The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-03-28
The Broken Banker.

"Who is it, father?" asked the blooming
and sprightly daughter of Horace Brintnall,
the rich banker, one evening, as they sat in
the splendid parlor of her parent "Whom did
you allude to, thus sharply" she repeated, for
as she entered the room, Mr.. B. had Just re-
marked, that he didn't fancy such people, and
the man was an easy dispositioned rogue, he
had no doubt.
Nobody that you know, Cally, trust, . re-
piled the parent, affectionately.
II think I heard you mention his name
"Meadows?' queried her father
$50 thought, father, and should be sorry
to feel that any member of the Meadows family
should merit such an appellation as I heard
you mention just now.''
The parent said nothing more for the moment
and the subject passed by, but was not forgotten
by the banker. Cally did know young Meadows
though, and she had conceived a fancy for him,
though she had met him but recently. He had
lately returned from ar. India voyage, whittier
he had been seen sent by his parents, year
before, to keep him out of mischief at home.
William Meadows-the subject of the above
spicy remark-was a reckless and dissolute
youth, bred in the fashionable world, and at
twenty-one was nearly ripe! Within a few
weeks, he had re-appeared in society, after
years absence, and was the same dashing, ac-
complshed, but dangerous gallant that he ever
had been, his journey abroad having only had
the effect of whetting anew his disposition for
the enjoyments of "high life,'' that he had for
years been the votary Of
Soon after his arrival from Canton, he met
Miss Caroline Brintnall, the fair daughter of
the wealthy banker, but her father was not
aware that she had seen him. He became enam-
ored of her, and at once paid court to her,
while she condescended to permit his attentions
for she really conceived him to be very enter
tanning and agreeable gentleman. When she
overheard her fathers remark, she was a good
deal astonlshed, as we'll as greatly grieved, for
she believed, first, that her parent must be
grossly deceived, while at the same time, she
did not hesitate to acknowledge to herself that
she had never yet met the man whom she
thought she could more worthily love.
The encouragement which she gave to young
Meadows was fatal to the hopes Of her father.
The young man came of good family, his
parents were worthy and rich, and the boy was
tolerated in society, where "Caly," (as her
father etfectionately called her, came contin-
ually in contact with him. He lost no time and
no opportunity in paying his devoirs to her, land
in her simplicity and honesty of heart she came
at last to love him devotedly. She was charm
ed with his hattery and his polished manners,
and never dreamed, in her wild and first atfec-
ton, but he was DETAINED, when she casually
heard of bis laisons, and his dissolute habits.
70 her he was always the same gentlemanly
deceiver, and in her presence he offered no
show of improperly in his conduct to alarm or
undeceive her expectations and her good opinion
of him.
Finally, Mr.. William Meadows ventured to
call at her fathers residence. Caroline chanced
to be absent from home that evening, circum-
stance with which he was unacquainted, but
which served the purpose of confirming the
young man in his previously acquired suspi
cions, that the banker did not fancy him, fact
about, but which prepared him to carry out his
scheme regarding the daughter, in his own de-
iant and unprincipled choice of manner. He
met Mr.. Brintnall that night alone. After a
cold and formal reception on the fathers part
he remarked:
my daughter, Mr. Meadows, is absent am
not sorry for this circumstance, for have no
wish to mortify you, or to wound her feelings
in your presence. Nevertheless, desire that
you may now understand, once for all, that
your visits at my house will be offensive. Task
that you will not repeat this call, and if you
conform to the wish and expectation that now
freely express to you, privately, between our
selves, you will never again intrude yourself
upon her. AS to your attentions to Miss Caro-
line, elsewhere, Twill ado, that lately heard of
it and it is excessively disagreeabe to me, as
presume your opportunities must be to her. She
another fate than that which must follow upon
an intimacy with you sir! Do we understand
each other, think you?''
Upon my word, Mr.. Brintnall," replied
Meadows, entirely unabashed, and twir]ing his
watch chain gracefully, "tbis reception is very
remarkable, not to say peculiarly cool! [ have
been fattered, sir, with the gentle and respect
full treatment I have met with your daughter s
hands thus far, and had understood that her
father was not only gentleman, but that she
resembled him closely, in disposition and char
acteristics. The conduct on your part, sir,
leaves me no alternative but to believe that you
have been misrepresented to me, or that you
do not known me, assu1edly."
II know all wish to know of you, all that
is necessary for me to know, William Meadows, !"
continued the old gentleman, firmly, and warm
ing up at the GOODNESS and nonchalance of his
forbidding visitor "You are desolute, idle.
but 'fashionably respectable spendthrft, and
I do not like your habits
''You are candid, sir!''
ri mean to be so, always, Mr.. Meadows.
You are not the kind of a man | wish my
daughter to associate with. And [ trust that
your department towards her, hereafter, as
to me, will be such that I shall find no occa-
sion again to remind you, in the future, that l
am in earnest in what now say
"You are severe, Mr.. Brintnall.' .
~ have done, for the present" said the bank
er, rising, with digni6ed air t*You now
know nv wishes, and so far as | and mine are
trust that you will remember my
words" ~
GOOD morning, Mr.. Brntnall," responded
the young spendthrift, and he bowed himself
politely out of the bankers house.
.'The old boy is really personal" F" he contin-
ued, to himself as he left the door. II shall