Pittston Gazette and Susquehanna Anthracite Journal

              PITTSTON iSmk GAZETTE, ' AND SUSQUEHANNA ANTHRACITE JOURNAL, a fDttkhj Jhrnspptr- IItDottb fa Jto. littratart, politics, (fit akrrantilr, fining, JiltrJjnnical, nnii fgriralnml Sntrrtata af tljt Cunntrij, Snatntrtion, amranntnt, Kx.)—Cmn JDallnra pt SttroJt- VOLUME 3.-NUMBER 10. PITTSTON, PA., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1852. WHOLE NUMBER 114. ly mentioned it as the reason why I called upon you. I have no desire that you should incommode yourself, and if from your thousands you cannot spare a few hundreds, upon ample security, 1 will trouble eou no more." you upon my knees when you wasn't more'n so high ?" James Stapleton instinctively followed the illustrative movement of aunt Deborah's cane, but he seemed to nervous to comprehend the exact stage ol hit childhood to which reference had thus been made. He remembered his father's sister, however, and though he had not seen her for years, yet the features before him convinced him at once that ihey must belong to Ilia maiden aunt. The young lawyer held a paper in his hand, which he folded and unfolded some dozen times, but at length he said, in a tone rather colder than might have been expected of a dutiful nephow—"Yes—I have some faint recollection of an old aunt named Deboruh ; but the fact hud nearly passed from my mind. 1 hope you bave been well." "Oh, yes, I have been comfortable for an old woman like me; but then you know age makes sad inroads upon one's consti' tution." "Of course it must," returned J.imes in a tone of forced acquiescence. "I»ut what is your object ir. traveling thus?" "Why, I'm on my way to the eastern country, where my brother Isaac litis bo't me a small place, but my old limbs don't stand the racket of traveling as well as I thought they would, so I concluded to remain 1iere a week or two, to recruit my strength, and see my nephews, for 1 learned that my sister's boy was here, too." "Yes," returned the young lawyer, in a nervous, uneasy manner ; and then, with a forced rffort, h« said, " You'll find good accommodations at iheinn." " Oh James I could not stop there, for 1 hav'nt more than money enouuh to carry me home, i had much raiher go to your boarding place, and what little 1 might cost you you wouldn't mind, so long as ii was tor the comfort of your poor old aunt that you paid it." " Why really aunt—I—I—shouldn't hesitate about—that is—boarding places you know, are sometimes rather select pla. ees, und the place where 1 board is noi exactly such a one as you would fapcv." " Hut they have a spare bed in th" house, hav'nt they," asked aunt Deborah, in a quiet wny. * " Why yes, I believe there are spare beds, but then—" " Ah James you are ashamed of your poor old aunt. You think her gown and old white cap and her homely appear, "aiice, would shame you at your fashionable boarding-place. well, perhaps it would ; but then my heart is as good as any ofthem, ar.d 1 know how to behave myself." Tlie lawyer's fuce changed to a deep red, and his fingers trembled as he worked over the now completely crumpled piece ot paper. He could not but feel ashamed of his posilion, bul yet .lis selfish hearl swi-lled not with anv new emotion of goodness. and calling his assurance back to his aid, he said : remarked the old woman, as Oliver had assured her of his own identity. " 1 do not and your countenance looks familiar." gazed upon the face of the youth by her side. touched htm upon the shoulder; and upon turning,round an exclamation of surprise fell from his lips. He beheld the kind face of old aunt Deborah. " Why how is this, Oliver ?" she asked, with a good degree of astonishment, "where are you going now 1" as she put forth her hand. "Yon cannot have forgotten her." Before the doctor could reply, the young lawyer had regained the power of speech, and starting quickly forward, he laid Ma hand upon the old woman's arm, muttering as he did so, " Woman, this is no place for you.— Your distant relationship does not warrant such unmannerly conduct." " James, you would not force your poor aunt away, would you 1" " You should not have forced yourselfin THE PITTSTON GAZETfE, AND "No, no, dear Adelia, we shall meet again, though the brightest star of our hopes has sunk to rise no more. When first we learned to love, i knew not that earth held a reason why we should not wed. To call you my wife, to bo ever near you, to bask in the sunlight of your joyous smiles, and to bear you over life's varied path, have been the incentives that have led me in the way of honest manhood. But now, alas! those bright visions in the future have passed away, and the black clouds of disappointed hopes all crushed and broken, have arisen in their place. Yet the same sweet angel that led mo