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Show 500 Tl1e Bachelor-A Tale. He saw the advantages he was rapidly winnin.l[, the subject of her thoughts, she thereupon hastily and fearful of a discovery of the plot by which he said, "Have you brought me a lett~.~ or a message had deceived Agnes Searle, he resoh·ed to push on from Claude-Mr. Ripton, I mean· to final success. The inquiry at once brought to Mr. Lefevre's One pleasant evening he was sitting with Mar- recollection the charges which had been brought garet Sefton: she was simply but elegantly dressetl, against Hipton, and he hastily answered, "Do f and looked surpassingly beantiful. Hipton Jed the understand that you h:~.ve Jled from home by '.he corwersation from a discussion in which they had persuasion of the g('nt!eman about whom you Illbeen engaged, about the comparath·e power of quire so anxiously r• sentiment and incident in poetry, to subjects of The tone in which these wortls were pronounced warmer interest. checked the warm current of her feelings, and her "It is useless," said he after a slight pause," il beautiful countenance, before radiant with the m~st is useless, 1uy dear Miss Sefton, to attempt any animated expression, changed to a look of cold l.iJslong- er to conceal the deep and ardent afiCction J appointment. She merely replied that she feared feel towards )'Ou-T am sensible of your superiority, some mistake had Ueen made, and returned to hH and at the risk of giving ofrcuce, I dare to ofl"cr ::~partment. you the deep dC\'Otion uf a heart"- He was inter- Lefevre determined to Ue satisfied about this rupted by the inopportune entrance of one of the strange matter. So with legal dexterity, he exservants; but as 1\largaret Sefton rose, witl1 a slight amined the woman of the house and learned the blush mantling her noble countenance, she took a cireumstances by which Agnes had been brought lotus leaf from the flower-vase before them and said, under her roof. She stated that the dog had heen "You can accept this-it is green, the color of brought there by the young gentleman who came hope." Claude bowed 0\"er the extended hand aud so often to see the girl, and this person he found gratefully accepted the simple gift. no difficulty in identifying with Claude Ripton. Mr. Paul Lefevre had observed the growing at- The ingenuous mind of Paul Lefene was strongly tachment between these young persons, and with shocked Uy this discovery, and after the transacthe generosity of his nature he rejoiced at the pros- tion of some indispensable business, he lost uo time pect of a union which promised so much felicity. in tr:~.velling to \VotLon. He had returned about this time to his residence in Immediately on his arrival there. he hastened to the ciry, and happened to be called by a business the residence of Mrs. Henry, aud was directly engagement to an obscure street at some distance shown into the dining-room, where that lady, her from his office. As he walked leisurely along, his niece, and Claude Ripton were pleasantly engaged attention W3S caught by the extreme beauty of a in social cotwersation O\'er their fruit and wine. grey-hound of the Italian breed, which was lying His stern look slightly surprised the ladies and in the peculiarly graceful attitude these animals they rose hastily from the table. "Excuse my assume, before the door of a small, badly painted abrupt entrance," S3id he, 1' but I have hastened house. He paused in his walk, and the dog 3p- here to expose a scheme of the coldest and most proached him and then retreated to the back yard fraudulent villainy." of the house; but he h3d time to recognize i~ as a \\'ith this energetic exordium he succinctly stated favori1e hound belonging to Cb.ude Ripton. The the trivial occurrence which had led him to theredog had been greatly admired for its beauty and treat of Agnes Searle, and the evidence by which docility by Mrs. Henry and the ladies who visited the guilt of her 3bduction had been fixed on Claude her house, and Mr. Lefevre remembered to have Ripton. "I have thought it due," said he to Mrs. l•eard Ripton regret that the animal had beeu lost Henry, "to the friendship I have long professed or stolen. \Vith his customary impetuosity he for you, to give this information which intimately rapped at the door of the house. A woman of concerns the welfare of one in whom you are so coarse and repulsive appearance opened the door, w3rmly interested." and he immediately demanded the dog as the prop- The astonished gaze of both ladies was turned erty of a gentleman of his acquaintance. The wo- towards Claude Ripton, but his cnnsummate selfman was about to make some reply, when a light possession did not desert him in this embarrassing step was heard on the St3irs leading from the rooms emergency, and in a voice, the calm and distinct above, and in a mnment, to the utter 3Stonishment tones of which strongly contrasted wi1h the hurof Paul Lefevre, Agnes Searle stood before him. ried and agitated utterance of bis accuser, here- Anxious at the absence of her lo\'er, uneasy from plied, "Mr. Lefevre's legal experience must have the restraint imposed on her conduct, and rest- taught him to what deceptive conclusions circumless from the agitating nature of her thoughts, A goes stantial evidence will often lead, even when carehad been alarmed by the loud voice she heard, and fully and dispassionatl'iy examined; and the testifull of vague apl-'rchension, had hurried down. She mony of an obscure and proiJably an infamous had often seen Mr. Lefevre in \Votton, and his ap- woman, it neither becomes my stalion in society pearance immediately suggested him who was ever nor my character as a gentleman to treat but with 1845.] Tf1e Bachelor-A Tale. 501 the most contemptuous indifference. 