Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

/ j/ ,v m ^DEVOTED r VOLUME I. LANCASTER LEDGER IS PUBLISHED EVERY W KI )N ESDAY MORN TKO It. H. BAILEY, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. T E U M S: v i . Two Dollars per year, if paid in advance; Two Dollars and Fifty Cents, if paid in six months; or Three Dollars, if ' payment is delayed until the end of the year. These terms will be rigidly adhered to. Advertisements will be conspicuously inserted at seventy-five cents per square of twelve lines, for tlio first insertion, and thirty-seven ami a half cents for each subsequent insertion. A single insertion I One Dollar. Nothing will Iks counted k less than a square. Advertisers are requested to state, in writing on their advertisements, the number of tithes they wish them inserted; or they will be continued in the paper until k ordered out, and charged accordingly. The Law of Newspapers. 1, All subscrilwrs who do not give express Notice to the contrary, are considered as wishing to continue their subcripI tions. 2. If subscribers order the disenutinuanc of their papers, the publishers may continue to send thorn until arrearages \ are paid. 13. If subscribers neglect or refuse taking their papers from the offices to which they are sent, they are hold responsible till their bills are settled, and their papers ordered to be discontinued. 4. The Courts have decided that refusing to take a newspaper or periodica! from thofficc, or removing and leaving it uncalled for, is prima facie evidence of INTENlIONAl. FRAl'P ALL KINDS OF JOB PRINTING EXECUTED WITH SEATSESS AND DESPATCH At this Office. 1 idprtei Cale0. THE BAFFLED VILLAIN. BV AN OLD D U'li&LOK. 11 Just utter brcakf.iai one tine spring morning in 1837, tin advertisement in the | Times, tor a Curate, caught, ami fixed my attention. The i-alary w ;is suNlcieiitly re* iiiun rativu for a bachelor, ami the parish, J as [ personally knew, one of the moat pleasantly situated in all Somersetshire.? I Having said that, the render will readily understand that it could not have been a hundred miles from Taunton. 1 instantly wrote, enclosing testimonials, with which tho liev. Mr. Townly, the rector, was so entirely satisfied, that tho return-post brought mo a positive engagement, un c logged with the a lightest objection to olio or two subsidiary items 1 had stipulated . f ?r, and uc.oaipained by an invitation to inake the rectory my home till 1 could conveniently suit myself elsewhere. This was both Itind and handsome, and the W next dav but one I took coach with a light heart for my new destination. It thus happened thut I became ac luainted, and p some degree mixed up with the train of events it is my present purpose to lute. Tho reetor I found to be a stout, portly gentleman, whoso years already reached <to between sixty and seventy. So many wintei*, although they had plentifully bei sprinkled his hair with grey, shone out A wi h rudy brightness in his still handsome filltjt udil Liliillv liriirKi "t ? v? *-) ' . 4. aim) fiirt voice, hearty and ringing, had not yet one quaver of age in it. 1 met him at breakfast on the morning after my arrival, and liia reception of me was m<*t friendly. We had apoken together hut iji a :ui;:uicr., fclteti one ofthe Freacfr windows tliat led from the breHkfaat room * into a shrubbery ami tiower garden gently v opened and admitted a lady, jmut then, a* I afterwards learned in her nineteenth siring. 1 use thin term almost unoocf sciouidy, Sir I cannot, even now, in tile glow ing nuinmer of her life, dissociate her I v?, image from that season of youtli any joy ousneM. She was introduced to me, with ' o d fmh o ted simplicity, as' My grand k daugldcr, Agnes Townly." It is difficult to look at beauty through other men's eyes, und in the present instance, I feci v that I should faii miserably in the ernleavor to stamp upon this blank, dead paper ^B any adequate idea of the fresh loveliness, the rose hud beauty of that young girl. I wiU merely say, that her perfectly Ore:h-B ciau head (breathed with wavy boiulfvux B of bri^^ hair undulating with golden iiglyHMj^ brought to my mind Ib.ph' B portraiture* of the Vi?? difference, that in place of the^OPPKn) nod resignation of the painting, there wtu in Agues Tuwnley a sparkling youth and life that even ainid the heat and glare of a crowded ballroom, or of a theatre, irreaistuhly auggosled and lied the frcalineaa and perfume of the ung?of a cloud lex*, roay morning of Alay. And ifer higher charma than fea^ ture beauty, however exquisite, a sweets ^ neee of disposition, r. kind gentleness of & If s rO LITERARY, mind and temper, was evinced in every I' line ot her face, in