out of evil shall be my guard and gen. ius still, and though I may never more call her name, yet shall tier image retain its shrine within my soul. Had I a home, even now would I be tempted to ask you to fly with me to its protecting roof;—but I have none, and it may be years ere 1 may raise the foundation to prosperity. " Then you will go away from our vil. lage," uttered the fair girl, in broken accents.lnn««hnn« Anthracite Jenraal " Don't remember Deborah Stapleton V " What—my mother's sister ? »My own aunt Deborah!" PUBLISHED WEEKLY BT O. M. RICHART 8 H. S. PHILLIPS. • Well, I cannot," said Stapleton. "Because my father happened to have a sister, and because that sister happened to marry a poor carpenter, and had a poor son, is no reason why I should trouble myself about the issue. Your position as a journeyman carpenter is fully as respectable as you need, and I would advise you to slick to it. Or at least don't trouble me to help you out of it. There is oue resource however, left you yet." "Ah, what is it f" asked young Lamson his features brightening up a little under the base slurs he had received. Oliver looked upon the old lady as one to whom he might confess all, and leading her away from (he earshot of strangers he told her his story. Of his love and disappointment—how the father of his Adelia rejected him bccause he could offer nA home to his daughter, and how the doctor desired his child should marry Jamci. He told her too of the aid his cousin had  him, and also of that cousin's seeming desire for his departure, And now, concluded the youth, "discarded by my uncle, refused by the father of her I love, and held in contempt by my cousin, I will seek a new home, where my hand and heart shall carve out my fortune." " But who ssid that your old uncln had discarded you ?" asked the old woman, with a beaming eye. " My cousin." O/U, Wut hit •/ •*«D« "'ri£P '' '** 'L"f Stort" t\f H aner ir tfiwd. "Yes, Oliver." " 1 was a pruttling boy, when I saw you last; but God knows I have not forgotten your kind smile and gentle words." As the young man spoke, he stepped quicklv forward and took the aged hand of his relative, nor did he resist the temptation to imprint a warm kiss upon her cheek, even though tho old bonnet offered such an impediment. A bright tear stole to the eye of the old woman, but iho youth seemed to notice it not, for ere she could speak, he continued : ass Mass---. EtSSSSId cun.ptcttou.ly at 0» boom w .f fourtenu line- SEL'SSrt C.«t. .ddmontlfor.vcjv,ub«qu«m JSirttoo.A litH.nl d.dttcUo» to mot. «ho »d»iTtl» XT!"..* communication. UJrowdto the O.uM. ..JTErEf-Si b. ro.T-r*D». «nd Ccdor..d by . r* ffpffir.™.. to r»c.tr. rtMottoo. here." " I came to see Isaac Stapleton, whom ! expected to meet here, and surely I'va • right to that privilege." " Certainly you have," said the doctor, "so tsko a seat and make yourself comfortable." Then turning to James Stapleton, he continued, " Your aunt docs not intrude, so I beg you to make yourself easy. The faet of her being your relative, if nothing -more, would make her welcome." Dr. Follett little dreamed of the real cause of the lawyer's uneasiness. H® knew not the reason James Stapleton had for dreading a meeting at the present time, and in the present company, between hia aunt Deborah and his uncle Isaac. Tho lawyer gazed a moment intn the face of tho doctor, and then turned his gaze towards the spot where sat his aunt, still habited id her robroy and old leghorn. Then hia eyes rested upon his cousin, while a look of half smothered rage rested upon hid face, and in a iiissing tone lie said— "I thought you were on your way west. You have lied to me, and would now swin» die mo out of the money I advanced you. Leave this house at oncc, or I will have vou removed under sanetion of law." POETRY. ''Write to your rich uncle Isaac." Oliver's countenance fell as he heard this, and after a few moments painful tho't, he said— "Come, aunt, off with your things, for we are just titling dowo to supper, and after you have taken a cup of leu and some food, we will have a talk." " But may 1 not intrude upon tho family ?" suggested the old lady, in a hesitating mood. " Where the presence of an aged and feeble relative is an intrusion, there 1 in. trude also," returned Oliver, with much emphasis; ''but never fear on that account. The simple fact that you are my ount, will be a passport to the good will of the family, and without such a passport, one fatigued and over-hungered would not be turned empty away. Come! 1 will assist you." Aunt Deborah was soon relieved of her old Robroy and leghorr. bonnet, and having arranged the somewhnt crumbled ruffle of her cap and put back a few straggling frosty locks, she was introduced into the kitchen, where the family were at sup. per. All received her with a smile and a welcome, and ere many moments she seemed to feel herself perfectly at home, forgetting for the season the treatment she had received at the hands of James Staplelon E-q A Lemon of Hope. no* BlCKlKi* »ot'i»aotP WHIM, Tbe «ttrD luokwl forth tn ill*nt ulonucncf, •'I have written to uncle Isaac, but he' sent me word that ho could not help me.