Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-08-16

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ruse the note of which was the bear
er that her naughty ana incredulous stare
became mitigated to a glance of lofty con
descendent civility.
, "Be seated, Mr.. Waters" said hel
ladyship, waving me to chair "Thi,
note informs me that you have been Sc
, lected for the duty of endeavoring to ex.
tricate my son from the perilous entan.
clements in which he has unhappiIy in.
volved himself.
/ was about 10 reply-ior was silly
enough to feel somewhat nettIed at the
noble lady's haughtiness of manner-that
was engaged in the public service OF
extirpating gang of swindlers, with
whom her son had involved himself; and
was there to procure from her ladyship
any information she might be possessed
Of likely to forward so desirable a re-
suit but fortunately the remembrance Of
my actual position, spite of my gentle
mans attire, flashed wildly upon my
mind and instead of permitting my glib
tongue to wag irreverently in the pres
ence of right honorable, bowed with
/ deterential acquiesence.
Her ladyship proceeded and /, in
substance, obtained the following infor-
nation.
Mr.. Charles Merton, during the few
months which had elapsed since be had
attained his majority, had very literally
" fallen amongst thieves" A passion for
gambling seemed to have taken entire
possession Of bis being; and almost ev-
cry day, as well as night, Of his haggard
aud feverish life was spent in play. A
run Of i'll luck, according to his own be-
lief-but in very truth, run Of down
right robbery-had set in against him,
and he had not only dissipated all the
ready money which he had inherited, !
and the large sums which the fooli sh in
diligence Of bis lady-mother had supplied |
him with, but had involved himself in |
bonds, bills, and other obligations, to a |
frightful amount. The principal agent
in efiecting this ruin was one Sandford-
a man of fashionable aud dashing ex-
terror, and the presiding spirit of the des-
peradoes, whom l was commissioned to
hunt out. Strange to say, Mr.. Merton
had the blindest reliance upon this mans
honor; and even now-tricked and de-
spoiled as he had been by Sandford and
his gang-relied upon his counsel and
assistance for his escape from the despe-
rate position in which lie was involved.
The Everton estates had passed, in de-
.ault of male issue, to a distant relative
1f the late lord so that ruin, absolute
and irremediable, stared both the wretch
ID dupe and his relatives in the face.
Lady Eyerton's jointure was not very
arge one, and her son had been permit
ed to squander sums which should have
1een devoted to the discharge of claims
which were now pressed harshly against t
Ter. {
listened with the deepest interest to I
Lady Everton's narrative. Repeatedly |
Turing the course of it, as she accident !
lily alluded to the manner and appear a
lnce of Sandford who had been intro /
luced by Mr. Merton to his mother and '
lister, suspicion which the police pa '
,ers had awakened, that the gentleman f
n question was an old acquaintance of
ny own, and one, moreover whose ia
7ors l was extremely desirous to return t
n kind, flashed with increased conviction
cross my mind. This surmise, /, of n
curse, kept to myself; and after en-
'hatically cautioning the ladies to keep
ur proceedings a profound secret from h
dr. Merton, took my leave, amply pro- a
ided with the resources requisite for n
arrying into effect the scheme which / =
lad resolved upon. l also arranged that n
instead Of waiting personally on her la /
yship, which might excite observation f
nd suspicion, should report progress /
y letter through the post. i
If it should be he" thought /, as l e
merged into the street. The bare sus- d
icion had sent the blood through my b
ems with increased violence. If this s.
landlord be, as / suspect, that villain s
'ardon, success will indeed be triumph a
victory Lady Everton need not in d
nat case seek to animate my zeal by v
romises of money recompense, A bligh- n
I'd existence, young and gentle wife II
y his means cast down from opu-
nee to sordid penury, would stimulate "
le dullest craven that ever crawled the {,
lrth to energy and action. Pray Heav- h
a my suspicious prove correct and a
len, 0, my enemy, look well to your n
,lf. for the aYenoer is at Your heels p