ever- accent of the low i ' pitched silver voiae that breathe dlhrough I' lips made only to smile. Let me own that I was rm?.itlv I 0 j j by so remarkable a combination of rare endowment,and that, I tliink, the sharp- | j eyed rector must have perceived, or he . might not perhaps have been so inline- 1 diately communicative with respect to the 1 near prospects of his idolized grand-child f as lie was, the moment the young huly, J after presiding at the breakfast table had : withdrawn. "Wo shall have gay doings,Mr. Tyrrcl, 1 at the rectory, shortly," he said. "Next s Monday three weeks will, with the bless- J ing of God, be Agnes Townlcy's wedding- J "Yes, rejoined the rector, turnimg to- 1 wards and examining some flowers which ( Miss Townley had brought in and placed ' on the table. "Yes, it his been for some J time settled that A gnes shall on that day ' be united in holy wedlock to Mr. Arbuth- j not." "Mr. Arbuthnot, of E!in Park!" "A great match, is it not, in a wordly ! point of viewl" replied Mr. Townley, with a pleasant smile at the tone of my exclamation. "And much la tter than that, Robert Arbuthnot is a young man of high and ' noble nature as well as devotedly attached to Agnes. lie will, I doubt not, prove in every respect a husband deservimr nml ' - i 15 . worthy of her; and that from the lips of 1 a floating old grand-papa must he esteemed high praise. You will see him pre- 1 scully." "I did see him olton, and quite agreed ) in tlic rector's estimate of his future grand- ' son in law. 1 have not frequently seen a 1 H .or looking y ung man?Ids age was ' twenty six, and certainly one of more 1 honorable and kindly spirit, of a more 1 genial temper than he, has never come within my observation, lie had drawn a great prize in the matrimonial lottery, and ; I felt deserved his fortune. They were m.-tiried at the time agreed ' upon, and the day was kepi not only at Eilii Par's and in its neighborhood, but ' through our "parish," as a general holi- J <lay. And strsngely enough, at least, 1 have never met with another instance of ' the kind?it was held by our entire female ' community high as well as low, that the match was a perfectly equal one, notwithstanding t!?a; wealth and high world!v 1 position were entirely on the bridegroom's side. In fact, that nol?xly less in the j social scale, the representative of an old territorial family ought in the uatuie of'i things, to have aspired to the hand of'' Agnes Townley, appeared to huve been a ; , foregone conclusion with evervl>ody. This ' will give the reader a truer and more vivid ' impiw.iuii of the bride that, any words or colors 1 might use. The flays, weeks, months of wedded life flew over Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot without a cloud save a few dark, latt transitory ones which I saw now and then flit a .cross the husband's countenance its the J time when he should become a fat her,drew iiea-, ami came to be more ami more 8]H>kcti of. "I should not snr\ r her," 1 said Mr. Arbuthnot, otio day in reply ti> a ' chance observation of the rcetorV, "nor in- ' deed desire to do so." The gray-headed . man seized and warmly pressed the iius- 1 band's hand, and tears of sympathy tilled ! 1 his eyes, yet did ho nevertheless as in duty I 1 bound utter grave words on the sinfulness | 1 of despair under any circumstances, and 1 1 the denying in all"trials, however heavy, of ! Jiaticni submission to the will of tJod.? Jut the venerable gentleman s|?okc in a hoarse and broken voice; it was easy to ' see he felt with Mr. Arbuthnot, that the reality of an event, tho bare omibility of ' which, shook thein so torriblir^. were a 1 cross too heavy for human strenj^TTto bear ! and live. It was of course decided that the expected heir or heiress should bo entrusted I I to a wet nurse, and a Mrs. Dauby, the wife 1 of a miller, living not very far from tbe ^ rectory, was engaged for that purpose. I bad frequently seen tbe woman; and lier ' name, as the rector and I were one even- 1 ing gossiping over our tea, on some sub- " joct or other that I forgot, caino up. 44A likely person." I remarked: "healtbv. I m m # ' */ 9 | very good looking, and one might make ' ontli, h truehoarte\l creature. Hut there 1 in withal a timidity: frighlednea*, in Iter | manner, at tine* which, if I may hazard a perhaps ttwdiarltahlo conjecture. sttealc* ill for that smart husband of hers." "You have hit the mark precisely, my dear sir. Dauby is uver\J'?ad fellow, and a domestic tyrant to boot. Ilia wife, who is really a good, but meek hearted person, | lived witii us once/ How old do you suppose her to be?" "Five MM twenty, perhaps." "Six years inoro than that. She has a son of the name of Harper by a former marriage, who is in his tenth year. Anne J wasn't a widow long. l)anby was caught ( l?y her good look?, and she by the bait of . .. .....11 1 1 H i ' 1 n wi n I'mvHini imviiit"? uniesft, However, | Iter hubaiid gm* up hi:* euro uiwvulationa slie will uot, I think, have I hut much ' longer.