Butte record., 1855-02-03

1t went against my heart to resist the
young llow's hearty invitation, for |
confess l should have liked dearly to
have had a pleasant carouse with so
young and JOYOUS a party; but l felt
that | ought not to countenance the lads
dissipation, SO | sternly refused. But |
stood listening as James went along
singing snaiches from Lucrezia and as
the party moved off to their rendezvous.
| thought l saw Adolphus Penniman
coming out Of Qnatfenan's. Could i,
lie tat he WIS watching over the lad
still:
From this time out, whenever saw
James Caracole, he was with Emily
Bred. They were very soon to be
married, and both looked very much in
love, and very happy. They made as
pretty couple as could be seen saun-
tering down Broadway at three o'clock
IN the afternoon. Emily, on the strength
OF the enga cement, had taken to leaning
on james when they walked together !;
and she used to hang on his arm in such
bcwltehlng way, and look up in his
face with such sunny, cloudless smile,
that [ could nat help envying the dog
the happiness that eesned in store for
h.m- There was, l knew we'll, a cloud
looming in the distance; but had san
guine hopes that the young people would
be welded and settled before it burst.
Matters had been hastened-proba bly
by old Caracole, who saw the coming
crisis as well as l did-and, after the
usual prcliminaries, the wedding was
fixed to come off in the course of the
ensuing month.
Just then, in spite of his approaching
happin SIS, James seemed to me to be
restless and uneasy. At times, when
ment him in the street, his face wore
haggard expression-as if he had been
all night beforehand he came frequent
ty to my Office to borrow money, but
never again opened his heart to me, as
he had done on the first occasion. In
such interview / ventured to sound him
as to what he had been doing but his
eye grew sullen, and he evinctd such
Discrimination to enter on the subject,
that | cut the matter short, and gave
him what he wanted After this, l saw
him no more at my office.
All my visions of the security Of the
Caracoie family were one day shattered
suddenly. ] received a hurried, and al
most incoherent note from Mr.. Caracole,
bFgging Inc to come to his house without
del.y. \ terrible prcscntment of some
evil having happened to james, took
possession of me SO flingiog myself into
cab. | drove as fast as | could to No. -,
Fifth Avenue. l found Caracole pacing
up and down his study without coat, ,
and looking the picture of despair.
Ny ar friend !" said he. IN a low
voice, as 1 entered. {" this is a sad busi-
ness ~
What has happened :" I cried
" Any thing wrong with James :''-for
my thoughts almost ins inctively revert
I'd TO the poor boy
No, thank God - be said, with a
tone of as dep gratitude as his anguish
permitted, x but my wife my wife ="
and hiding hi- face ia lis hands he Sob
bed aloud.
Mrs Caracole - I exclaimed il
amazsment, :. is she i'll -
My old FRIEND" the poor man said
taking my hand and pressing it convul-
sively, "my old friend, she-she has
& !"
Fled left you with whom with
Pennimln - | exclaimed almost invol-
unfairly, recoIlecting their old attach
mcRt
"No, no; Penniman has acted like a
noble fellow. | found letter on her
table from him, warning her against the
villain, and conjuring her, for the sake
Of her husband and her non, not to take
this fatal step, which, it seems, he FORE
saw. No, it was not Penniman it was
Count Colocotroni.
He appeared utterly prostrated. 1
did not offer any consolation to him be-
yond alluding casually, now and then, to
bis sen. Whenever | mentioned his
name, however. bis face lighted up, and
he seemed for moment to forget his
shame. He was now evidently hIs only
hope on earth