"A skull for a device, continued Frank, view- the sole heir to an estate valued at one hundred ing it closely 46 66 'A death in the family, I suppose," said his partner. Come, make yourself master of its contents, and let us go on with the game. Our reputation as players is at stake, unless we win this hand." Frank broke the seal, and glanced hastily over the contents. At first the blood rushed to his head with a warm gush, tinging his cheeks with a crimson glow, and again receded leaving him as pale and wanlike as a frightened girl. His companions noticed his appearance, and anxiously inquired if the intelligence was of a painful or unpleasant nature. Again his eye glanced rapidly over the pages, while his fingers trembled with emotion, and the perspiration stood thick upon his forehead. Rising from his seat, he spoke: Gentlemen, I beg your indulgence for the rest of the evening. The intelligence contained in this letter is of a singular nature, and entirely contrary to anything I could expect or conceive. I will meet you again in the morning, and until Yet stay-one glass before we part. Fill up, and drink with me-Our Legators—may they rest in peace!" then adieu. The toast was drank in silence, and giving each of his friends a hearty shake of the hand, he bade them good night, and in five minutes afterward Ashdale was alone, perusing, for the third time, the letter that had been so mysteriously and fifty thousand dollars. Instructions as to my a FRANCIS ASHDALE, Esq. No wonder that Frank was astonished at such missive, coming, as it did, so apropos upon the top of his wish. do very The clock struck twelve, and still Frank sat at the table, with the letter open before him, and his hands thrust deeply into his pockets. Some satisfied with his fortune for that night, and leave persons may ask why he did not seek his bed, reflection for the light of the next day. It may well for an uninterested person to ask such a question, but I should like to see the phenomenon that could sleep directly in the face of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars prize-at else had not the next morning's dawn found him least that wonder was not Mr. Francis Ashdale, friends had left him a few hours previous. It is sitting exactly in the same position in which his doubtful if ever young man was in so great a quandary before, for, in the first place, he was puzzled to believe in the sober earnestness of the letter; secondly, he almost doubted if himself were really Mr. Francis Ashdale; and thirdly, it was puzzling to form any plan for his future tune, nor could he think of one source of plealife after he should become possessed of his for sure before it was abandoned for another that was thrown aside with the same impatience. Formely he had said to himself-if I should ever become rich, I will do thus and so I will get married, or I will travel, or I will make the best use of Pleasure whenever she throws herself in delivered. The contents were such as almost surpassed the hopes that had been so often the nurslings of his warmest imagination, and, as though to assure himself by another sense than sight, and to further convince himself of the reality of what his eyes received as evidence, he read it again in a slow and audible tone, dwelling my way. Now, however, when Fortune had with particular emphasis upon the most important thrust upon him her rarest favors-had taken points. This document, which had the effect to him at his wish on the previous evening, and break up a social party of friends, and send most given him more than the boon he asked, he felt of them home filled with an impatient desire to as though under the influence of a spell that become acquainted with the singular influence of charmed his senses while it rendered him incapathe letter, was of the utmost importance to Ash-ble of action. He remembered hearing it said, dale, and we shall see how it changed the fortune of the young man, and affected his destinies through life. Here is the letter: "PHILADELPHIA, June 10, 1836. DEAR SIR-AS executor for the estate of the late Hugh Drimple, Esq., it becomes my duty to inform you that by his decease he has left you when a boy, that there was one second in each year, when if a person uttered a wish, it would be gratified. He believed the story to be but a nursery fable, but still, under the circumstances, he could not divest himself of a moiety of superstitious feeling, if for no other cause, at least out of respect for the memory of his good mother, who had often in his younger days, amused him, and excited in him a love for the marvelous, by stories | Ashdale. "Read it," and he handed the letter of prodigious giants, beautiful fairies, and evil spirits. The bell of his boarding-house summoned him to breakfast, and, making a hasty toilette, he descended, not with an appetite, but merely as a matter of form, anxious to escape any questions respecting his absence. Having broken fast, he ascended again to his room, where he once more read the letter that was to him so full of fate, and being somewhat assured of its sincerity, he sat down at a portable writing-desk, and penned the following answer: to Carlton, who glanced over it rapidly from beginning to end, and making a low whistle, by way of admiration, he raised his hand to impose silence while he read it aloud. Some might suppose that, at the conclusion of the letter, there was boisterous mirth, and clapping of hands, and hearty congratulations; but there were no demonstrations of this kind: in their stead the party stood eyeing one another in perfect silence for five minutes. Then the letter was read by each, and handed back to Carlton, who placed it upon the table with a sigh, exclaiming as he did Well, I have been astonished in my time, and have seen some things that I considered wonders; but this overtops them all-it is the biggest wonder on record. Who is the donor-who the munificent