Squatter sovereign., 1855-08-14


me, as presume your opportunities must
be to her. She has been educated for a
different purpose, and other fate than that
which must follow upon an intimacy with
you, sin. Do we understand each other,
think you2'
"Upon my word, Mr.. Brintnall," repsi-
ed Meadows, entirely unabashed, and
twirling his watch-chaln gracefully, ..this
reception is very remarkable, not to say
peculiarly cool. I have been fattered, sir
with the gentle and respectful treatment I
have met with at your daughters hands,
thus far, and l had understood that her faith
er was not only gentleman, but that she
resembled him closely, in disposition and
characteristics. 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 know me, assuredIy."
4 know all I wish to know of you, all
that is necessary for me to know, William
Meadows" continued the old gentleman,
firmly, and warming up at the coolness and
sonchalance of his forbidden visitor. "You
are dissolute, idle, but fashionable, re-
Specialize spendthright; and do not like
your habits.
"You are candid, sir"
81 mean to be so, always, Mr.. Mead
ows. You are not the kind of man l
wish my daughter to associate with. And
trust that your department towards her,
hereafter, as to me, will be such that shall
find no occasion again to remind you, in
the future, that l am in earnest in what
now say
"You are severe, Mr.. Brintnall.'
81 have done, for the present, said the
banker, rising, with dignified air. "You
now know my wishes, and so far as and
mine are concerned, trust that you will
remember my words"
Good evening, Mr.. Brintnall,' respon-
ded the young spendthrift; and he bowed
himself politely out of the bankers house.
1.-The old boy is really personal" he
continued to himself, as he left the door,
81 shall marry his daughter, probably new
ertheless! At any rate, Cally is a charm
ing creature, and will possess her, now,
at some little trouble, if necessary, since
the old gentleman has been disposed to
snarl thus, before he's harmed. I'll marry
Cally. at venture" and he did!
! Two years after this conversation and
scene at the fine residence of Mr.. Brint-
nall, Cally wrote to her father an affec.
tionate letter one morning, in which she
acknowledged all his care and affection
and constant indulgence towards her, fol-
eighteen years, and informed him that she
had for long period loved man whom
he would not permit himself to be pleased
with, and that night she had consented tc
f marry him, and join her fate with his for
tune, for good or i'll.
II This intelligence was astounding tc
himself, as we'll as to the circle of society
she moved in, for it was believed that Car
oline Brintnall was all gentleness and Id
nocence, and could scarcely be induced tt
, elope from her kind fathers house, excep
. under the most extraordinary circunstan
, ces. But variety of scenes had occurred
in the past two years, which none knew Of
save the lovers. They have often met clan
destinely. Caliy knew from report onl,
: what Meadows was, she had watched a
= narrowly as it was possible for her to dc
: she had never met with aught but polite
q attentions and respectful endearments a
n his hands, in spite of all that was whis
4 pered against him, and, as she loved him
she was blind to certain of his errors an
!. shortcomings that occurred from time t
time. during their acquaintance.
e Among the. schemes which this fashion
h able scoundrel resorted to, in secret, t
e "keep up Appearances until he shoul
n have won the prize he sought, was that {
e forging his own fathers name, IN variou
/, ways to raise money. Many of the falls
E bills and checks which he thus drew, h
Y contrived, however, to protect himself, a
n they matured, but occasionally they ha
IF lain over, and the parent of the wilful an
1t dissoiute Meadows would pay them, froI
n time to time, to save his son from the per
iterltiary- --ss
I. During the period oftwo years, the (suI
I posed) wealthy banker had been declir
d ing IN wealth, and his business, which wa
: carried on under the Stree banking" la
/. of the State where he resided, had ais
;e been exceedingly disastrous. Firm aft.
; firm, and merchant after merchant, who's
h notes he had cashed In that time, had fai
IS ed or become bankrupt. and when he n
u ceived the letter of his daughter, peclnial
r. ruin also was staring him IN the face