* "Own ?peculnion?! Surely, Dauby has , no means adequate to indulge in suck a f game a* that,* "Not he. But al?out two years ago ho t leaight ?>n credit, I believe, a considerable I <|U.iiitity of whoal, and prices happening j tody suddenly up just then he made a | large profit. This has quite turned his < head, which, by-the-by, was never a* < Cockney* say, quite rightly screwed on." Tha announcement of a visitor interrupted | anything further tho rector might have to ? My, and I soon aft rsurds went home. I A sa l ao-j lent occurred about a mouth < subsequent to the foregoing conversation. 1 The rector wet out riding upon a usually i Ibmxt COMMERCIAL, LANCASTER, 0. H, SOUTl juiet horse which all at unco touk it into us head. to shy at a scare crow it must lavesccn a score of times, ami there by, Jirew its rider. Help was fortunately at land, and the reverend gentleman was nstantly conveyer! home; when it was bund that his left thigh was brokvn. Chunks, however, to his temperate habts it was before long authoritatively prolounced that although it would be a considerable time before he was released from soufineinetit, it was not probable, that the usty winter of his life would ho shortened jy what had liappened, Unfortttnally, lie accident threatened to have evil conleqnences in another quarter. Imincliatcly after it occurred, one Matthews, a jusy, thick headed, lout ofa butcher, rode 'uriotisly off to Elm I'ark with the news, Mrs. Arbuthnot, who daily looked to be lonfincd, was walking with her husband lpon the lawn in front of the house, when .lie great burly blockhead r<xlo up, and durted out that the rector had been ,brown from his horse and it was feared killed. The shock of such an announcement was of course, overwhelming. A few lours afterwards, Mrs. Arluithnot gave ilirtll fo .1 ImallliB ?nnl?? nl.il. I !. ?? '!.? -- viiiiVJ , nilv mi; I'oung mother's life, assailed l?y fever, was or many days u.terly despaired of?for weeks held to tremlile so evidently in the alance that the slightest adverse eireum>tanee might in a moment turn the scale loath ward. At length the black liorzion hat seemed to encompass us so hopelessly ighteiicd and afforded the lover husbutul i glimpse and hope of his vanished and veil nigh despaired of Eden. The promise ivns fulfilled. I was in the library with dr. Arhntlmot, awaiting the physieiau's norning report, very anxiously expected it tlie rectory, when Dr. Lindlcy entered lie apartment in an evidently cheerful imod. You have been causelessly alarmed,' te said. There is no fear whatever of i relajiso.. Weakness only remains, and hat we shall slowly, perhaps, but certainly, remove.' A gleam of lightning seemed to flash ver Mr. ArbuUinot's expressive countenance *lMes?cd be God!' he exclaimed. And how,' lie added, 'shall we manage respecting lliechild? JSiie a?ks for it in. essantly.' Mr. Arbiithnot's infant son, I should date, had 1 ocn consigned immediately after its birth to the care of Mrs. Dauby, alio had herself been confined, also with i l>ov about a fortnight previously. Scarlatina being prevalent in the neighborhood, Mrs. Dauby w..s hurried away w ith the two children lo a place near Ltath, almost before she was able to bear the journev. 4 _l . ? 1 . ? ? - " * .nr. vruuinnoi nan inn oil nis wile tor in; hour, ami eonseipieutly liatl only socu liis chiM for a frw minute* ju*t after it was bun. With r\?;?eel 10 the child,' replied Dr. I.indlev, 41 in of opinion that Mik. Arbuthno! may see ii in n day or two. Say tile li 1 tlay from this, it all goes well. I thin I we may venture so far, l>ut I will l?e present for an untoward agitata n might be, peril apt, instantly fatal.' This point [irovisioiiallv settled, we all three went >ur several ways; I to cheer the still siifcring rector w ith good news. The next day hut one, Mr. Arliuthuot ivas in exuberant spirits. 'Dr. Lindle.y's report is even more favorable than w e had mticipatcd,' lie said ; 'and I start to morrow morning, to bring Mrs. Dauby and he child' . The postman's sulMlued ant unmbtakahle knock, interrupted him. The nurse,' ho added, 'is very attentive ind punctual. She writes almost every Jay.' A servant entered with a salver lieapcd with letters. Mr. Arbuthnot toss d them over eagerly and seizing one, afer glancing at tlm post-mark, tore it eaferly open, muttering, as. he did so; 'It s not the usual hand writing, but from icr, no doubt., 'Merciful God !' I imuilsively eiclaincd, as I suddenly lifted nv eves to his. 