relative ?" "I do not know," said Ashdale. "What are you going to do with your money?" asked another of his friends. "NEW YORK, June 12, 1836. "DEAR SIR-I received your unexpected and fateful letter last evening, and hasten to reply. In mentioning the decease of Mr. Drimple, you neglected to state in what relationship we stood to each other. I have no recollection of the name, not knowing if I have ever heard it, though I dare say from his kind thoughts of me he had sufficient reasons. I will not do injustice to his memory by a disclaimer to his title to kinsman, if such he was. I have but one thing to regret it is that my mother is not alive to partake of the horses or women?" inquired a dapper little fellow gentleman's bounty. About the whole affair with an imperial, affecting to be funny. “I there is a mystery which I cannot solve, though perhaps some cue to it may be found among the papers of the deceased. Regarding your kind invitation to spend a few days at your hospitable mansion-you may expect me in Philadelphia in two days from this at the farthest. At present I am too much amazed at the suddenness of my fortune to think of, or attempt, anything for the regulation of my future conduct. It all seems to me like a dream, and before I take a step that might render me ridiculous in the eyes of sober men, I must assure my. self that I am in a world of realities, and an actor in the drama of every day life. I have the honor to be, Sir, Yours very sincerely, FRANCIS ASHDALE. SETH BURNEY, Esq." Having folded and sealed this letter ready for the mail, he was about to ring for a servant to take it to the Post Office, when his ears were saluted with the sound of the door-bell, and in less than two minutes afterward who should be ushered into his room but his companions of the previous evening. "I do not know," repeated Frank. have "I really do not know," said Frank for the third time. Never was man more puzzed. "If it were mine," said the dapper fellow, "I do not think I should trust it in banks, stocks, or real estate. I would convert it into gold, bury it, and exhume it only as fast as I had a use for "I do "As I live, I do not," replied Ashdale. not believe that the name belongs to the family; and consequently I am half inclined to believe it a hoax, and shall not give full credence to the testimony until I am greeted with ocular demonstration." "Do you intend going to Philadelphia? The name of Burney is respectable, and this gentleman I have often heard spoken of by an old partner of my father's. I once read a letter of his, and, from my memory of the hand-writing, I should judge this to be genuine. He is a man in tolerable circumstances, though there were reports about a year ago that affected his credit, "You shall be a judge how welcome," said owing to his having lost pretty heavily in some "Well, Frank," said one of them, a gay and thoughtless young fellow, whom I shall call Carlton, "what sort of a companion has that horrid letter been to you since we parted last evening? By your looks, I should judge not very welcome one." a and unfortunate speculation in this city. If you visit "I am obliged to you, Carlton; and as I have written that I will be in Philadelphia in two days, letters to any friends of yours will be invaluable, for I understand it is a dull place to a stranger. By-the-bye, I was just about to send my letter to the Post Office as you came; but if you will walk down with me as far as the Park, I will drop it in myself, and afterward, if you choose, adjourn to Pinteux's and play you a game or two of billiards." CHAPTER II. SETH BURNEY, the gentleman mentioned in the preceding chapter as being the executor of the estate of Hugh Drimple, was a lawyer of tolerable reputation, and he possessed, also, a tolerable share of the moral qualifications necessary to give him a position in his profession. In matters of small moment if he was not, perhaps, as conscientious as a Penn, he was not as reckless as many others; but when it served to forward his interests he was too apt to forget the rights of others, and in such instances he could bring to his aid just enough of cunning and coolness to carry him through with apparent disinterestedness and humanity. He had been wealthy, but through the advice of well meaning though weak friends he had been led into speculations which nearly resulted in his total ruin. He was fortunate in saving a small portion of his pro allow him some of the comforts and convenien- His motion was passed without a dissenting voice, and the party left the house evidently in high spirits. Frank Ashdale was a young lawyer of toler-perty-enough to protect him from want, and able acquirements, but of little practice, and who loved pleasure better than business. Too many such are to be found in New York, who answer no other purpose than to discredit their profession. The partial hand of a mother had reared him, and so generous was she to his faults that he had made his entrance into society little prepared to battle with its stern and oftentimes stormy elements. At the age of twenty-two his mother died, and though at first he felt her loss keenly, the buoyancy of youth soon triumphed, and the only parent he had ever known was suffered to slumber forgotten. His associates were generally chosen from among the most idle and thoughtless-their recommendations to him were, good nature, gayety, means to appear fashionable, to break occasionally the neck of a champaign bottle, to play billiards, and the means to ride twice a week upon the avenues. How all these could be done by a young lawyer you may well wonder; but men who live by their wits generally contrive to live well. Such was Francis Ashdale. As for a father, he never knew one, and his mother always preserved the strictest silence upon a subject that in after years proved so dear to his heart, and swayed such an influence over his passions. Respecting