1 3m sure, precision, but his pistol being improperly cltarged, th 3t upun reflection, Mr. Lefevre will withdraw the ball was thrown too high and tore througl• the these strange accusations, else I wil!Ue forced to coat-collar of his antagonist without inflicting any demand honorable reparation." injury. The merest chance had directed Lefevre's . "As to that," said Lefevre, now thoroughly ex- unpractised hand, and when the smol;c cleared Cited, "if your code of honor is not even more away, to his surprise and horror, he saw that his false than I hold it to be, \'Our conduct in this aff3ir ad\·ersary had fallen backwards into the arms of his has deprived you of the J;rivilege to ask honorable friends. Every thing like resentment inst:wtly reparation. 11 vanished, and the thought th3t he had committed "Let me interrupt. you, gentlemen,'' said Mrs. the crime of murder was accompanied by a. feelHenry. "l\lr. Ripton , this is too grave a matter ing of remorse, more Litter than '' tl.e gall of asps," to be dismissed in a hasty manner, and unless .YOU which seared his heart. cle3r up the charges brought against you, all inter- The surgeons hastened to the assistance of the course between us must cease." wounded m:lll, whom they found blePding and in- Claude Ripton felt ldmsclf cnt::ltlo-]ed in a net sensilJie, 30d in that condition he was carefully WO\'Cn by his own misconduct, and he knew that conveyed to a neighboring- inn. his hopes, a little while Ucfore so flonrishinl!, were As soon as the father of Agnes Searle heard of now "down in the dust." Towards Paul I~efevre. the place to which she had been carried, and the the author of his discomfiture, he felt the most cruel deception by which her abduction h::~d been b~rninJ! indignation, which the finished disguise of accomplishetl, he hastened to see her with the hope Ius manner could no longer conceal. He turned of effecting her restoration, He com·eyed the inupon Lefevre a face blanched by r3ge and said, te\Jigence of the duel which had been fought and its "Since, sir, you seek protection in an unmanly proba.ble fatal result. His daughter was plunged expedient, I will give you an insult which you dare into the most \'iolent and keenest grief at this event, n~t resent." \Vith these words he caught up a and with 3n earnestness and a determinatfon which wme-~lass from the table and discharged its con- nothing but force could prevent, she insisted on tents full into the flushed face of Paul Lefevre. b ing com·eyed to the 8pot wl1ere her assist3nce 1\brgaret Sefton had left the room a few minutes might avail him whom she felt bound to succor in before the commission of this act of rudeness, 3nd his sickness and misfortunes. a scream from the domestics now announced that Thither the faithful Agnes accordingly hurried, she had fainted. Mrs. Henry hastened to her as- and she heart.! witb the deepest joy and the prosistance and Ripton took his departure, leaving foundcst gratitude, that although Claude was sufLefevre confounded by the sudden iusult he had fering very acutely from the effect of his wound, received. A settled determination soon followed yet his life was now considered out of danger. this feeling of blind rage, and he hastily went into The tenderness and affectionate solicitude with ~n adjacent room and wrote to Mr. Hipton, demand- which the devoted girl w3tchcd the progress of his wg satisfaction for his insolent conduct. A gen· recovery, and the unwearied patience with which tleman who resided in a neighboring house con- she administered to the capricious wants of convasented to deli\•er this hostile note. Claude Ripton lescence, profoundly affected Riptou's heart, the had expected it, and with alacrity complied with callousness of which had been softened by the subthe demand it contained. duing influence ot' illness. Of all the friends who "Thi.s; is a moM unlucky accident," said he in had hung around the gay prosperity of his former bitter soliloquy, "but its evil results may yet Le lif"c. she alone remained lh.ithful and firm, when averted; my skill with the pistol is adroit and deadly sickness and sorrow threw a depressing gloom over to a proverb, and these nerves of steel have never his prospects; 31HI he resolved to expiate the injury trembled. Though the odds 3gainst me an: start- he had inflicted on so much virtue and beauty, by ling, 1 ha\'C still some hope." the amplest reparation. He sent fur Dawson and obtained his friendly Explaining to Agnes that their marrilge had assistance in this important affair. The prelimi- been so hurried in its circumstances, that it did not nary arrangements wero soon made, and in the satisfy the scruples of his awakened conscience, he afternoon uf the nc:-c:t day the parties met at a se- persuaded her to consent to the performance of eluded spot, which had been selected for the ren· another ceremony, which should be mnre solemn contre. The distances were measured; the right of and regular. This was accordingly done, and they giving the word and the choice of position were were now united in lawful marriage. tossed for, 3nd both privileges were won by Daw- Claude Hipton had by this time recovered his son. The principals were then conducted to their usual vigor of health, and he determined to change respective positions, the loaded weapons placed in his residence to the city of New Orleans, where their hands, and the seconds returned to their pia- several of his relations resided, aocl where the unfaces. At the signal, both pistols were fired simul- vorablc incidents of his life were unknown. Ditaneously. Ripton had aimed with rapid and fatal reetly after his marriage he went to New York, to |