Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-03-08
SELECTED STORY
EDITH'S COUNTERPLOT.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

"Call it one thousand, Tom +"
"Well, one thousand it shall be-. If
within month, you will so lead Waite
Harling astray that he shall be caught a
the wine-cup. and at the gaming table,
will give you the thousand dollars
"But Mr.. Tom Aubrey, you are yer,
sanguine.'
''Not bit more than is amply justifable
Gid. If you will do as you have said,
know I shall win"
"But do you take into account the propo
sition that Edith Amesbury may love Wal
ter Harling?"
eyes"
'sAnd do you furthermore reflect that a
woman will be very slow to listen to tales Of
evil against the man who possesses her
heart ?"
II have thought of it all, Gideon. Il
the lady were alone concerned, [ might
doubt the success Of my plan but her broth
er Charles, who is her guardian since her
uncle's death, is one Of the stifest and most
exacting of the moral crew. Let him SO
much as suspect that Walter Harling drinks
and CANDLES, and he would see his sister
suffer any amount Of torment rather than see
her marry that man"
''But if he should suspect you, Tom 2"
"He will not. I have kept my tracks
too we'll covered. He thinks my fortune is
still in bank, safe and intact; and he thinks
my church going hath strong foundation Of
religious zeal Fear not for me, Gid. Do
as we have planned, and I will win Edith
Amesbury's and,-and her hand once
mine, can keep my part Of the compact.
And, my boy, l will do more than prom
ise."
"Fear not that shall fall" said Gideon
Smart IL am not apt to put my band to a
work from which to turn back uusuccess-
| full"
Gideon Smart was notorious gambler
and blackleg-a sport and an exquisite OF
the first water I do not mean that he was
dandy; but that when he chose to turn
his ambition into Fashionable ways few could
surpass him. ...
Thomas Aubrey was young man Of five
and-twenty, and had been left the possessor
Of an ample fortune; but course of dissi-
patton, and loose living in every way, had
scattered his patrimony, and he was now
penniless. In the times when his father
lived he had known Edith Amesbury. and
had fancied that she loved him i; and since
that time he had kept up the acquaintance,
though not to the extent Of intimate familiari.
ty. But lately he had sought to regain the
old ground. Edith and her brother had
been left equal sharers in fortune of half
a million dollars, and if he could gain her
hand be could swim again upon the up
per wave of fashion and pastime. One i'm
pediment, however, he found in bis way
and that impeachment was certain Walter
Harling, whom Edith might possibly love.
How he proposed to remove this obstacle We
have seen.
Walter Harling, at the age of three-and
twenty, had, entirely by his own hard-earn
ed resources, graduated at one OF the best Of
our colleges, and was now, while studying
law at his leisure, engaged as sub-edltor OF
the staff of one of the city daily papers.
One day gentleman called upon Har
ling in his sanctum, aud INTRODUCED himself
as Gideon Smart, and at the same time pre-
sented an original article for publication. L
was upon the subject of Temperance, ane
was of real merit.
.If you publish it" said the visitor, "le
it 60 in as your own. l employ some OF my
leisure time in scribling, but have no am
bition to shire as an author"
And after that Gideon Smart dropped III
every day for week, bringing with him or
each occasion an article for publication. -
These articles were crisp and 'meaty," an(
sparkling with wit and sentiment. The.
had been written originally by a poor dissi
pated iterateur, who was paid mere pit
lance for their composition, and then cople'
by Smart. =.
At length Smart brought in spicy art'
Gle on gambling, which Harling commende'
highly. ,e.
"Fcr the purpose Of booking myself Il
these matters" said Smart, 81 have takel
the trouble to visit few of the more prom
inent of these dens Of iniquity. Have yo'
ever seen the inside Of gambling hall
II never have" answered Walter.
"You should do SO, by all means, m.
dear Harling. The man who would max
successful editor should make himself &C
quainted with all phases Of society. thin
you would find enough to repay you IN tn
study. What say you to going with me
The idea struck Harling favorably. II
had conceived liking for Smart, and b
promised that he would accept his otfer:-
;. There was nothing to prevent his goln
that very evening.
II am sorry, Edith, but the alternatlV
cannot be avoided. [ can never consent
your uniting your destiny with that OF
J, man who is frequenter of the gaming s
s, loon.
' Charles Amesbury spoke in sorrow b
firmly. His sister, beautiful as the rose
y y early summer, and as pure, listened WI
a. resolute incredulity.
II cannot believe it, she said. noo u,
men might deceive me; but not wait
Harling. Deception is not in MS near
and he could not wear it upon his face
know that he carries his soul in his look
s'And yet, my dear Edith, it is PLAN - =
lev