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

clandestlnely. Cally knew from report only
what Meadows was, she had watched as narrow
ly asst was possible for her to do, she had never
met with aught but polite attentions and re
spectful endearments at his hands,.in spite Of
| all that was whispered against him, and as she
loved him, she was blind to certain of his errors
and shortcomings that occurred from time to
time, during their acquaintance.
Among the schemes which this fashionable
scoundrel resorted to, in secret, to keep up
appearances" until he should have won the
prize he sought was that of forging his own
fathers name. in various ways, to raise money.
Many of the false bills and checks which he
thus drew, he contrived, however, to protect,
himself, as they matured, but occasionally they
had lain over, and the parent Of the wilful and
dissolute Meadows would pay them, from time
to time, to save his son from the pententiary
During the period Of two years, the (sup
posed wealthy banker had been declining in
wealth, and his business which was carried On
under the ''free banking law of the state
where he resided, had also been exceedingly
disastrous. Firm after firm, and merchant
after merchant whose notes he had oashed in
that time, had failed or become bankrupt and
when he received the letter of his daughter,
pecuniary ruin, also was staring him in the face
His capital of over two hundred thousand
dollars Originally invested in his banking ope-
rations) had been absorbed, and he had scarce
ly ten thousand dollars worth of reliable secu-
rites at this time. He would have sunk under
this accumulated trouble, had not the event of
his daughters elopement and serious act of
rascality occurred at the same time, which
spurred the old man up, and caused him to turn
upon the viper who had stung him so fearfully.
Mr.. Brintnall came into possession of his
daughters letter soon after dinner He had no
means of knowing whittier she had gone, with
the young rascal who had thus stolen her, but
he suspected one of his servants as soon as he
had read the letter which had been delivered
to him some hours earlier than Cally had in
tended, and he Immediately summoned him to
his presence. The lackey fastened to respond
to his masters sudden summons, for he sus-
pected that something had gone wrong, and he
knew that old Mr.. Brntnall, when out of tenn
per, was not man to be trif1ed with impunity
Immediately upon Toms entering the parlor
where Mr.. Brintnall awaited him, that gentle
man arose, and hastily locking the door on the
inside, to the surprise and great alarm of the
servant, he said:
"Ihomas, | have observed that your young
mistress, Caroline, has been unusually busy Of
late, and that your services have been more ac
lively in requsition under her directions than
has been customary. What has it all been
about?''
Il have obeyed the instructions of missus,
only, sir"
Il don't want any equiyocation or prevari-
eating now, Thomas, " said Mr.. Brintnall firmly
and rather hastily, 'and take more than usual
care that you misrepresent nothing to me in this
affair. Your mistress has been abducted Thom-
as, and you are privy to it, mind you.'
Thomas didn' understand that word "abduct-
ed,' at all, and he was now certain that his
young mistress had fallen out of the carriage
and broken her neck, or had been in some hor-
rible manner maltreated, or the father would
never have come at him with any such term as
this.
"Well, sir, s'elp me, God, I haven't ducked
nobody. and don't know nobody that has,
Quoted anybody no way. I've been told by my
missus to do this and the other thing, sir and
she's always
"Paid you literally for it, I've no Doubt
"We]l I-I-'
*'In one word, Thomas, if you wish to save
yourself from immediate Imprisonment, for aid
ing and abetting.-''
Il haint bet dollar, sir.-not a cent
''You have aided in getting her away, say,
you don't deny that, do you!'' thundered Mr..
Brntnall. (Tom hadn't admitted it, either,
buth was desperately alarmed at MI. Brintnall' S
frmness and excitement.)
| s'No, sir-no-I-"
''Where is your mistress, now?"
Il don't know sir"
"Where did she start FROM
"From the house sir,-here'
t'What place is she gone to? Quick, Thomas
have no more time to waste here
'sTo Bedford, sir.''
care you certain?'
"Yes-yes, SIR
ssTo be married."
ri believe so-yes, -sir-at the Globe
hotel, sir.'
The door was unlocked, and Mr.. Brintnall
said: 'Have pair of horses here within ten
minutes, you villain!'
Tom started. ''@.
"And Thomas, do you fnind-on your life
don't you fail me!'
"N-n-no, sir, said Tom. And within six
minutes two horses, ready saddled, were ready
before the door of Mr.. Brintnall's house.
"Mount!'' said the old gentleman, in threat
ening tone to his servant, as he sprang into one
saddle himself, and pointed to the other for
Tom, fmount, and join me-
| At this critical moment, a notary public
reached the door Of BrintnalPs dwelling, and
hailed that gentleman.
Il can't stop now," said Mr.. Brintnal, has
tily.
'Itis matter of Importance, SIR
"Who's failed?" said Mr.. Brintnal, suppos-
ing it to be one of his promisors.
"Willam Meadows, I suppose SIR
"Meadows! He's the very man I'm after,'
said Brintnal
$50 you've found it out, eh?' remarked the
man, who was, however, in error. "Here-
look" continued the notary"
The banker stepped to the ground, and found
protest in the hands of the notary, upon his
own note of hand for ten thousand dollars, at
sixty days, which had fallen due that day, and
was unpaid! He glanced at it a moment, and
instantly pronounced it a rank forgery!
s'Where did you get this?'' inquired Mr.. B.