'What is the metier ?' A mortal palor iad spread over Mr. Arhuthnol's before mimated features, and he was glaring at ho letters in his hand as if a hasalisk had suddenly confronted him. Another 1110nent, iind the muscles of his frame ap >cmiv<1 to give way suddenly ami he drop>ed henvilv into the easy arm-chair from which he had risen to take the letters. I wiw terribly alarmed, and first loosening lis neckerchief, for ho soeined choking, 1 aid?'last tno call some oneand 1 turnsi to reach ttio belt, when he instantly eiited my arms, and held me with a grip >f Iron. 'No?no?no!1 he hoarsely grasp d, water?water!' There was fortunately some n a side table. I handed it to dm, and he drank eagerly. It appeared n revive him a little. He thrust the 'rumpled letter into his pocket' and said n a low quick whisper?'There is some lie coining. Not a word remember? not i word!' At tlie same time he wheeled lis chair half round, so that his lack should >e towards the servant wqttfcrd approachtig. 'I am sent, sir,' said Mrs. Arbuthuot's naid, 'to ask if the post has arrived!' 'Yes,' replied Mr. Arbuthnot, with wonderful mastry of his voice. "Tell your uistrean I *liall be with her almcMt imrnediitely arid that her?her eon H quite well.' 'Mr. Ttrrrel,' he continued, m soon as he nervant wen oat of hearing, 'Uiere is, think, n liquor-stand on the ?kI? board n the Urge dining-room. W??uM jya lave the kiudnen* to bring it to me M?, >beerved?mind that?mwKMerved hy any >nef I di<tfb ho requested ; and the instant ' placedtrie Honor-frame before liira,he pei?al the brandy earq/i, and drank with icrce eagerness. 'For goodness sake,' I si claimed, 'consider what, you ate abort, tfr. Arbuthnotq yon will maka yourtiff 11.' i ^*^^11 s '^ui Ey AGRICULTTUA t CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY M 4No, no,' he answered, af'er finishing his draught. It seems scarcely stronger than water. But I?ain better now. The letter,' ho added after a long and painthl pause, during which he eyed me, I thought with a kind of suspicion?-4the letter you saw mo open just Dow comes frotn a rcla. live, an aunt, who is very ?H> an<l wishes to sec me instantly. You understand?' I did understand, or at least I feared that I did too well. I however, bowed acquiescence, and he presently rose from his chair, and strode about the apartment in great agitation, until his wife's bed-room bell rang. Ho then stopped suddenly short, shook himself, and looked anxiously at the reflection of his flushed and varying countenance iti the magnificent chimney glass, II do not look, I think?or, at least shall not, in a darkened room?odd, more out of the way that is, more agitated-than one might, than ono must appenr, after hearing of the dangerous illness of?of? an aunt?' *Yes, yes: much better, much better. I am glad to hear you say so. That was my wife's bell. She is anxious, no doubt to see me.' lie left the apartment; was gone, perhaps ten minutes, and when he returned, was a thought less nervous than before. I rose to go. 'Give my respects,' he said, 'to the good rector ; and as an especial favor,' he added, with strong emphasis, let me ask of you not to mention to a living soul Mint you saw mo so uninunrrtd as I was just now; that I swallowed brandy. It would appear so strange, so weak, so ridiculous.' I promised not to do so, and almost immediately left the house, very painfully all, eted. His son was, I concluded, either dead or dying, and he wan thus bewildered by easting about for means of keeping the terrible, perhaps fatal tidings from his wife. 1 afterwards heart! that he left Elm Park in a post-chaise, about two hours after 1 came away, unattended by a single servant. lie was gone three clear days only, at the end of which he returned with Mrs. Dandy and ?his son?in tlored health, too, and one of the finest babies of ito age about nine weeks only?I had ever soen. Thus vanished tho air-drawn Doubting Castle and Giant Despair which I had so hastily conjured up. The cause assigneJ by Mr. Arhuthnot for the agitation I had witnessed was doubtless the true one ; and yet (and the thought haunted me for months, years afterwards), 1>? opened only one letter that morning, and had sent a message to his wile that the child was well. Mrs. Dan by remained at the Park till ! the little Robert w:i* weaned, and was ; then dismissed; very munificently rewarded. Year after year rolled away, without bringing Mr. and Mrs. Arhuthnot any additional little ones, and no one, therefore, could feel surprised at the enthusiastic iovc ui me uengnuM