— Some one, I know not who has been prrjudicing him against me, by informing him that 1 was dissipated and unsteady. I will own that I have be en, in years gone by, somewhat reckless, but I was never wick, ed, nor meaningly misbehaved, so that ihi; gratuitous intelligence is false in the ex treme. 1 shall not sci-k further aid fron my uncle." Hir« With tbo necrCDt» of thelf luulre regloat; A language eeoled to man'* Imptrfbet aenae, " But why did you not wait and soo your uncle, and learn from Itim whither there wan any truth in the statement or not V' But knows and ipukeu bf angelic legion". One wtlkM ftbrotd bMMth their carneit cjci, '•Yea, Adelia, I must—the great West opens its home to me, and thither will 1 go; and I would rather go than stay, for there is nothing for me here. My cousin has offered to lend me money, if 1 will take up my course for the western wilds, and I know that 1 can gain to myself a competence. I cannot stay here. Your father has snatched you (rom me, my uncle will not help me, and my cousin shuns mo as though I were a stain upon his family name. Whence all litis comes I know not. God knows 1 have not deserved it. 1 seek not my uncle's money. James is welcome to it all. But thus to be discarded and disgraced is hard to bear. But let it pass.— James has been kind at last, and though I had resolved not to accept a favor at hia hands, yet I will accept this, lor he givea it freely, and I may pay him when I oan, Mr. Burcham gives me his chance in the west, and keeps his business here. Perhaps Adelia, after I am gone, you may comply with your father's wishes, and marry my cousin." " Wait for him ? And where should I have waited ?" Sualut wlih thought* that made hl» femur.* darken; And «hll(t ht gara them rotce without diagulte. The witching i»jih?ra4 «aum\l conacloualj to barken. Ho (poke of 1 re la aecenU of dopelr; " At the place you have left. Did not your cousin tell you that your uncle Isaac was daily expccttd 1" Amlgn'd tt u tho teeming aourcw or aorru* And fucinatud, by the gloom of car*, " No—he mentioned no word from my uncle, save that he refused to own me as a relative." 4aw nut h »p« pulDtlog to ft brighter morrow. Haply htD oya fell on thow orbt of light. James Staplclon's eye fparkled with a peculiar light, as he heard his poor cousin thus speak, and a fla.sh ol some emotion that very much resembled triumph passed over hi* face, but Oliver noticed it not, for at that moment his mind was too deeply engaged in dwelling upon the fnte which had met hiiri, but yet his cousin's manner had pained end grieved rather than offended him. ftparkllng ft bore him la their placid beauty, !!« gazed entranced aa bj a spwil of might, " That is stronge," muttered the old wo. man in a peculiar tone. " Isaac wrote to Jaines informing liim that he should 6e there some time this week, and I am pretty sure he enclosed a note for you. I have heard from the old gentleman, and am now on my way to J our village to see Alearned lrotn them tba lewon of tali duty. Thoy taught blm with Ibelr ealin and quiet glance, To lute with patlcnee what Um prceenl yielded; TrJ«'fully luoking Into Tlm«'« advance lo wrost from f«» tho weepon the bad wielded. "James," said Oliver Lamson, with a flushed brow and trembling lip* " In tha present company I shall not return your taunts. 1 did set forth (or my western home. On the way, 1 met my kind and with ber returned, and now, unless Dr. Follett forbids me, shall remain until my uncle Isaac arrives." They Wm bear a ■'out and minful hof.rt, Pur he hi t sympathy where they were staining ; Tbouainde were welching bow be played hit part him." dialled at hU tniilee, and wepl whea be waa plnmg. "If you have no further business I wo'd like to resume my occupation," said the lawyer, in a cool, distinct tone. " 1 can hardly think that Jamea wo'd have deceived me," murmured Oliver. And thoughtfully he tura'ed him lo h!» home; Yot gliaine of checrfulneea wi lb tbo't ware blended ; Tor he had Marnl ujiwsi). the alar-Ill doran That tolling men by amjele' band* are tended. "I have no further Lusines* with you, James, i shall seek no further aid from my relations, 1 have two good hands, a good trade, and a will to work. And though my position may not entitle me to the distinc tion ot what you are pleased to term a gen. tleman, yet 1 feel that I am a man, and henccforth shall rely on my own energy ; and if i fail, it shall