"Where now?" said Frederick Williams to his friend CharlesLawson, on entering his own office and finding the latter,carpet-bag in hand, awaiting his arrival. "Off for a day or two on a little business affair," repliedLawson. "Business! What have you to do with business?" "Not ordinary, vulgar business," returned Lawson with a slighttoss of the head and an expression of contempt. "Oh! It's of a peculiar nature?" "It is--very peculiar; and, moreover, I want the good offices ofa friend, to enable me the more certainly to accomplish mypurposes." "Come! sit down and explain yourself," said Williams. "Haven't a moment to spare. The boat goes in half an hour." "What boat?" "The New Haven boat. So come, go along with me to the slip, andwe'll talk the matter over by the way." "I'm all attention," said Williams, as the two young men steppedforth upon the pavement. "Well, you must know," began Lawson, "that I have a first ratelove affair on my hands." "You!" "Now don't smile; but hear me." "Go on--I'm all attention." "You know old Everett?" "Thomas Everett, the silk importer?" "The same." "I know something about him." "You know, I presume, that he has a pretty fair lookingdaughter?" "And I know," replied Williams, "that when 'pretty fair looking'is said, pretty much all is said in her favor."
"Not by a great deal," was the decided answer of Lawson. "Pray what is there beyond this that a man can callattractive?" "Her father's money." "I didn't think of that." "Didn't you?" "No. But it would take the saving influence of a pretty largesum to give her a marriageable merit in my eyes." "Gold hides a multitude of defects, you know, Fred." "It does; but it has to be heaped up very high to cover a wife'sdefects, if they be as radical as those in Caroline Everett. Why,to speak out the plain, homespun truth, the girl's a fool!" "She isn't over bright, Fred, I know," replied Lawson. "But tocall her a fool, is to use rather a broad assertion." "She certainly hasn't good common sense. I would be ashamed ofher in company a dozen times a day if she were any thing tome." "She's young, you know, Fred." "Yes, a young and silly girl." "Just silly enough for my purpose. But, she will grow older andwiser, you know. Young and silly is a very good fault." "Where is she now?" "At a boarding school some thirty miles from New Haven. Do youknow why her father sent her there?" "No." "She would meet me on her way to and from school while in thecity, and the old gentleman had, I presume, some objections to meas a son-in-law." "And not without reason," replied Williams. "I could not have asked him to do a thing more consonant with mywishes," continued Lawson. "Caroline told me where she was going,and I was not long in making a visit to the neighborhood. Greatattention is paid to physical development in the school, and theyoung ladies are required to
walk, daily, in the open air, amid thebeautiful, romantic, and secluded scenery by which the place issurrounded. They walk alone, or in company, as suits their fancies.Caroline chose to walk alone when I was near at hand; and we met ina certain retired glen, where the sweet quiet of nature was brokenonly by the dreamy murmur of a silvery stream, and there we talkedof love. It is not in the heart of a woman to withstand a scenelike this. I told, in burning words, my passion, and she hearkenedand was won." Lawson paused for some moments; but, as Williams madeno remark, he continued-"It is hopeless to think of gaining her father's consent to amarriage. He is pence-proud, and I, as you know, am penniless." "I do not think he would be likely to fancy you for ason-in-law," said Williams. "I have the best of reasons, for knowing that he would not. Hehas already spoken of me to his daughter in very severe terms." "As she has informed you?" "Yes. But, like a sensible girl, she prefers consulting her owntaste in matters of the heart." "A very sensible girl, certainly!" "Isn't she! Well, as delays are dangerous, I have made up mymind to consummate this business as quickly as possible. You knowhow hard pressed I am in certain quarters, and how necessary it isthat I should get my pecuniary matters in a more stable position.In a word, then, my business, on the present occasion, is to removeCaroline from school, it being my opinion that she has completedher education." "Has she consented to this?" "No; but she won't require any great persuasion. I'll manage allthat. What I want you to do is, first, to engage me rooms atHoward's, and, second, to meet me at the boat, day after tomorrow,with a carriage." "Where will you have the ceremony performed?" "In this city. I have already engaged the Rev. Mr. B---- to dothat little work for me. He will join us at the hotel immediatelyon our arrival, and in your presence, as a witness, the knot willbe tied." "All very nicely arranged," said Williams. "Isn't it! And what is more, the whole thing will go off likeclock work. Of course I can depend on you. You will meet us at theboat." "I will, certainly."