mother tor tier handsome, nobly-promising boy. J Jut, that which did astonish nie, though no one else, for it seemed that I alone noticed it, was a strange defect of character which began to developc itself in Mr. Arbuthnot. i lie was positively jealous of his wife's affection tor their own child. Many and , many a tiino have 1 remarked, when he ' thought himself unobserved, an expression ! of intcnee pain flash from his fine, expresj sivo eyes, at any more than usually ferj vent manifestation of the young mother's gushing love for her first and only l?orn. I as much as possible for fore to dwell upon the subject. Nine years passed away without bringing any material change to the parties involved in this narrative, except those wlfleh time brings ord-narily in his train. Young Hubert Arbuthnot was a healthy tall and tine broking lad of his age; and his great grand-papa, the rector, though not suffering under any actual physical or mental infirmity, had reached a time of life when the announcement that the golden bowl is broken, or the silver cord is loosed, may indeed be quick and sudden, but scarcely uuexjieeted. Tilings had gone well, too, witli the nurse, Mrs. I?anby and her husband ; well, at least, after a fashion. The speculative miller must have made good use of the gift to his wife for her care of little Arbuthnot, for ho had built a genteel home near the mill,always rode a valuable horse, kept, it was said, a capital stable ; and all this, as it seemed, by his clever speculations i;? corn and flour, ior me ordinary bismcss o! the mill was almost entirely neglected. He had no children of his own, but ho had apparently taken to bis step-son, a tine lad, now about eighteen years of age. This greatly grieved the boy's mother, who dreaded above all things that her son should contract the evil, dissolute hahita of his father-in-law. Latterly, she had become extremely solicitous to procure the lad a permanent situation abroad, and this Mr. Arlmthnot had promised should be effected at the earliest opportunity. Thus stood affairs on the 16th of October,! 84 . Mr. Arhulbnot was temporarily absent in Ireland, where lie possessed large property, and was making personal inquiries as to the extent of the potatoe rottsgjBot long before announced. The mdSnp's post bad brought a letter to his wife, with the intelligence that he should reaoo home that very evening; and as the rectottowas on the direct road to film Park, io<t M* husband would l>e sure U> pull up there, Mrs. Arbutbnot came with her son to pan the afternoon there, and in some imMtegf** to autkipate her husband's WW* Abut tLrsa o'oiock, a cJws^c!#.'k of oo? of U>e Tsuuum baaks^xk up**## to ' ' ft ^ * tLf y11" ,'" "'u L, GENERAL A IORNING, NOVEMGElt 21,1852. where, the rector and I were at the moment rather busily engaged. The clerk said ho had been to Elm Park, but not finding either Mr. Arbuthnot or his lady there, lie had thought that perhaps the liev. Mr. Townley might be able to pronounce upon the genuineness of a check for ?300, purporting to be drawn on the Taunton Bank by Mr. Arbuthnot, which Dauby, the miller,. had obtained cash for at liatb. lie further added, that the bank bad refused payment and detained tbe cbcck, believeing it to be a forgery. ,A forgeryr exclaimed tho rector after merely glancing at tbe document, 'No question that it is, and a very clumsily executed one, too, besides, Mr. Arbuthnot is not yet returned from Ireland.' This was sufficient, and the messenger, with many apologies for his intrusion, withdrew, and hastened back to Taunton. We were still talking over this sad affair, although some hours bad elapsed since tbe clerk's departure?in fact, candles bad been brought in, and we were every moment expecting Mr. Arbutnot, tbe sound of a horse at a hasty gallop was heard approaching, and presently the pale and haggard face of Danby shot by the window at which the rector and myself were standing. Tho gate bell was rung almost immediately afterwards, and but a brief interval passed before Mr. Danby was I announced to be in waiting. Tho servant I bad hardly gained tbe passage with leave to show him in, when the impatient visitor rushed rudely into the room in a state of great and it seemed angry excitement. 'What, sir, is tbe meaning of this ill mannered intrusion!' demanded tho rector stern iy. 'You have pronounced the check I paid away at l>ulh ii fogery; and the ofiieer* are, I am torn, already at my heels. Mr. I Arbuthnot, unfortunately, is not at home, and I am come, therefore, to seek shelter wi.h you. 'Shelter with me, sir!' exclaimed the indignant rector, moving as ho spoke towards tho bell. 