not be. fur lack of per. severance and effort to succeed." In t'le evening aunt Deborah and Oliver k'ere seated in the small (tilling-room, where by degree* the old woman lrurned the affair* and prospects of her nephew, as well as the day previous. " Be that as it may, you shall return with me and wait until your uncle arrives."" No, no, aunt—it would be of no ose "And what can you want with your un« clc ?" muttered the young lawyer, in a tone of fearful contempt. "He will not thank yon for your presence, I can assure you, . so you had better be gone." " Madam," said Adelia, who had recovered from the first shock of her surpriae.ea she stepped forward to where sat the old lady, "will you allow me to remove you* outer gnrments 1" Aunt Deborah gaztd up into the sweet face of the fair being who addressed her, and seeming to have studied every line of that lovely countenance, she slowly arose from her chair, and having set hef cane in the corner, she unhooked her long cloak, and then held iorth her arms for Adelia to pull it off. Adelia took off the old Robroy, but with a cry of astonishment, as she let it fall from her hands, while on the top of it fell the leghorn bonnet and starched ruffled cap.— Instead of the faded brown silk gown, and the bent form of Aunt Deborah, were re. vealed the close-cut velvet coat and breeches, and the upright form of tbe hearty looking old man. '• Isaac Stapleton, by all that's good ! exclaimed Dr. Follett, after gazing a moment upon the lesult of this strange metmorphosis." My uncle !" groaned James Stapleton as ho sank horrified into the nearest chair. THK OR, now." "But I tell you it will be of use. If Isaac lias thus disowned you, which I do not believe is true, he has done it under a misunderstanding. Oliver, ycu must go back," "But my brother Isaac will surely help you," said (he old lady, as she beard the story of the young lawyer's refusal. "Why do you not write to him, und slate the partitulars V " Oliver," murmured the weeping girl, looking up reproachfully through her tears, "do not add more to my sorrow.— The strong hand of death alone can pluck from out this beating bosom the love j bear for you, and when I'm dead there'll be no marriages beyond. I will obey him in this, but to make me wed he has no power."Cld Aunt Deborah's Mission CHAIITER I " No aunt I have bid farewell to all I love in my native village, and I would not open the wound afresh. I cannot go.— If you see my uncle, lell him that 1 hope his old age will rest joyously upon him, and that earth may yet hold out her blessings to him. Tell him I am what you have seen mc. You can go, but 1 cannot.1 James Sisplcton had taken up his abode in a quiet village, conncctcd, however, to the blustering village, by only a few hours drive, where ho had just hung a until gilt «i«n, informing the people that he was an "Atiorney and Counsellor at Daw." Now young Stapleton hud no1 embraced the !e. gal profession because he thought his intellect would ever shine therein, but simply because the performance of the business would not soil his dainty hands, nor begrim hi* linen ; nor did he bothsr his brain about the technicalities and precedents of Blackstone for the purpose of securing the means ol livelihood, for he had a rich uncle, to tthoa* purse he had hung his hopes of future living. James Stapleton had. in short, embraced the legal profession for three reasons :— First, it was free from the degradation of tnanual labor ; second, it opened to him the gates of fashionable bociety ; and third, he concluded that his uncle, who was nn old southern planter, would prefer k gentleman for his heir. It was towards the close of a plrssnnt dav in early spring. Jumes StapUton was in his office, engaged in examining a lot of papers which were to throw some light upon a case which he had on hand, whei| the door opened, and a young man ol about his own agc entered. "How do you do, Jaines?" said the new comer, in a free and easy lone. "Comfortably," replied Stapleton, in a free and uninviting manner. The reader may as well be informed now as at any time, that these two young men were cousins, Stapleton being the son of a brother, and Oliver Lamson the child of a sister. Both were orphans, and both were for the present, thrown upon their own resources, though the former had inherited some thousands of dollars from his Father, while the latter had received noth. ing from his dying parents but the example and precepts of two christian souls, and the blessing oi two loving, faithful hearts. As Oliver Lanison spoke, he turned and left the office. A ray of mingled satisfaction and contempt rested upon the young lawyer's countenance, and pulling his pupcrs before him he murmured— "I have written to him. I did not ask him to give ine the required