his infancy, he knew only that his mother was of Irish extraction, and came to this country ere he was a year old; he could moreover recollect that at one time she was in regular correspondence with some person or persons at a distance, but with whom was a mystery; nor would her letters reveal the secret, for she had strictly ordered them to be buried with her, for which purpose she had prepared them previous to her death. In this position stood the affairs of the family at the death of Mr. Drimple. Burney, as the executor of the estate, felt his heart warm at the prospect of his own profits, while he speculated upon the probable character of the unknown heir. He had already learned that he was young, handsome and unmarried, and he became impatient of an interview that he might measure with his own judgment Ashdale's capacities and character. He had heard something of his wild pranks, but nothing positively bad, and he complimented himself considerably upon his tact in inviting Ashdale to his house. He was a little curious to see what effect his sudden fortune would have upon him; beside, he thought he might very properly your sex to make herself attractive. Indulge her in any of her little fancies, and furnish her with the means of procuring any trifle that may add to the effect of dress or ornament. Advise A her to purchase some of the latest and most fashionable music, and if necessary, see that her instrument be put in tune. I am afraid she is not quite particular enough to catch a wealthy husband." venture to give him some excellent advice respecting his future course in life-young men were so apt to run into excesses. And then there were other considerations of importance. hundred and fifty thousand dollars was no mean fortune, and properly invested would produce a very handsome income-enough for a reasonable man and a small family. It might prove a rare opportunity for Ellen. He would like to see her comfortably settled, and there was no telling but she might affect Ashdale sufficiently to become his wife. What if she did not love him? That was but a small matter in the scale against a fortune. He did not exactly marry for love himself, and he did not believe half the stories that were told about it. In his opinion there was no charm could withstand that of money, and after all the pains he meant to take, if Ellen should refuse to accept Ashdale for a suitor, (provided he was not positively bad,) she was a good-for-nothing jade, and was deserving of every misfortune that might in consequence follow her. However, he put great faith in the power of gold, and he believed that his daughter had vanity enough to know that it was a magician's wand that turned all things into perfect shapes. Up to the time of his communicating to Ashdale the fact of Mr. Drimple's decease, Burney had kept his own counsel; he had not deemed it expedient to make his wife a confidant in his plans. But on receiving Frank's answer, the good nature with which it inspired him tended to make him more than usually communicative, and calling Mrs. B. into his office he gave her a detail of his proceedings, read the letter, and entered at once upon an exposition of his views with regard to securing the young heir as the future lord and protector of his daughter Ellen. Mrs. B did not appear suddenly overcome with the proposition, and thought it would not be exactly proper to urge the business with too much impatience, although she did not pretend to deny that the match was desirable, and she would lend her aid to forward it, if, on seeing the young man, and becoming pleased with his manners and character, she was convinced of his being such a person as would command the respect of a wife, if not her love. "Fashionable," is the word Mr. Burney meant to have used for "particular;" but he seldom spoke in "set phrase," and not having studied in the court of Fashion, his ideas respecting its usages and customs were not on the most extensive or extraordinary scale. Ellen herself cared but little for its rules, though she was far from being either ungraceful or bashful. With her own good sense, she had just a sufficient quantity of confidence, taste and conversational power, to make herself agreeable and at ease in all posi tions necessary for a young and beautiful woman to be placed in. She possessed a good and true heart, a clear judgment, and a proper appreciation of female dignity. When Ellen heard from her parents that the heir of Mr. Drimple was to be a visitor at their house for a few days, and received some hints respecting the manner in which he was to be entertained, she could scarce withhold a smile; and she imagined that she more than half read their thoughts, when they questioned her respecting her music, and many other little etceteras, that go to make up the attractions of a fashionable belle. She had but little faith in these things herself, but for the sake of ascertaining the aim of her father's wishes, she threw into her manner an appearance of a desire to cooperate with him and her mother in all that they advised. listened to her father's encomiums of Ashdale, whom he praised without knowing, and practised on her new music all that afternoon and the ensuing evening. She Such proceedings were a little in opposition to the religious code in which Mrs. Burney professed to believe; but she smothered her conscience with the consolation that she was acting solely under the direction of her husband whom that same code taught her to honor and obey. There was a little underplot to this business, however, with which Mr. Burney and his wife were not acquainted. Ellen was in regular correspondence with a young lady in New York, to whom she was attached by the most faithful bonds of friendship. Neither was possessed of a sentiment which she wished to withhold from the other, and they received mutual pleasure from their interchanges of affection. The latest letter |