"Then good by." They were by this time at the landing. The twoyoung men shook hands, and Lawson sprung on board of the boat,while Williams returned thoughtfully to his office. Charles Lawson was a young man having neither principle norcharacter. A connection with certain families in New York, added toa good address, polished manners, and an unblushing assurance, hadgiven him access to society at certain points, and of this facilityhe had taken every advantage. Too idle and dissolute for usefuleffort in society, he looked with a cold, calculating baseness tomarriage as the means whereby he was to gain the position at whichhe aspired. Possessing no attractive virtues--no personal merits ofany kind, his prospects of a connection, such as he wished to form,through the medium of any honorable advances, were hopeless, andthis he perfectly well understood. But, the conviction did not inthe least abate the ardor of his purpose. And, in a mean anddastardly spirit, he approached one young school girl afteranother, until he found in Caroline Everett one weak enough to beflattered by his attentions. The father of Caroline, who was a manof some discrimination and force of mind, understood his daughter'scharacter, and knowing the danger to which she was exposed, keptupon her a watchful eye. Caroline's meetings with Lawson were notcontinued long before he became aware of the fact, and he at onceremoved her to a school at a distance from the city. It would havebeen wiser had he taken her home altogether. Lawson could havedesired no better arrangement, so far as his wishes wereconcerned. On the day succeeding that on which Lawson left New York,Caroline was taking her morning walk with two or three companions,when she noticed a mark on a certain tree, which she knew as a signthat her lover was in the neighborhood and awaiting her in thesecluded glen, half a mile distant, where they had already met.Feigning to have forgotten something, she ran back, but as soon asshe was out of sight of her companions, she glided off with rapidsteps in the direction where she expected to find Lawson. And shewas not disappointed. "Dear Caroline!" he exclaimed, with affected tenderness, drawinghis arm about her and kissing her cheek, as he met her. "How happyI am to see you again! Oh! it has seemed months since I looked uponyour sweet young face." "And yet it is only a week since you were here," returnedCaroline, looking at him fondly. "I cannot bear this separation. It makes me wretched," saidLawson. "And I am miserable," responded Caroline, with a sigh, and hereyes fell to the ground. "Miserable," she repeated. "I love you, tenderly, devotedly," said Lawson, as he tightlyclasped the hand he had taken: "and it is my most ardent wish tomake you happy. Oh! why should a parent's mistaken will interposebetween us and our dearest wishes?" Caroline leaned toward the young man, but did not reply. "Is there any hope of his being induced to give his consentto--to--our--union?"
"None, I fear," came from the lips of Caroline in a faintwhisper. "Is he so strongly prejudiced against me?" "Yes." "Then, what are we to do?" Caroline sighed. "To meet, hopelessly, is only to make us the more wretched,"said Lawson. "Better part, and forever, than suffer a martyrdom ofaffection like this." Still closer shrunk the weak and foolish girl to the young man'sside. She was like a bird in the magic circle of the charmer. "Caroline," said Lawson, after another period of silence, andhis voice was low, tender and penetrating--"Are you willing, for mysake, to brave your father's anger?" "For your sake, Charles!" replied Caroline, with suddenenthusiasm. "Yes--yes. His anger would be light to the loss of youraffection." "Bless your true heart!" exclaimed Lawson. "I knew that I hadnot trusted it in vain. And now, my dear girl, let me speak freelyof the nature of my present visit. With you, I believe, that allhope of your father's consent is vain. But, he is a man of tenderfeelings, and loves you as the apple of his eye." Thus urged the tempter, and Caroline listened eagerly. "If," he continued, "we precipitate a union--if we put themarriage rite between us and his strong opposition, that oppositionwill grow weak as a withering leaf. He cannot turn from you. Heloves you too well." Caroline did not answer; but, it needed no words to tell Lawsonthat he was not urging his wishes in vain. "I am here," at length he said, boldly, "for the purpose oftaking you to New York. Will you go with me?" "For what end?" she whispered. "To become my wife." There was no starting, shrinking, nor trembling at thisproposal. Caroline was prepared for it; and, in the blindness of amistaken love, ready to do as the tempter wished. Poor lamb! Shewas to be led to the slaughter, decked with ribbons and garlands, avictim by her own consent.