'Out of my house you shall go this instant?1 The fellow placed his hand upon tho reverend gentleman's arm and looked with his bloodshot eyes keenly in his face. 'Don't!* said Dauby,'don't for the sake cjf yourself and yours! Don't I warn you; or if you like the phrase better, don't, for tho sake of me and mine.' Your's, fellow! Your wife, whom you havoso long held in cruel bondage through her fears for her son, has at length shaken off that chain.?James llarper sailed two days ago from Portsmouth for llombry; I sent her the news two hours since.' 'lie! Is tlj.it indeed sol' cried Danby. ? vii siari 01 alarm. ' >> ny, thou But no matter; here luckily come Mrs. Arbuthnot and her son. All's rig!it! She will, I know, stand hail for me, and, if need he, acknowledge the gcnuiticss of her husband's check.' The fellow's insolence was becoming unbearable, and I was about to seize, and thrust him forcibly, from the apartment, w hen the sound of wheels was heard ontside. 'Hold! one moment,' he cried, with vehemence. 'That is probably the officers; I must be brief, and to the purpose. Pray, madam, do not leave the room for your own sake; as for you, young sir, I command you to remain?' 'What! what does ho mean?'exclaimed Mrs. Arbuthnot, bewilderingly, and at the same time clasping her son?who gazed on Dauby with kindled eyes, and angry boyish defiance?tightly to her side. Did the man's strango words give form and significance to some dark, shadowy, indistinct doubt that had previously haunted her at times? I judged so. The rector appeared similarly confused and had sunk nerveless and terrified u(h>ii a sofa. 'Vou guess dimly, I see, what 1 have to say,' resumed Dauby with a inaligtmnt sneer. 'Well, hear it, then, once for all, and then, if you will, give me me up to the officers. Some years ago,' he continued, coldly and steadily?'some years ago, a won an, a nurse, was placed in charge of two infant children both boys; one of these was her own; tho other was tlio son of rich, proud parents. The woman's husband was a gay, jolly fellow, who preferrd spending money to earning it, and just then it happened that he was more than usually hard up. One afternoon, on visiting his wife, who bad removed to a distance, he found that tho rich man's child had sickened of the small pox, and that there was no chance of its recovery. A letter containing tho sad news was on a bible, which he, tho husband, took the liberty to open and read After some reflection, suggested by what ho had heard of the lady-mother's state of mind, he cored the letter for the sake of emlxHlying in it a certain suggestion. That letter was duly posted, and the next day brought the rich man, almost in a ate of distraction; but his chief and mastering terror was lest the mother of uiw aireauy ueau imam sumuu near, in her then precarious state, of what hud happened. The tidings, lie was sure, would kill her. Seeing this, the cunning husband of the nurse suggested that for the present, his, the running one's child might be taken to the lady as her own, and that the truth could be revealed when she was strong enough to bear it. The rich man fell into the artful trap, and that which the husband of the nurse had speculated upon camo to pass, even teyoud his hopes. The lady grew to idolize her fancied ehild?she has, fortunately, had no other; and now, I think, it Psally kill her to part with Liin. man could not find it in his heart oeive his wife; every year it belore difficult, more tmpoaible to e&ipr, JSTD LOCAL INE do so; and very generously, I must say, lias lie paid in purse for the forbearace of the nurse's husband. Well now, then, to sum up: the nurse was Mrs. Dunby; the ricn, weak nusbnnu, air. Arbutnnot; the j substituted child, that haubsoiue boy? \ my sou" A wild scream from Mrs. Arbuthnot broke the dread silence which accompanied [ this frightful revelation, echoed by an agonized cry, half tenderness, half rage, from her husband, who had entered the room unobserved, and now clasped her j passionately in his arms. Tbe carriage ; wheels we had heard were his. It was j long before I could recall with calmness ! the tumult, the terror, and confnsion of : that serine. Mr. Arbuthnot strove to bear his wife from the apartment, but she would not he forced away, and kept imploring, with irenzied vehemence, that- 1 Robert?that her boy, should not be taken < from her. j '1 have no wish to do so?far from it,' < said Danby. with gleeful exultation, 'only j folks must be reasonable, and not threaten 1 their friends with the hulks' i 'Give him anything" broke in the un- i hapy lady. 