aid, but sent him a note payable iu one year, and told him that if he would send me the money, 1 would as soou as I got a deed of the shop and tools, give him a mortgage of the whole to secure him ; but his answer was cold und formul, simply informing me that he could not advance money to one whom he had been reliably informed was dissipated and unsteady." "Time will aooth the troubled heart, and though joys that aro lost may never be forgotten, yet their remembrance may be to the soul a source of pensive pleasure. Perhaps ! cannot blame your father, (or he thinks his child may do better. And since he has learned of my uncle's strange course, he has good reason for his rejection of my suit. He Cannot see my heart, Adelia, he only sees what the world see. But let it all pass. I promised you r parent that I would bo brief in my interview, and that 1 would speak not a word to draw from you a pledge of continued love. Now, remember, I blame not your father, but ere we part, i must claim one sweet kiss of love, and that shall lock my soul against all evil thought, it shall be a pledge that you still care for me, and that my prosperity and honor shall ever give you joy. We may meet again when our sorrows becomo merged in the Calm waters of resignation, and when we can do so without the sin of envy. At least it shall be toy hope :liat in aftet1 years we may be friend*, but God holds the future in his hand, and let us bow humbly to his will—it will make us better and happier ; come Adelia. the golden hour is fled. One kiss, and then we must part. There— God bless you, and make you happy, and may the hopes we have so fondly cherished —bless you. dear girl— "This comes of living in the same town with a poor cousin. I wish the fool would keep his relationship to himself—I don't like it. Somebody has informed his uncle of his dissipations. Poor lellow." " Oliver Lamson," pronounced the old woman, " if you are the son of my sister you will go back with me. Beware my nephew, that you do not plunge a dagger to your own heart.".,. A curious smile, seeming to centre in a knowing leer of the right eye, moved the dainty man as he closed, and once moie was buried in his papers. "But who could have told him this 7— Surely they could have no grounds for such a representation." There was something in the tone and manner of the speaker, that might not be resisted, and Oliver found his determination wavering. He hesitated and reflect, ed, but when he spoke he consented to return, and in half an hour longer he was on his way back to the place from which he had started in the morning. Twenty-four hours rolled over the quiet village, unci at the last stroke of the clock yet half an hour before sundown, the stage coach rattled along tho smooth road and hauled up at the door ol the inn. There was a class of people in tho village who made it a part oi their regular business to tnke up their post at the inn-door on the arrival of the stage, and on the pre sent occasion they were all on hand, with eyes and ears wide open, watching for any strange fanes that might come forth from the coach. Some four or five residents of the village htl landed from the conveyance, and the newsmongers began to feur that theiv sight would be ble«tc-d with no strange face, when the driver stepped to the coach door, and having taken out a bandbox which was tied up in an antiquated pillow cnxe, he handed down the form of an old woman, dressed in a gown of (a. ded brown bilk, over which was a well, worn robroy cloak, bound with a brindle cat's fur, while the head was protected by a huge leghorn bonnet, trimmed with dingy ribbon. * Her hair, for some of it escaped from beneath the ruffled white cap she wore beneath her bonnet, was a yellowish white, coarse in the extreme, and combined with her features, gave her the credit of living over her generation. The general impression that accompanies tho thoughts of an old travelling woman, is sharp vinegar features, and grey catlike eyes; but this woman, though somewhat bent by age had a pleasant countenance, and her eyes were a soft blue. "I know not how he heard ol it," returned Oliver, "nor were the base insinuations founded in truth, though some period ol my past life may have given to Madam Rumor's tongue sufficient text for the story.— But I need not hjs aid, for I have the will to work, and honest labor cannot go unrewarded."" !