XXVI.

New York City Corporation Counsel-All Marriage Notices not agreeable.

ABOUT three weeks after the incidents occurred with which the last chapter concludes, James Mordaunt was spending an evening with his aunt at her residence. He had returned to New York from a visit at Aurora.

"Now, James," said his aunt, "sit down and tell me the news. You know I am not posted in anything which has happened since I left Aurora."

"Mr. Mortimer has at last drawn from Bell, or rather from her brother, Frederick Mortimer, the real motive which causes her to refuse me."

"Go on, James, it grows interesting. George Melville ".

"No, aunt, George Melville has nothing to do with it. A girl in Brooklyn, whom you will remember, named Mary Wilcox, having had a daughter by somebody, has commenced a suit against me, alleging that I am her husband; that I assumed the name of Sanders, that one Rev. John Furnace married us, that I was disguised as a sailor. Those are the principal facts alleged in the complaint. Frederick gave all the particulars to his father, and asked him if he had not better learn the truth of this story against

me before he insisted too strongly upon his daughter's marrying against her will.”

"Mr. Mortimer asked you about them. What was your reply?" said his aunt.

"I satisfied him that the whole story was got up by Mary Wilcox's uncle to extort money from me." "Did you ask Mr. Mortimer who was Frederick's informant?" said Mrs. Tryon.

"Yes."

"It was

وو

"Thomas Griswold," interrupted Mordaunt. "Frederick had the whole story in a letter written by Griswold on the second day after his father made an assignment."

"Griswold, then, suspects your agency in the stock operation. How much did you make out of that?"

66 Twenty-seven thousand dollars."

"Very good! I do not see as you have lost any advantage. You are that handsome sum ahead, and as fair a field as you had three years since to win the race yet. What will you do with Mr. Thomas F. Griswold, for his meddling? I understand he is a newly fledged lawyer."

"Yes, and a growing one, too,” replied Mordaunt. "He was appointed to the responsible position of "Corporation Counsel' last week. William Hastings, a junior partner of 'Blodgett, Johnston, Hastings & Co.,' was the wire-puller who secured it to Griswold. Considerable objection was made to his youth; but his abilities as a lawyer are known to be fair, and almost any amount of sympathy was aroused among the heavy merchants on account of his father's failure. There was scarcely a merchant

in New York of any respectability who could be got to oppose the appointment. They said Griswold had failed as an honest man should fail, and many not only signed Hastings's petition to the Common Council, but went personally and used their influence with members of the board."

"All that is very interesting, but what are you going to do with young Griswold?"

"I do not know," said Mordaunt, assuming a thoughtful mien. "I shall wait and watch."

"Meanwhile the birds will mate vi et armis, and without the usual ceremony of a wedding at home. No! no! James, you must be up and doing."

"What do you propose, my dear aunt?" said Mordaunt.

"If you can do nothing better, try the young lawyer as a criminal," said Mrs. Tryon.

"As a criminal!" said Mordaunt, with surprise. "Yes. Some one disguised to personate Thomas F. Griswold might present a forged check at one of the banks in Wall street, for instance."

"That is a difficult game; but it might be done by careful study. It would be necessary to deceive the officers of the bank perfectly; and it would require to be done when Griswold could not prove an alibi. I'll think it over."

"You might accomplish this, it seems to me, as well as you enacted the young sailor.”

"Oh! but I was younger then," said Mordaunt. "Yes, and that is why I overlooked the affair. I regarded it, you know, as your wildest bushel of oats. But I really hope they are not going to sprout now."

"I have no fears about it," replied Mordaunt.

Very well, then. Now you may do whatever you like. I must read the papers."

The aunt and nephew sat a half hour in silence, when Mrs. Tryon, imitating a court-crier, aroused Mordaunt from a deep reverie.

"Hear ye! hear ye! hear ye!"

"I am all attention; what is it?" said Mordaunt.

church, by the Rev. Dr.

"GRISWOLD-EDGEMONTE.-At ten o'clock this morning, in Thomas F. Griswold, Esq., only son of Mr. James H. Griswold, to Clara, only daughter of Mr. H. B. Edgemonte, all of this city."

"'Sdeath! what do you mean?"

"Keep cool, good sir. It is just as I read. And now, please recall my prediction. The real battle, I am satisfied, will be against George Melville. You have been outwitted by Bell Mortimer, Frederick Mortimer, and George Melville; and I do not pity, though I won't desert you," said Mrs. Tryon.

"You are right, as usual," said Mordaunt, laying aside the paper.

"What will you do now?" said his aunt.

"You had better retire, for I must spend an hour in thought. I will advise with you in the morning."

XXVII.

Sarah E. Graham's call at Mordaunt's Law Office-A cool SceneJames Mordaunt in trouble.

On the day subsequent to his evening's interview with Mrs. Tryon, Mordaunt went early to his office. His partners were both absent from the city. He had been seated but a few moments, when a female, apparently about twenty-two or three years of age entered. She removed a thick veil and took the seat which Mordaunt offered. Her countenance had not yet lost its traces of beauty. But suffering, remorse and despair, were doing their fatal work!

"It is now some weeks since we have met, James."

"You keep the run of time better than I, Sarah." "My race is almost run, James. I have no one to blame for my sins but myself. It is true you taught me to love and took advantage of my affections; but, had I listened to a mother's voice, I should have resisted. I have not come, however, to upbraid you."

"Do you wish more money ?""

"No! I have done using the wages of sin, and have come to perform a duty to another of your victims."

"What mean you, Sarah?" said Mordaunt, quickly.