'O Robert! Robert! s^ie added, < with a renewed burst of hysterical grief, how could you deceive me so?' ,1 have been punished, Agnes, 'he an- | swered in a husky, broken voice, 'for my 1 well intended but criminal weakness; cru- i clly punished by the everpresent eon- i sciousness thai this discovery must one i day l>e surely made. What do you want?' s he after a while added, with recovering < firmness, addressing Danby. ] 'The acknowledgment of that little bit ? of paper iu dispute, of course; and say a I genuine one to the same amount.' i 'Yes, yes, 'exclaimed Mrs. Arbuthnot, < still wildly sobbing, and holding the tor- j ritied i oy strained in her embrace, as if i she feared he might be wrenched from < her by force. 'Anythii g; pay liiin any- < thing!' At this moment, chancing to look towaads the door of the apartment, I saw that it was partially opened, and that Danby's wife was listening there. But what might that mean? But what of hopeful meaning in such a case could it have? 'Be it so, love,' said Mr. Arbuthnot soothingly. 'Danbv, call to-morrow at the Park. Ami now, begotio at once.' 'I was thinking,' resumed the rascal, with swelling audacity, That wo might as well come to some permanent arrangement, in black and white. But never mind; lean always put the screw on; unless, indeed, you get tired of the young gentleman, and in that case, 1 doubt not, he will prove abutiful and alfectionatc son Ah, devil! What do vou here? Begone, or I'll murder you! Begone, dc you hear?' J llis wife bud entered, and silently I confronted him. 'Your threats, evil man,' replitnl the woman, quietly, 'have no terrors for me now. My son is beyond your reach. O, Mrs. Arbuthnot 1' she added, turning towards and addressing that lady, 'believe not' iler husband sprang at her with the bound of a panther.' 'Silece! Go home, or I'll strangle' Ilis own utterance was arrested by the fierce grasp of Mr. Arbuthnot, who seized him by the throat, and hurled him to the further end of the room. 'Speak on, woman; and quick! quick! What have you to say?' 'That your son, dearest lady,' she an! swered, throwing herself at Mrs. Arbuth! not'a feel, 'is as truly your own child a ever son horn of woman.' That shout of half fearful triumph seems , even now as I write to ring in my ears. I felt that the woman's words were words of truth, but I could not. see distinctly; the room whirled round ami the lights danced before my eyes,but I could hear through all the choking extaoy of the mother, and the fury of the baffled felon. 'The letter,' continued Mrs. Dauby, 'which my husband found and opened, would have informed you, sir, of the swiftI.. - J ?i. ~i *1.1 1 iy u|)[)ruaciiuiK ueam i/t IIIV ciinu, aim that yours had boon carefully kept beyond the reach of the contagion. The letter you received was written without my know lego or consent. True it is, that terrified by my husband's threats, and in some measure reconciled to the wicked imposition by knowing that, after all, the right child would be is his right place. I afterwards lent m\ self to Danby'a evil purposes. But I chiefly feared for my son, whom I fully believe he would not , have scrupled to make away with in re- ( vengo for my exposing his profitable fraud. I have sinned; 1 can hardly hope to be ( forgiven. I have now told the sacred truth.' All this was uttered by the repentant woman, but at the time it was almost wholly unheard by the most interested in her statement. They only comprehended that they were saved?that the child was thoir's in very truth. Great, abundant, hut for the moment, bewildering joy! Mr. Arbuthnot?hia beautiful young wife?her own true boy (how could ahe tor n moment have doubted thnt he was her own true 1 boy!?you might read that though all her team, thickly as they fell)?the aged and half stunned rector, whilst yet Mrs. Danby was speaking, were exclaiming, ( sobbing in each othor'a amis, ay, and , praising God too, with broken voices and \ incoherent words it may be, hut certainly ( with fervent, pious, grateful hearts. The felon escaped in the confusion. pgr* ? Sat, Cwsar Augustus, why am your ( legs like an organ grinder ?" " Don't know, Mr. Sugar loaf?why ia they 7" Cos, they carry a monkey about the streets." * * ' : - rr< f ? "" i ^jaeg^gj*) LLIGENCE. ? > } NUMBER It ' '?. . Jnnihmt Iftpnftitiii 'j? From the Banner of the Cross. Sooiety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parte. A Skumos P reached in St. Paul ft Cutherdral, Wednesday, the 10th of Suite, 1852, at the 15Is/ Aniversary Meeting* By the ? Right Rev. Samuel. McCokkiiy, Bishop of Michigan, U. S. St. Matt, xxiii. 