%D, no, madam, I should not be asha mod of you ; but yet 1 have not the ri«ht to cause such an intrusion upon the rules of my boarding-place. The company theie is very select, and some of the boarders are very fastidious, so I trust you will see my position without farther explanation on my part." It may have been a smile that crept over the old woman's features at that moment ; but if it was, it passed quickly away, and when she spoke, her tones were tremulous with emotion : " Well, James, I will not intrude upon your select company, so if you will be responsible for my trifling bill at tho village inn for a few days, I will collect my scattered strength, and then push on." " Really, madam, you should huve prepared yourself against such contingencies ere you set out on thin journey," returned young Siapleiou, in a tone which at once indicated that ho deemed this contemplated draft upon his purse as rather unwarrantable. " 1 can't see how you can lay such claims upon my charity." "Charily /" repeated the old woman.— And do you call it charity to give rest for a few days to the wearied limbs of one ot your own blood ?" " Charity is the name I should give it," returned James, " for ccrtainly the simple fact that 1 happened to be your brother's ohild, gives you no claim upon me." " Weil, well," said the old lady, as she arose with some difficulty from her chair, I will seek Oliver Lamson." " You had belter," returned the young lawyer, while a beam of relief rested upon his lace, " for you will find his boarding place more appropriate to your station."— You will follow this street down a quarter of a mile, and on the left you will see a carpenter's shop, with the name of Anthony Buruhum on the sign—young Lamson works there." The old woman cast one more look upon her unnatural nephew, and then raising her finger toward Heaven, she said: " James Stapleton, there it another betide* myself who see* and read* yoar heart f" The old woman was gone, and as her footsteps and the patting ot her cane died awny in the distance, the lawyer set back in his chair, and thought upon what had passed. Something told him he had beeu unkind, and that he was to blame, and in his heart he knew that he had noted the unfeeling villain, but his heart bore up under the load, and he felt satisfied that he was thus rid of a poor relative. "1 don't think Isaac did exactly right. I think ho wua to blame," said aunt Deborfch.CHAPTER VI "O, no," returned Oliver, "if he thought I was unsteady, of course he would not lend me money, for dissipation would soon nwallow up his security—and if he had been told that such was the fact, then he is not to blame for believing it, for he has not seen me since he was a child, nor do I know that he has been in this part of the country." " Adelia," said Dr. Follett, as he entered the room w here his daughter sat early in the evening, "come you must away with that sad look of yours, for.my old friend and classmate, Isaac Stapleton will be here ere long, and bis nephew Janes will be here too. Now I want you to put on your smiles again my child, for I would not have you look ill. 1 would have you cultivate a friendship for the young lawyer, for lie has, you know, already asked me for your hand, ar.d such an alliance as that is not to be thrown away. Come Addy, now smile." " My uncle Isaac !" cried Oliver Lamson, and with a joyful look he 6prung forward and caught the old man by tho hand. Adelia spoke not in words, but the joy. beams that danced upon her features and dwelt in her soft blue eyes, told that she comprehended the scene. "Thai's true," murmured the old lady, i*D meditative mood, "bnt then he might have taken some pains to mako himself sure, before he refused so reasonable a reqdfst from his relative." " Doctor," said old Stapletoti, "this has truly been an odd freak of mine, but I had a good reason for it. Occasionally I bad received letters from persons whom I did not know, all hinting at unsteadiness and dissipation on the part of Oliver, and at the same time passing enconiums of.praise upon James, and once or twice James himself wrote to me, throwing out the sam* dark hints with regard to his cousin, and making professions of the most unbounded love and confidence for myself. It began to appear to me as though there was a plot on foot to blind me with regard to Oliver's merits. Just then I received a letter from Oliver, frank and open in its manner, ask* ing me for the loan of four hundred dol* lars. At that time I had settled up my affairs, sold my estaies, and made arrange* menis for coming North to spend the declining years of my life with my relatives.