Frederick Williams, the friend of Lawson, was a young attorney,who had fallen into rather wild company, and strayed to somedistance along the paths of dissipation. But, he had a young andlovely-minded sister, who possessed much influence over him. Thevery sphere of her purity kept him from debasing himself to anygreat extent, and ever drew him back from a total abandonment ofhimself in the hour of temptation. He had been thrown a good dealinto the society of Lawson, who had many attractive points foryoung men about him, and who knew how to adapt himself to thecharacters of those with whom he associated. In some things he didnot like Lawson, who, at times, manifested such an entire want ofprinciple, that he felt shocked. On parting with Lawson at theboat, as we have seen, he walked thoughtfully away. His mind wasfar from approving what he had heard, and the more he reflectedupon it, the less satisfied did he feel. He knew enough of thecharacter of Lawson to be well satisfied that his marriage withCaroline, who was an overgrown, weak-minded school girl, wouldprove the wreck of her future happiness, and the thought ofbecoming a party to such a transaction troubled him. On returningto his office, he found his sister waiting for him, and, as hiseyes rested upon her innocent young countenance, the idea of herbeing made the victim of so base a marriage, flashed with a pangamid his thoughts. "I will have no part nor lot in this matter," he said, mentally.And he was in earnest in this resolution. But not long did his mindrest easy under his assumed passive relation to a contemplatedsocial wrong, that one word from him might prevent. From thethought of betraying Lawson's confidence, his mind shrunk with acertain instinct of honor; while, at the same time, pressed uponhim the irresistible conviction that a deeper dishonor would attachto him if he permitted the marriage to take place. The day passed with him uncomfortably enough. The more hethought about the matter, the more he felt troubled. In theevening, he met his sister again, and the sight of her made himmore deeply conscious of the responsibility resting upon him. Hisoft repeated mental excuse--"It's none of my business," or, "Ican't meddle in other men's affairs," did not satisfy certainconvictions of right and duty that presented themselves with, tohim, a strange distinctness. The thought of his own sister wasinstantly associated with the scheme of some false-hearted wretch,involving her happiness in the way that the happiness of CarolineEverett was to be involved; and he felt that the man who knew thatanother was plotting against her, and did not apprize him of thefact, was little less than a villain at heart. On the next day Williams learned that there was a writ outagainst the person of Charles Lawson on a charge of swindling, hehaving obtained a sum of money from a broker under circumstancesconstrued by the laws into crime. This fact determined him to go atonce to Mr. Everett, who, as it might be supposed, was deeplyagitated at the painful intelligence he received. His first thoughtwas to proceed immediately to New Haven, and there rescue hisdaughter from the hands of the young man; but on learning thearrangements that had been made, he, after much reflecting,concluded that it would be best to remain in New York, and meetthem on their arrival. In the mean time, the foolish girl, whom Lawson had determinedto sacrifice to his base cupidity, was half wild with delightedanticipation. Poor child! Passion-wrought romances, written by menand women who had neither right views of life, nor a purpose inliterature beyond gain or reputation, had bewildered herhalf-formed reason, and filled her imagination with.
unrealpictures. All her ideas were false or exaggerated. She was a woman,with the mind of an inexperienced child; if to say this does notsavor of contradiction. Without dreaming that there might be thornsto pierce her naked feet in the way she was about to enter, shemoved forward with a joyful confidence. On the day she had agreed to return with Lawson, she met himearly in the afternoon, and started for New Haven, where they spentthe night. On the following day they left in the steamboat for NewYork. All his arrangements for the marriage, were fully explainedto Caroline by Lawson, and most of the time that elapsed afterleaving New Haven, was spent in settling their future action inregard to the family. Caroline was confident that all would beforgiven after the first outburst of anger on the part of herfather, and that they would be taken home immediately. The cloudwould quickly melt in tears, and then the sky would be purer andbrighter than before. When the boat touched the wharf, Lawson looked eagerly for theappearance of his friend Williams, and was disappointed, and nolittle troubled, at not seeing him. After most of the passengershad gone on shore, he called a carriage, and was driven toHoward's, where he ordered a couple of rooms, after first enquiringwhether a friend had not already performed this service for him.His next step was to write a note to the Rev. Mr. B----, desiringhis immediate attendance, and, also, one to Williams, informing himof his arrival. Anxiously, and with a nervous fear lest someuntoward circumstance might prevent the marriage he was abouteffecting with a silly heiress, did the young man await theresponse to these notes, and great was his relief, when informed,after the lapse of an hour, that the Reverend gentleman, whoseattendance he had desired, was in the house. A private parlor had been engaged, and in this the ceremony ofmarriage was to take place. This parlor adjoined a chamber, inwhich Caroline awaited, with a trembling heart, the issue ofevents. It was now, for the first time, as she was about taking thefinal and irretrievable step, that her resolution began to failher. Her father's anger, the grief of her mother, the unknown stateupon which she was about entering, all came pressing upon herthoughts with a sense of realization such as she had not knownbefore. Doubts as to the propriety of what she was about doing, camefast upon her mind. In the nearness of the approaching event, shecould look upon it stripped of its halo of romance. During the twodays that she had been with Lawson, she had seen him in states ofabsent thought, when the true quality of his mind wrote itself outupon his face so distinctly that even a dim-sighted one could read;and more than once she had felt an inward shrinking from him thatwas irrepressible. Weak and foolish as she was, she was yetpure-minded; and though in the beginning she did not, because herheart was overlaid with frivolity, perceive the sphere of hisimpurity, yet now, as the moment was near at hand when there was tobe a marriage-conjunction, she began to feel this sphere assomething that suffocated her spirit. At length, in the agitationof contending thoughts and emotions, the heart of the poor girlfailed her, till, in the utter abandonment of feeling, she gave wayto a flood of tears and commenced wringing her hands. At thismoment, having arranged with the clergyman to begin the ceremonyforthwith, Lawson entered her room, and, to his surprise, saw herin tears.