8?"And all ye arc brethren." [ concluded. J Wc come as a part of the Christian household to tell you what God has done "or us. Here, as has been well remarked, s our Jerusalem, and we coine to make mr report to the Apostles and brethren } md not only so, but to talk with you a wut the future, and devise ways and means for more successfully nccomplishng the great work committed to us by our livine Master and llcad. Ours has indeed been one continued warfare. We were left in the midst of those whose chief desire was to destroy the Church of God. We had not for years ,hc family in its integrity^?tve were left is children without the protecting care of i father. To thu Society whose anniversary wo celebrate this day we owe our existence. Without its aid we must liavo [)crishcd iu the wilderness. Its fostering :are kept the members of the Christian liousehold from spiritual death, until God, n His good providence, sent earthly parints and rulers clothed with authority, to guide, direct, and comfort them in tho midst of those who are bent upon their destruction. Under all the circumstances ;onsidering the bitter political feelings which grew out of the separation from tbo mother laud, and which were in a great degree directed against the Church, and at a time when there was 110 chief shepherd to watch over the flock, the wonder is that the Church has any life or influence. These difficulties had to be met with firmness, prudence, and a.steady reliance upon the promises of its divine Head. They were met; and with no other weapon but the Word of God thousands have been peaeably conquered and made the willing servants of Go?.l. In 1S35 we numbered but ten or twelve bishops and 500 clergymen. Now we have thirty-two bishops at home and abroad, and 1,600 pastors.? Our Church and congregations arc rapidly increasing in every diocese, and we cannot keep peace with the demand for pastors. Countries, where a few years since no sound was heaul but war-whoop of the savage and his fearful yells in his midnight revelries, when exulting over his triumphs, now is heard the song of peace and salvation. And in this glorious work we have not been alone. You have sent to our aid in those distant regions a part of the Church in its integrity. Wo have now fellow-labores and fellow-apostles with whom we can sympathise and take counsel in the work of our common Lord.? We are often only separated in our labors l>y a little stream, and this is our safety for our future peaeo and comfort. But this cannot separate us in affection?and ocean cannot therein separated us?as long as the little stream marks out the boundaries of our efforts, so long will wo act in concert, and keep the members of th? family in harmony and love. But if the little stream be crossed, and we interfere with the internal regulations of the part of the family committed to your care, then there will be strife and contention. And why should this be so?for wo be brethen. And wbat opportunities are now presented to us all! God has opened, and is opening, our way to every land. We have a language common to us all, which wo believe will be the language of the whole world. The |>eople of your nation and of our nation are going into all lands, carrying with them the Gospel of Jesus, nnd the vehicle through which wo eau hereafter reach the darkest and most benighted nations of the earth. The island* of !?? sea will, sooner or later, como under our control, and now we can see the timo rapidly approaching when the continents of the earth also will ca?erly seek the truth as it is in Jesus. It is the time, thon, for you, iii ihd work assigned to the Church in Eugland, to impress her own character upon every nation ami people under her control. Whatever, then, may befall her distant possessions, she will lcavo behind her the richest of all blessings?the Church of God. It is the great binding link between herself and her children throughout the world. And we think tfiWllfeuv with safety, that the separation dM^Pbwn country from the mother land, wait hast ened oataecount of tha,wnnC of this tie. Hut every fear,It truSt, will bjLfemoved by the kind interchanges offbrotherly vflfection which this happy meeting has called forth. Oh! it has been a goodly timet our hearts have been warmed by the cordial welcome)which our dear mother has given us. We have felt the delicate tenderness of her affection; and we ready to go our again from her bosom" with her blessing, strengthened for hog;re&. conquests, and in the hope that we cau A' return again with still richer gains. W# jUjk feel willing, I hope, to live and die for Jj Christ. And then, again, hotv g?oriotsa i he project for you! We have fu U!C tftught before us and with the burning seal of an aposUd.^S Our hearts hare kindled into raptor? at ?< * In the eloquent Mrroon of tire Hish-A op of Oxford, OB closing day of the Jubilee. ?