arms, and [, half mad with
agony, clasped it close to my breast,
men tore 1t from me, and accused me of
its murder. You knew all that. You
thought it glorious opportunity to be-
come rid of your victim. You basely
left me; nay, worse than that, you set
hounds Of the law on the false scent;
you drove them up. You thought to
lose me thus God saved me by mir
acle, and [ was saved. Then | hated
you, No words can tell how abhorred
your memory. Tears softened that ,and
experience taught me that this world is
no place to cherish such feelings. But
| saw you again, and when | heard you
renew your baseness, and seal your old
vllainies by offering to unite your own
vile self to young. pure girl-forget-
ting that | had ever existed-then | saw
that God had determined on his ven
geance, and l did not seek to stay it
John Bromley, that girl yonder, that
child that shrinks in horror from your
accursed presence, is your child"
"My child"
"Your daughter by your wife"
"Say rather, madam, my daughter by
my"
A back-handed blow, slight but effec-
tual, drove back the foul word to the
heart that originated it.
"Have a care how you handy harsh
words here, Mister Bromley"
"This from you, stevensl D-n you,
Sir, what do you mean by striking me-"
Because you choose to insult me-"
II insult you, how, pray"
"By hinting that I did not marry
you to Miss Cameron.