The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-03-19

sation for those who remain. The com
pany which Arthur Dunning left tha
evening, proved no exception to thi
rule.
DunniDg is a fine talented younI
man." remarked one.
"Yes q young man of rare talents
according to my Judgment" remarked
another.
"And of rare social gifts" said I
third. :" No social circle among BIZ
acquaintance is deemed complete with
out him"
"Too social, I fear" remarked q
fourth gravely "Or perhaps shoulc
say too convivial. A young man Of biz
temperament is in peculiar danger"
"Very true" replied an elderly gen.
tleman. " 1t is greatly to be regretted
that Dunuing is falling into such hab-
lits."
Ellen started, and turning to an ell
derly lady who sat by her side, asked in
whisper, A" What habits 7"
"lt is said, aud l suppose with truth
that Mr.. Dunnipg is too fond Of the
wine-cup," was the reply.
A young lady who had overheard the
answer to Ellen's question, now drew
near, and said,
What pity, is it noti to see SO fine
a young man ruined !"
T" Is his ruin then fact so confidently
anticipated :" asked Ellen. .
"All who know him must hope tha
he will escape such a cata trophe," re
piled the elder lady. But those whc
have watched his course for the last year
are compelled to feel that his danger is
very great"
" And has no one warned him Of this
danger 7" asked Ellen, earnestly. "Do
none of his friends seek to save him from
impending ruin :"
A young many who stood near by, re-
piled,
:" He is so proud and bigh-spirited /,
that be would only resent such an effort
as the highest affrout. He thinks him
self in no danger, and the person who
shall tell him who he was, would only
forfeit his friendship, without etfecting
any good result"
"Perbaps not" replied Ellen. cit
may be he would take it kindly, AT
all events, the person would be dlscbarg-
ing his duty. Some one surely should
warn him "
"Supposing Miss Hastings should un-
dertake the office. l know Of no one
who would be likely to have more inAu-
euce," said the young lady little mis-
chievousIy
Ellen would have thought little of
this remark, regarding it only as
raillery, had it not suggested q question
of duty.
Would it be possible for me to say
anything which could have any good ef-
feet ?" she questioned with herself. 81
am almost a stranger. 1t is but few
weeks since we met, and after few
weeks more we shall probably never
meet again. Even should he be offend.
ed with me, it could result in no great
harm"
After Ellen retired in her room that
night, the subject was again presented
to her mind, aud she felt strong de-
sire to warn the young lawyer of his dan
ger. She half resolved that she would
do it even at the risk of his displeasure.
She now recollected that en- more than
one evening when she had been 10 CON-
pany with him, he had appeared quite
different towards the last Of the evening
from what he had been the former part
OF it. At the time she little thought
that the brilliant sallies of wit which he
poured forth, were in no small deg ee
the result Of artificial stimulants; but
now she saw clearly how it was.
A few evenings after, sho again met
Arthur at large party. 1t excited no
surprise that he should, early in the eve-
ming, quietly make his way to her side
fer he had often done it before. But
her heart beat as it had never done on
previous occasions, as she thought of the
desire she had cherished to warn him of
bis danger. The task had seemed suf-
6ciently formidable when Il had been