Butte record., 1855-11-10


length he resolved to abduct her.
His plan was adroitly laid. There
was man in the city, an I'D ally of his
younger rascalities, who had once helped
him in a somewhat similar adventure,
though in that case the lady was not un-
willing Stevens had personated cler-
geman then for his aid, and possibly he
might provide one who would DO up the
marriage in fact.
Bromley wrote him to come to see him
he came. Almost twenty years had
not changed him very much He was
the same round-faced, jolly, good-na-
tured fellow he had known, with broad
English brogue, and a broader English
laugh.
When Bromley reminded him Of the
old scrape his face fell. The look OF
contentment and happiness left it. lie
was silent for a moment.
81 did not think you had sent for me
to speak OF that, or [ should not have
come"
"Well, we will not speak of it. l
want you now 10 help me in another way.
I want to marry woman against her
will"
II will have nothing to do with it."
Nonsense, Stevens. You will do it.
1t is just this"
And he told him all the circumstances
and his plan. Stevens listened, and his
eyes opened wider, until, when he named
Emily Carlton, his eyes shut with snap
SO quick they could almost have been
heard. Stevens now seemed to enter
fully into his plans, and they arranged
the minutise without difficulty.
The next week was fixed for the ac-
complishment.
On the appointed morning Stevens
was to present himself at the school as a
messenger from the city with the intelli-
gence Of the severe illness Of Mrs Carl
ton, and a request for the immediate at
tendance Of the daughter He was to
convey her by carriage to the river,
where they would take the steamer
for New York, and Bromley would join
them the same evening at place 70 be
appointed by Stevens Everything pro.
missed success, and the clergyman whom
Stevens was to furnish would perform
his work, consent or no consent.
In the drawing-room Of an elegant
residence in The city, at about nine
o'clock Of a winter eYening, an old gen.
tleman sat alone, looking into splen-
did fire, manifestly absorbed in deep
thought.
Before him swept the shadows and
shapes of nearly seventy years, and he
did honor to them, more or less as they
severally demanded H. Sometimes his
face grew dark and clouded, sometimes
it was clear and sunny, sometimes bitter
" sad.
At length a lady entered. She was
about forty years Of age in appearance,
and was still very beautiful. No girl
of eighteen ever seemed more fresh in
feature, more graceful in form, more
winning in all her ways.
"She is here, my father''
"Let her come in, Kate, and [ will
tell her all''
The door opened and Katharine CARL
ton entered. Her presence seemed to
give new light to the room.
"Katharine, my child, come close to
me l have much to say to you tonight,
and | would prepare you for a scene you
have little anticipated"
She was kneeling by the old mans
side, looking up into his face with trust
ing love.
"When I was boy I loved one who
was marvelously ike what you are now.
I can see her again when I look at YOU.
1 hated her father, and was proud of
triumphing over him By winning his
daughter against his stern commands.
I eloped with her. Your mother was
our only child. We we're happy together
for many years. How happy Their
memory is buried | lost her-she died.
Then I loved your mother. God visited
my youthful sins on me, and in my hap
piest days your mother yielded to the
smooth voice of scoundrel and left me
as her mother before had left her father
But your mother was deceived. God
punished her too, and when you were