— So 1 wrote to Oliver, telling him what I had heard against him, and refusing to send him the money, but at the same time resol. iug that I would see and judge for myself, with regard to his worthiness, for I could not believe that the child of my dear sister was what he had been represented. My sister Deborah, who is now on her way from the South, to join me here, had not been in this section for many years, so I had no doubt i might assume her character with safety, and. thus be enabled to read more fully the characters of those with whom 1 had to do. The result hus proved that I was no; mistaken, for a poor relative is generally a aure touchstone for the proof of character. My sister's child I found to be a noble, kind, and generous youth, sensitive to a fault, forgiving ia his disposition, and possessing a heart that beat only with love and good will. But —" Here the old man hesitated a moment, and then turning to the guilt strickeu lawyer, he continued— "You, sir, know full well what you hat* proved. You lied to me in your lettei* ; you oovered me with your sickening flattery, and then oou spurned one whom you thought to be your old aunt, unatded from your door. You basely deceived yoor cousin, and would ljave betrayed him Into ■■ r£ll Oliver could speak no farther. Ilia heart swelled with a wild emotion—the tears gathered thickly in his eyes, and with all his thoughts and feelings centered in one burs:ing sob of anguish, he turned from her hp loved so fondly and left the room. Adelia did not see him go, for she hud sunk speoohless upon the sofa. When at length she tremblingly raised her head, stiiq gazed a moment into the vacancy about her, and then, assured that she was alone, she buried her face in the soft, downy cushions of the couch, and her grief burst forth in bitter burning sobs.— Her young heart had lost its mate, and that moment she felt that it could never rise to joy again. " True smiles come -from the heart, father," returned ihe fair girl, as she gazed up in the faoe of htr parent, "and my poor heart is not in a mood for smiles now.— But I will be as social as I can." *-'Never mind now, aunt—let the matter pass. Isaac Stapleton was my mother's brother, and as such 1 shall ever love and honor hiin, but I will not be dependent on him for one grain ol my future weal or Dr. Eollctt knew that further remarks on the subject would be painful to his child, and trusting that the cause of her sorrow would soon wear away if he did not renew it, by allusion to i', he turned the conver. sation upon common place affairs. Shortly afterwards James Stapleton Esq., was announced, and he was ushered into the parlor. Adelia greeted him with a becoming welcome, though one could have seen that the task of entertaining him by conve sation Was somewhat irksome. woe." Something very much- liko "but you shall, though," rumbled around within aunt I)eborah'« closed teeth, though she gave in not distinct utterance. Mr. Burchum's lamily soon joined them in the sitting-room, and ero the hour of rest came round, all seemed to have become delighted with old aunt Deborah, and she, too, plainly showed the pleasure she took in their company. Of one thing, at least, the old lady fell assured ; and that was, that whatever might have been the former course of Oliver, he was now an exemplary young man, for every member of Mr. Burohum'f family seemed not only warmly attached to him, but ahe could see his old employer pluced the utmost confidence in him. Under such circumstances it will easily be conceived what might have been the opinion of aunt Deborah, as she retired to reat that night, with regard to her nephews. "James, I have to ask a tavor ot you," continued Oliver, with a little hesitancy in his manner. "Take your baggage into the house ?" uttered the landlord, laying his hand on the old woman's bagged bandbox. "No, sir," replied the old iroman in a voice whiob, though out of tune from age, was far from unpleasant- "1 have friends here in the place if I can find them ; there is one James Stapleton, a nephew of mine. Csn you tell me where to find him?" "Well, out with it," aaid the lawyer, and though his woids did not express a desire that his visitor might be off as soon as possjjbiu, his look and tone did. "Mr. Burcbum is about giving up hi* (business, and offers to sell his shop and -tools lor one thousand dollars, 1 have jmade out to save up four hundred dollars since 1 have been of age, and if I could get the loan of four hundred more for one year, I could do well with it. Mr. Burchurn has the contraot for the erection of five houses during the coming season, which he will turn over to mo, and by judicious management I can pay all the proceeds of that labor. My old employer, in consideration of my faithful services, as he is pleased to term them, is disposed to be generous, and will let two hundred of the thousand remain till he returns from the West, whither he is going to seek a place for a settlement. Now, James, if you could 1ft me have the four hundred——" CHAPTER V James Stapleton tried by all means in his power, to render himself agreeable to the fair girl, and as he felt he had lite countenance and support of her father, he hoped soon to conouer her coldness. The trio were engaged in a sort of light talk upon the affairs of ihe village church when a qttick