Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-28
L Al T. LON DON MERCH ANT.
A Tale of the Present Time.
ICOyrINUED.


of love, To a future luminous and radiant With
her smiles, was but air-drawn vision n
mirage of the desert, which, when | stretched
forth my arms to embrace il, turned to sand
dust. dead sea ashes
had written to Mr.. Somers of nv good
f'riune-that the prescribed goal was more IT, an
attained; and L received by return of post an
answer briefly stating that Mary SOmers had
been married y fortnight previously to r Mr..
Amorv. Mems hearts are tOughter than they
think. continued Mr.. Lewson. after an inter
val of silence, ''Or that sudden and terrible blow
must have destroyed me. Pride-indignation
ut what believed to be the duplicity and base
ncsS OF Mary SOmers-helped to blunt and miti-
gate the severity of the stroke; for 1 knew not
then, nor till months afterwards, how She
poor. Hl-starocd girl-had been entrapped,
coereed into the marriage. Mr.. Somers had
been always addicted to play; and this habit
had, Of late, grown upon him lie lost heavily
far more than his means could discharge
and IN a fit of partial intoxication involved
himself crIminally in some wsy-I never heard
the precise history of the affair-which placed
him Mt the mercy of AmOry, also a gamester:
aud he, long since rejected suitOr for Mary IS
hand, offered her the alternative of immediate
marriage with him, or Of witnessing the shame
and ruin Of her father. Somers survived this
sacrifice by about two years only; and it was
from letter; an humble. piteOus letter he ad-
dressed to me q few hours befOfe his death
AmOTy gradually sank lower and lower in the
world, and at length, becoming bankrupt both
IN means and character, resolved on smjprating
60 America. He sailed with his family, / nm
dcrSf0od, IN the Caroline, from Bristol That
vessel foundered at sea; and, the first shock of
the Intelligence over. felt n mOurnful satisfac-
ton in the thought that Mary SOmers had es-
capped from harsh and frowning world to
Heaven.
'' have little moro TO say" resumed Mr..
LeWS"n, after much longer interval of silence
than before, and speaking with brorkcn voice
ahd aveTtcd cOuntenance. Il was returning
from Pad'IinSton, yesterday evening. and took
shelter tor few minutes from the rain in the
wide door way uf draper shop in TOttenham
Court Road. Presently a female. whose face I
GId not see, came out Of the shop. and as she
spoke to man apparently waiting for her at
the entcrance, the voice which, for twenty
years. had only heard in my dreams, startled
my waking scnse. 1 turned eagerly towards
them. They were both meanly, wretchedly
clad; and the man, whose back was also to me
was now addressing his companion in harsh and
InenAcIng tones She, gathered from what
he said, had just been paid some trifing mis-
cradle wages for work she had brought home
and he was insisted upon having it to spend. it
seemed. in liquor. She spoke again darted
forward looked in her face-it was indeed she
but oh, how changed. l uttered an irrepres-
sibie cry Of grief, astOnishment. dispair fhey
N'itA A''hSu up C0o knew me. ana with
exclamation bitter ny own. hid her face
with her hands. and FASTENED away followed
for she still held the disputed money in her
h1nd-by her husband. As soon as recovered
my presence of mind entered the shop and
procured her address. They did not know
name, but they directed me to the Iodg ging they
occupy IN GOOdSe street. You will find the ad-
dress IN full on yOnder card. Seek them out
and arrange IN the best manner you can for her
and' "i course, for his support. There are
children, too-or at least there were Be
prompt and liberal. But after all. be careful
tnat she surSpcct not the source of the income
You viii assure to them. know her we'll
Poverty, however extreme, would never tempt
her To accept pecuniary assistance from me
from the man she so deeply, but unwilliRgly
blamelessly wronged Farewell You know
my wishes; and | shall not expect to see you
ull you can say that all is arranged
L fastened away, and was soon in Goodpe
street. where L found the Amorys had lOnged
since their return to America, about two months
previously. under the name of Randall.
gentle, modest, brOk ken hearted crea-
ture. slid the landlady. Mrs Randall was,
but her husband a worthless SCAMP; .
There were also, | found. two childrep-a
boy and girl-One thirteen, the other eleven
years old As we were speaking. the unfortu-
nate wife entered the room with a message to
the landlady. and L obtained a momcntary
glimpse of her face. 1t stiII retained a singn-
"a NA IIt>sloll, difl ncT sweet, patient
voice was melody Itself She vanished imme-
dlH'ely ON finding stranger in the room; and
while 1 was hcsitating what course to pursue
knock came 20 the door
That Is Randall" said tho landlady.
L rose. NET a stOutish, ill-clad man in the
passage, and said should be glad if he would
accompany ne, for few minutes to a tavern
ci",e by. lie looked curiously in my face.
sinlled with an expression OF low cunning. and
iu;lmatc1 that he was ready t. 60 with me.
As s""n rs We were seated in d private ROOM
/ siid
'' am dePuted by gentleman who takes an
interest IN the welfare IF your family to offer
you, on certain conditions, pecuniary as
siytInce"
You are Lewson's clerk, = rejoined Amorv.
with cool effrontcry. Il have seen you in Fri
day street. when I have been dclberatinc
whether or not TO call ON him for old acquain-
tance sake"
Il Mr.. LewSOn's clerk, [ answered.
with good deal Of asperity; land you can no
d'abt guess at the motive which prompts that
gentleman offer
OF course can, replied the fellow, still
unabaShed
'' Well then we nay a, once come to an nm
derstanding will take n furnished house for
N"U, which happens just 10 be vacant ut
ll"mmcrSmith You can have possession a few
hours hence. The rent | will pay, and, in ad-
dition. You shall receive five pounds every Mon
day Morning The fellow made a gesture Of
uHhounded astonishment. But. remember
this - contingent on the strict observance of
the conditions / am about to state
Name them he eagerly exclaimed. Il
agree beforehand
They are these First that Mrs. Amory
never hears from whom these gifts proceed
ou can say II you like, that legacy has sud
deHly fallen TO yCu."
" Ay, ay, that will be easily arranged. What
els -
i That Mr'. Amory and her children are
maintained iu comfort and rcspectability and
especially that you treat her both in word and
a"i. with unvaryinS kindness and respect"
CeTtsinly certainly s:ammered the fell
l'w. and think slight blush stole over his
harsh Textures.
lie was, Of course, prodigal of promises, and
Ultimately eNcrythIng was arranged; and by
hNe" clock IN the evening the family hal taken
possession Of their new abode l found Mr..
LeWs"n' on my return. busily engaged with
two gentlemen in important business transdc-
tiOns, and IL struck me more forcihle than ever
hJw difficult ii WAS To believe that beneath that