Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-09-14
GALES ) shtttbes.
EDITH's COURTsHIP


Well one thousand it shall be. If,
within month, you will 50 lead Walter
Harliug estray that he shall be caught at
the wine-cup, and at the gambling table,
will give you one thousand dollars.n
but Mr.. Tom Aubrey, you are very
sanguine."
mot bit more than issmply justifiable,
Gid. If you will do as you have said,
know shall win."
But do you take into account the prop
osition that Edith Amesbury may love
Walter Harling ?"
"Yes."
"And do you furthermore reflect that a
woman will be very slow to listen to tales
Of evil against the man who possesses her
heart ?"
IL have thought it all over, Gideon. If
the lady were alone concerned, 1 might
doubt the success Of my plan !; but her
brother Charles, who is her guardian since
her uncle's death. is one of the stifest and
most exciting of the mortal 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 ?"
He will not. l have kept my tracks
too well covered. He thinks my fortune is
still in bank, safe and intact and he thinks
my church-going hath strong foundation
on religious zeal. Fear not for me, Gid.
Do as we have planned, and l will win
Edith Amesbury's hand-and her hand
once mine, l can keep my part of the COM
pact. And, my boy, viii do more than
l promise.''
Fear not that shall fail" Said Gid
con Smart. ~ am not apt to put my hands
TO work from which to turn back unsuc-
cessful."
| Gideon Smart was notorious gambler
and blackleg-a sport and an exquisite of
the first water. i do no. mean that he was
a dandy but when he chose to turn his
ambition into fashionable ways few could
surpass him.
Thomas Aubrey was young man OF
| fivc-and-twenty, and had been left the pos
SCISSOR of au ample fortune but course OF
dissipation, and loose living in every way,
had scattered his patrimony, and he was
now penniless. In the time when his father
! lived he had known Edith Amesbury, and
\ he fancied that she loved him, and since
that time he had kept up the acquaintance,
though not to the extent of intimate famili-
arity. But lately he had sought to regain
the old ground. Edith and her brother
had been left equal shares in fortune oi
her hand he could swim again upon the
upper wave of fashion aud pastime. One
impeachment, however, he found in his way
and that impediment was a certain Wal
ter Harlng, whom Edith might possible
love. How he proposed 10 remove this OBJ
stacle we have seen.
Walter Harling, at the age of three-and
twenty, had entirely by his own HARD
earned resources, graduated at one of oul
best colleges, and was now, while studying
law at his leisure, engaged as sub-editol
on the staff of one OF the city daily papers
One day gentleman called upon Har
ling in his sanctum, and introduced him
self as Gideon Smart, and at the same tim,
presented an original article for publica
tion. 1t was upon the subject Of Temper
ance, and was OF real merit.
"If you publish it," said the visitor
|, ''let it 90 as your own. employ some o
my leisure time in scribling, but have n,
ambition to shine as an author"
After that Gideon Smart dropped in ever,
, day for week, bringing with him on eacl
occasion an article for publication. Thes'
articles were crisp and "meaty," and spark
ling with wit and sentiment. They iiat
been written originally by poor littera
|
their composition, and then copied b.
Smart.
At length Smart brought in spicy articl
;; on gambling, which Harling commende'
J highly.
"For the purpose of booking myself il
l these matters" said Smart, - have take
: the trouble 10 visit few Of the more prom
, iIent of these dens of iniquity. Have yo
ever seen the inside of q gambling hall ?"
: : ~ never have" answered Walter.
b "You should do SO, by all means, m
J, dear Harling. The man who would max
: a successful editor should make himself &C
!. quainted with the phases of society.
5 think you would find enough to repay yo'
in the study. What say you to going wit
me ?"
= The idea struck -Harling favorably. ii
= had conceived afik;ng for Smart, and h
|. promised that he would except the Offer
h There was nothing to prevent his goin
!. that very evening. :.
e 81 am sorry, Edith, but the alternatiy
cannot be avoided. can never eonssr