The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-01-19

to keep his rival company. He was
driven to desperation. Intense love OF
gain stirred him to find out tie others
secret, by whatever means attainable.-
Love of Nary Morrison, or the desire of
her wealth, prompted him to the over
throw of a rival beloved by the lady,
though not countenanced by her father.
Should, however, Ucorge Sciby bccon!e
rich, her fathers objections would YAH
ish. ...
'slt is very fortunate | happened to
be here" muttorcd Christian to himself,
as he paced the hotel parlor, after hay
ing engaged a scat in the same coach
with Sclby, his own business in New
Castle having been settled.
1t was not long till the stage horn
sounded and in ten minutes more George
Sclby and Christian Wrcnwat were
borne rapidly away.
Selby, for several miles, remained
silent; and here we may aS we'll ac'laint
the reader with his history. He had
been Il confidential clerk Of Mr.. Morrison
u wealthy merchant of Scotch extraction,
but long resident iii the city of Penn,
and indebted for most Of his wealth to
the wars of Europe. Sclby had gained
his esteem, was admitted into his private
circle, and had won the affections of the
merchants only daughter, though she
was closcly hc,iegcd by tl!c attentions
Of Mr.. Christian Nrcllwa2. To Sclby,
the latter was no stranger, as they had
often met on business in the counting
house. Christians fraction system ON
account and his unwiliingncss to pay
charges allowed BY commercial usage,
rendered him an unpleasant man to do
business with. Dislike, cnecndcrcd by
these chickering's, changed, of course, to
hatred when they become rivals
Christian took occasion to inform Mr..
Morrison of his clerk s pretensions, when
an explanation followed, ending innlutual
declarations of love between the lovers,
and in Sclby's being sent, as assistant,
to an old commercial friend in Hamburg,
to whom he was highly recommended by
Mr.. Morrison, who took occasion to say
to Sclby he mi glt always count on his
friendship; that personally he had no OBJ
jccticns to him as II son-in-law: but
without some corresponding advantage
of wealth, an alliance with his family
was impossible.
The fair lady vowed consistency to
Sclby, so Christian gained nothing by
the removal of his rival: as her father,
though anxious to discourage an intimacy
he drcncd Acknowledgements, was not,
however, disposed to control his daueIl-
tcr's affections. True, Christian grew
daily more favoritc with him, i,ls,nuch
as lie esteemed him ii wealthy, quiet,
practical Young merchant, though def
cicnt, perhaps, i'll personal graccs and
| bri ghtncss of intellect.
Affairs remained in this way for three
years or so, when Sclby appeared, as we
have narrated, OH the deck of the Roger
O., at Newcastle.
AS the coach sped on, Christian used
every artiiice to extract the secret Of
George Selby's journey, but i'll vain
70 cnticc hil. from his reserve, Christian
spoke Of Mary .Morrison, described her
fathers country scat at Hamilton vii
| E'Et, VIC i"tt '''lIi t!tit7 di NiiEii NAL
was the belle, &c: TO all Of which SIelty
listened with interest, forgetting in the
pleasure afforded by the recital, his dis
like of the ungcncrolls narrator.
1t was under the influence Of this
favorable impression that he accepted
Christians proposal to take supper, and
rest themselves for,the night at Chester,
! (some fifteen or twenty miles for the
i city, The coach went no farther; but
tina mail would be taken by another in
the course of the evening.
At Chester, then, they stopped, and
while supper was preparing, Christian,
| (whose cogitation i'll regard to the un-
expected circumstances around him re-
suited in determination to satisfy HIM
self that very night,) took walk by
himself III the street. "Five hundred
dollars for his passage" he exclaimed to
himself, s'and III our vessel Why did
not some of the English cruisers fall in
with her The old sea dog, Captain O.,
would certainly have fought, and then
we might have got rid of this serpent,
who comes to cause my misery. | Won
der does he know he is paying me part
of his passage money |" Cnconsciously
he stopped; but his eye was attracted by
the glare of an apothecary's shop
"Ah, he thought, .'eI have key here"
He saw tic ruin of his hopes II Selby
succeeded, lie should lose Mary, he
should lose her fathers wealth. Could
he not obtain the means i'll this shop to
save them True, the scheme was, per-
haps, dangerous; but then the risk was
not great compared with that Of losing
the lady and her wealth. So into the
shop he went and purchased phial OF
laudanum.
1t was, of course, then, no surprise to
Christian to observe Sclby, after sup
per, (Which was followed by bottle of
wine,) grow drowsy, and fall fast asleep.
Christian assisted the landlord in carry
ing up stairs the victim of his villainy,
remaining, however, to see the complete
success OF it in the profound slumbcr of
selby. Searching carefully the pockets
of his rival, he found Il letter of some
length from the merchant at Hamburg to
MIR. Morrison, stating that the commits
sioncrs of the United States and those