Butte record., 1855-11-10


Full Of his object, John Bromley
never dreamed of recognizing them in
disguised appearance, ard they saw that
they were safe on that score. His pro-
position startled them, and they ex-
changed glances rapidly. OF course
they could neither accept nor decline it
now. They must have time to consider.
They would be in America within few
months, when he should have their an
swer; meantime, he must not attempt to
see her These and sundsy similar pro-
visions enabled them to be rid Of his i'm
portunity for the present, and the direc-
ton of their travel was changed, and
they hastened to America.
When Bromley arrived at his home
after an absence of about ninety days,
he learned that rival was in the field
in the sh pc of his own cousin, Freder-
lex Bromley, the son Of his elder uncle,
and promising young lawyer in the
county. He had already experienced
the severity of bis cousins enmity in
the contests he had about his iil-gotten
estates, and this was the wo'st blow that
could have been inflicted To say truth
he had boosted over lis wine that lie
had been successful in his foreign trip
a boast that reached the ears of his
younger rival, and elected from him a
smile of contempt.
An accilcntal meeting, sight SER
vice rendered, a few words exchanged,
these were the incidents which COM
menced an acquaintance that had ripen-
ed into love, ard in two months the
young lady had accepted him, without
thinking it necessary to refer the mat
ter to parent or teacher.
But rumor reached the ears Of John
Bromley that her mother was in Amer-
ca, and had knowledge Of this Hew en-
gagement, and had approved it.
Just at this time, had a thundorbolt
fllen at his feet, he could not have been
more startled than he was at an action
in partition, commenced against him by
Frederick Bromley in behalf of an un.
known person, as grantee Of Kate Cam
eron, of one-fourth Of the estate Of her
grandfather.
The name startled him lie had not
heard it for years lie had not seen it
written in more It seemed strange that
it could appear in such papers as these,
so formaIly,so mixed up with law phrases
and technical terms. He had never
thought of her for years except as the
young queenly girl he had loved, and
deceived, and forsaken. The old law
proceedings had been discontinued when
She left her home, and he had for
gotten them
His first impulse now was one Of ex-
ceedlng tenderness for a moment he
thought Of abandoning all to her claim.
Her very name had magic power at that
instant, as the names of the once loved
always must have, If we have left them
and they have not lorsaken US.
But the next moment his cool VII
lainy returned to hin, and he proceed
ed to examine the old claim again. In
his younger days when he had loved
Kate Cameron, he had thought her IA
ther's views correct, and be had intend
ed that night, if the old judge had per-
mitted, to tell him he believed he would
be successful. lie would now see
whether love had warped his judgment,
and whether he was not a foolish boy
then. He examined the case, and be-
came convinced that he was.
He went to the city and laid it before
eminent counsel, and was advised other
wise.
"The will Of John Bromley, Senior"
said the brief and clear opinion of the
ex-chancellor whom he consulted, s'is
manifestly void, and the property goes to
his heirs at law"
Other counsel had confirmed this view.
He could get no one in whom he had
any confidence 10 say otherwise.
Troubles thicken around him IF this
fourth of the estate and the mesne pro-
fits were to be taken from him, as they
would be, he would be bankrupt His
position, character, reputation, all were
now at stake, and all now rested on some
successful blow to retrieve his falling
fortunes The marriage appeared most
feasible; and he began to reason with