The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
For the National Frs.
HORACE GRE III A M.
CHAP. ".
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

FOiled-Out-W ltted-and Dy that Smo&h-
tongued, canting hypocrite |" and the speal err,
a somewhat showily dressed man, closed his re-
mark with an oath, which was partially drowned
by a coarse burst of laughter from his ccm-
panion.
"By Jove, Varney, you are getting childish,"
he replied, as soon as he could collect his
breath; here, you had the plot all in yssnr
hands, the trap set and baited, the game reysay
to fall in in fact nothing to do but keep CO ii !;
and here when l come back, after fortnigf Us
absence, / find you completely foored, the Cd oe
flown, taking with him all your spare cas| -
cleaned out, outwitted, and by boy, NJ re
brat! You'll have to give in, old fellow 7 Urn
priest-missionary-ha ha ha! Green, as
he? Ripe enough for you, in all conscience"
"Zounds Hawks | tell you it was not he
boy. He was mine was Just as sure Of ais
ten thousand as if had it all in my poclet,
when who should step in between me and BIN,
but this canting rascal, this Horace Greshi m.
Curse him
"Horace Gresham! Did you say this mat MS
name is Horace Gresham?" exclaimed Hawks,
starting up.
"Yes. What the devil is his name to your I"
growled the irritated gambler.
"a great deal, Varney, if it's the man
think. He's young fellow, TALL with dark eyes
q
"No; his eyes and hair may be dark
enough, for what know; but he's old enough,
at least for us!
$50 he ought to be, if he's the man tSke
him to be. And then, it's years since kew
him."
"You knew him !"
ayes and mark me, Varney, old fell wv,
if am right, l know that of him which viii
soon put him out of the wayl" and the raj cal
made grimace and a gesture significant. of
knot beneath the left ear.
"No Hawks!" cried the man, in surpr Sc.
You must be mistaken. This fellow is l.ar-
son, judge"
"T6at may be; but it don't prove that. he
was not once a medical student, and that he
did not forestall Providence by helping Bill
Granger out of the world"
"Grangeri thought he committed suicide!''
$50 it was said and as there was nothing
to be gained at the time by contradicting it,
and certain reasons why it was best for me
to be seen as little as possible, l kept dark.
But The paused, and, walking to door,
called" Kate girl, come here
Presently woman entered. Her face had
once been very beautiful but was now so worn,
so weary, so SCARED over with the traces of pvil
passions, that it was painful to behold.
"What do you want now ?" she asked, iDpa-
tiently.
"Kate, do you remember the name of taat
young fellow whom Granger feeced so hfAd-
somely the spring after he returned from .the
South, when he boarded with us in Greenv ich
street,"
(Which one ?-the one that shot him at l,,st,
and served him right?" muttered the wom$h.
"Shot him =" exclaimed Varney, his ace
glowing with the fierce hope of revenge. care
you sure of that? Can you prove it? Speak,
woman!"
"And who are your" cried the woman dog
gedly, turning round and facing him with fold
ed arms. "And what good will it do you to
know"
"Good why, if you will only tell what You
know, it'll bring money, girl money, new
was when that affair happened. So, don't quar-
rel with Varuey, but be reasonable, woman, | y
said the man called Hawks, soothingly.
"Put me back, Jim Hawks Just as if cay
thing could put me back, or undo whss is
done!" said the woman, with some emot,on.
"But the lads name was Horace Gresham
ayes, yes; / remember now" said Ha, ks,
with glance at Varney." You used to N, Ike
me halt jealous by raving about his being SO
handsome" b
"Well, he was handsome. How well 1.re-
member him, and the pains Granger toolt to
entrap him. pitied the boy, for knew G AN
ger had no more mercy than Death. and / vas
often tempted to warn him, and should Ave
done it, if that forgery of Changers had .oot
finished the business" and CLEAN of rue
womanhood began to break through the We | of
sin and crime that obscured the woman's flee.
$50, Granger made a slight mistake, did
he? Wrote this fellows name instead of his
own I" queried Varney, indfferently
"No, not the boys, but his fathers. He aad
fostered the boys passion for play, until he aad
won all his ready money, and got note for
several hundreds beside. The boy waA a
minor-Granger was driven for cash-he wsote
a new note, and put the fathers name to it, and
presented it at the bank where the old gentle
man had dealings. The cashier, who wfs a
friend of Greshams family, suspected some
thing wrong, and notified Horace. Granger
was too old to be caught he was making Yep.
arations to leave the city, when the boy blrst
into his room. High words followed, and hen
blows. That boy was a perfect fury when his
passions were reused slight as he was, he .on-
trived to get the upper hands of Granger, who
suddenly drew a pistol, and aimed at the Sy's
head. He saw it, and by dexterous mave-
ment struck up his arm as the pistol explo led,
A. - sofo o.