rap wan heard on the door knocker. One of the children from the dining room answered the summons, and in a moment more the parlor door was thrown o. pen and old Aunt Deborah entered, followed by Oliver Lamson When the dtage ooash left the village inn the next morning Oliver Lamson was seated within it. Though Mr. Burcham regretted to lone his services, yet the inducements the west held out to the industrious mechanic were so many, and the reasons for his leaving the village were so pointed, that the old carpenter warmly seconded tho young man's movement. As the coach passed the door of Dr. Follett, Oliver could not resist the temptation of looking out. Adelia was at her window, and he could see the bright tear-drops that rested upon her cheeks, as the golden sunbeams danced over them. He could read a blessing in her sad leaturps, but he had not opportunity to dwell long upon the pioture, lor the intervening foliage soon shut out scene, and then indeed the youth felt himself to be alone. "Oh yes ina'm, you see that small while building through the elms there, that's his office—you'll find him in now." The old woman thanked the landlord for his kindness, and supporting her steps by an old cross headed cane, she tottered off* towards the offioeof James Stapleton, Esq. That worthy young man was alone at bis table, and he arose with a polite bow as she entered. The thoughts of a client, simple and unsophisticated, flashed through his mind. CHAPTER IV A month had passed away, Aunt Deborah had passed four days very pleasantly at '.he house ol Mr. Burcham, and had llion resumed her journey towards her eastern home. It was evening when Oliver Lamson entered the dwelling of Dr. Abraham Follett and half an hour afterwards he was seated at the side of that gentleman's daughter. It would be a difficult mailer for a writer to explain the effect of this unexpected arrival, upon the different members of the trio. James Stapleton sprang from his seat and stood aghast as he beheld the lorm and featuresof his ill-used aunt. Or. Follett's face flushed with quick anger as he saw the young carpeutcr, and Adelin with a faint cry of mingled joy and surprise, half started from her seat, and then sank back at a stern motion from her father. "Is this Mr. James Stapleton ?" asked the old woman,~as she deposited her bandbox on the floor, and sank into a large arm "Me V' interrupted the young lawyer, effecting a great deal of surprise. "And why not 1 I will pay you a good interest for the use of it," chair. "James Stapleton, Esq., at yourscrvice, madam." As the sun had reached its noontide coach stopped at a small tavern, A'hereinw passrngers were to tuke dinner, and where another stage, coming from the opposite direction, had already stopped for the same purpose. Caring little for his dinner, and less for the busy scenes around him, Oliver Lamson descended from the coach and made his way into the front entry of the inn. Some three or four minutes had he stood there, gazing listlessly upon the paiaera by, when torn* one A del in Foiled had seen her nineteenth year, and her face, beautiful and fair seemed the constant dwelling place o( truth's bright sunlight, and nought but the happi. est joys could have laid upon her dimpled cheek and open brow thaMgAcricilings of sweat and holy now she wept, and hot and burning Too, were the tears that fell upon her heaving boaom. " And thi* then must be the laat time we (ball ever meet," she murmured aashe "My names is Deborah Stapleton." Th« lawyer's countenance fell three degrees."I am your father's oldest sister." The thermometer of the lawyer's feelings was at zero. CHAPTER "I " Mr. Lamson,"said the old doctor who was the first to speak, "what means this intrusion *? You are trespassing, sir." " Dr. Follett, I have not done this out of my own free will. My aunt forced me to it," or at least her entreaties were such that 1 could not withstand them." "I have got no four bundled dollars to lend." " Oliver," said one ol Mr. Burchum's sons, just as the family were silting down to supper, "there is an old lady at the door who wishes to see you." Young Lamson arose from the table and went to the door, but one of the girls hav. ing showed the aged applicant into the front room, he followed her thither. '•But you had over (bur thousand three months ago." "And is that any of yonr business T" ut. tared Stapleton, in a tone rather of impudenoe than anger, at the same time mingled with an air of haughty distance. "It i* surtly none of my business. I on- "I have travelled a long way, and am iatigucd end almost exhausted, but have found my dear nephew at last. Don't you remember, James, how I used to dandle " Your sunt V repeated the doctor. " Deborah Stapletnn," «aid thf old ladjy "You don't remember meD I supposa,"