"Oh, Charles!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands and extendingthem towards him, "Take me home to my father! Oh, take me home tomy father!" Lawson was confounded at such an unexpected change in Caroline."You shall go to your father the moment the ceremony is over," hereplied; "Come! Mr. B---- is all ready." "Oh, no, no! Take me now! Take me now!" returned the poor girlin an imploring voice. And she sat before the man who had temptedher from the path of safety, weeping, and quivering like a leaf inthe wind. "Caroline! What has come over you!" said Lawson, in deepperplexity. "This is only a weakness. Come! Nerve your heart like abrave, good girl! Come! It will soon be over." And he bent down and kissed her wet cheek, while she shrunk fromhim with an involuntary dread. But, he drew his arm around herwaist, and almost forced her to rise. "There now! Dry your tears!" And he placed his handkerchief toher eyes. "It is but a moment of weakness, Caroline,--of naturalweakness." As he said this, he was pressing her forward towards the door ofthe apartment where the clergyman (such clergymen disgrace theirprofession) awaited their appearance. "Charles?" said Caroline, with a suddenly constrainedcalmness--"do you love me?" "Better than my own life!" was instantly replied. "Then take me to my father. I am too young--too weak--tooinexperienced for this." "The moment we are united you shall go home," returned Lawson."I will not hold you back an instant." "Let me go now, Charles! Oh, let me go now!" "Are you mad, girl!" exclaimed the young man, losing hisself-control. And, with a strong arm, he forced her into the nextroom. For a brief period, the clergyman hesitated, on seeing thedistressed bride. Then he opened the book he held in his hand andbegan to read the service. As his voice, in tones of solemnity,filled the apartment, Caroline grew calmer. She felt like onedriven forward by a destiny against which it was vain to contend.All the responses had been made by Lawson, and now the clergymanaddressed her. Passively she was about uttering her assentation,when the door of the room was thrown open, and two men entered. "Stop!" was instantly cried in a loud, agitated voice, whichCaroline knew to be that of her father, and never did that voicecome to her ears with a more welcome sound.
Lawson started, and moved from her side. While Caroline yetstood trembling and doubting, the man who had come in with Mr.Everett approached Lawson, and laying his hand upon him, said-"Iarrest you on a charge of swindling!" With a low cry of distress, Caroline sprung towards her father;but he held his hands out towards her as if to keep her off,saying, at the same time-"Are you his wife?" "No, thank Heaven!" fell from her lips. In the next moment she was in her father's arms, and both wereweeping. Narrow indeed was the escape made by Caroline Everett; an escapewhich she did not fully comprehend until a few months afterwards,when the trial of Lawson took place, during which revelations ofvillany were made, the recital of which caused her heart toshudder. Yes, narrow had been her escape! Had her father beendelayed a few moments longer, she would have become the wife of aman soon after condemned to expiate his crimes against society inthe felon's cell! May a vivid realization of what Caroline Everett escaped, warnother young girls, who bear a similar relation to society, of thedanger that lurks in their way. Not once in a hundred instances, isa school girl approached with lover-like attentions, except by aman who is void of principle; and not once in a hundred instancesdo marriages entered upon clandestinely by such persons, proveother than an introduction to years of wretchedness.