Gaut Gurley

ountry and man

ssent from that part of the view; and not only dissent, but claim that truth will generally require the very reversal of the picture, for of such crimes we believe it will be found, on examination, that the country ever furnishes the greatest proportion. In cities, the frequent intercourse of men with their fellow-men, the constant interchange of the ordinary civilities of life, and the thousand amusements and calls on their attention that are daily occurring, have almost necessarily a tendency to soften or turn away the edge of malice and hatred, to divert the mind from the dark workings of revenge, and prevent it from settling into any of those fatal purposes which result in the wilful destruction of life, or some other gross outrage on humanity. But in the country, where, it will be remembered, the first blood ever spilled by the hand of a murderer cried up to Heav

nciple apply to the operation of love as well as hate? It should, and does, though not in an equal degree, perhaps, apply to them both. It has been shown to be so in the experience of the past. I

uous mansion, in the environs of Boston, was observed to be lighted up to an extent, and with a brilliancy, that betokened the advent of some ambitious display on the part of the bustling inmates. Carriages from different parts of the city were successively arriving, discharging their loads of gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen at the door, and rattling off again at the crack of the whips of the pert and jauntily equipped drivers. Others on foot, and from the more immediate neighborhood, were, in couples and singly, fo

somewhat past the middle age of life, with regular features, and a good general appearance, but with one of those unsettled, fluctuating countenances which are usually found in men who, while affecting, perhaps, a show of independence, lack self-reliance, fixed principles, or some other of the essential elements of character. And such indeed was Mark Elwood, the reputedly wealthy merchant whom we have thus introduced as one of the leading personages of our story. Though often moved with kind and generous impulses, he yet was governed by no settled pr

character

ed: "There they come!-the solid men of Boston. The presence of these, with the others who will all serve as trumpeters of the affair, will quell every suspicion of my credit till some new strike shall place me beyond danger. Yes, just as I calculated, the money spent will be the cunnin

personal appearance not likely to be forgotten. His strong, upright, well-proportioned frame, full, rounded head, and unexceptionable features, were unusually well calculated to arrest the attention, and, at a little distance especially, to secure the favorable impressions of others; but those impressi

that God alone can read the secrets of the heart; but we have often thought that He has imparted to us more of this attribute of His omniscience than that which is vouchsafed us in any one of our other faculties; or, in other words, that, to the skill we may acquire by practice in reading the countenance, He has added something of the light of intuition, to enable us to pierce into the otherwise impenetra

of the unbidden guest whose appearance we have attempted to describe. Unlike Elwood, he had character

hted apartments of the house, and scanned, as he did, with many a sneering smile, the appearances within, as long as suite

ful, nor even handsome, was yet every way a comely woman; and the quiet dignity and the unpretending simplicity of her manner, together with a certain intelligent and appreciating cast of countenance, which always rested on her placid, features, seldom failed to impress those who approached her with feelings of kindness and respect. She looked pale and fat

teras of dress then in vogue, and carefully consulted the confidential mirrors to secure that adjustment of collars, curls, smirks, and smiles whic

by being in such an assemblage? Although the participants may exhibit to casual observation the semblance of enjoyment, yet a close inspection will show that they are only acting, and that, as we have already intimated, their apparent enjoyment is no more deserving the name of social happiness than that which is often represented as enjoyed by a company of stage actors, in the harassing performance of the fictitious scenes of some genteel comedy. Who was ever made any better? Any rational discussion tending to exalt or purify the min

re prone to do in crowds, lose their sense of personal responsibility, in deporting themselves like rational beings; for such doubtless often lead to pleasing and instructiv

ression to the characters and incidents imme

e hundred guests, bestowing their attentions on the more neglected, calling out the more modest, and exchanging civilities with all,-while this was passing, suddenly there arose from without a confused noise, as of quick movements and mingling voices, which, from its character and the direction w

n insisting on coming in, without being invited here to-night, and without telling his business or even giving his name. And he p

en name: didn't you know i

lways been on sech occasions not to admit any but the invited, who won't send in their names, o

n the defence of his professional character, and leading the way

iny, walking up and down the bricked pathway leading to the house. But, not being able to identify the new-comer with any one of his acquaintances, at that distance,

rthur! How ca

am and

were not expecting you; and I fear

haps, in declining to be cat

the bit of flare-up you see we have here to-night,-and not knowing you, thought they

no stranger would have ever taken them for brothers,-Mark being, as we have before described him, a good-sized, and, in the main, a good-looking man; while the other, whom we have introduced as Arthur Elwood, was of

"shall I look you up a private room, or will you go in among the

o go in and be lost in the crowd. My trim will not kill anybody,

ht excite the remarks of his fashionable guests, he would have gladly disposed of him in some private manner till the company had departed. Finding him, howev

d to greet him, and be cordially greeted in return, and, unlike her husband, had not hesitated to bestow on him publicly the most marked attentions. As soon, however, as she had thus testified her sense of the superiority of worth over outward appearance, and thus, by her del

broach a matter in which he felt a deep interest. "I was not looking for you here at all, these days; but presumed,

al benefit. I could, as you say, have transacted the business through the mail, but I confess, Mark, I have lately had some misgivings and doubts

ng to some bad luck and disappointments in money matters, I am, just now, a little embarrassed about m

other. "But, Mark," he added, after a pause, "Mark,

fle,-a few hun

ent, when you are wanting thous

o keep up his credit, must dis

a man's credit in thousands, especially with those whose opinion would be of any use to him

without end or aim, moving round and round their limited range of apartments, like the froth in the circling eddies of a whirlpool, continued to laugh, flirt, and chatter on, till the advent of the last act of the social farce,-the throwing open of a suit of hitherto sealed apartments, and the welcome disclosure of the varied and costly delic

me in vain watching the opportunity, caught Mark Elwood unoccupied in o

ness, after finding there was no further chance of escaping an interview

her you intend to keep

lack, quivering eyes

engage

hance to win ba

n you have taken from

you make your fortune? Besides this, haven't I alwa

more of suc

t to know whether you mean t

uld not have me leave h

to-n

ered, I presume, has just arrived on a visi

you will meet me at the old room, or not,

easonable, c

go, and see what will c

pale at the last intimation. "As soon as I get rid

Gaut, doggedly, as he turned on his h

er guests one of whose questionable character and connection with her husband she was already apprised, and who, from an adjoining apartment, had caught a slight glimpse of t

ot going out to-n

ery of his design, which a second thought told him she had made; "only for a short time. But

not bear to have you go off, and leave your only brother, whom you have not se

e, I hear them inquiring for me. I must go," he added, abruptly breaking away, and leaving his grieved companion

their respective homes, and with them, also, ha