, proceeded to a dark room, fired at each other,
and both were killed.

About six and twenty years ago there lived in New York a well-to-do
merchant, of the name of Osborne, who had an only son, who was a partner
in the concern. The young man fell in love with the daughter of a
Southern planter, then on a visit at New York, to whom he engaged
himself to be married, with the perfect consent of all parties
concerned.

On the return of the planter and his daughter, young Osborne accompanied
them to Mobile. On the very night of their arrival, the planter proposed
to his intended son-in-law to visit the gaming table. They went; Osborne
was unlucky; and after some hours' play lost an immense amount to the
father of his sweetheart. He gave bills, drawn on his house, in payment
of the debt of honour.

On the following morning the planter referred to the subject, hinting
that Osborne must be ruined.

'Indeed, I am!' said the young man; 'but the possession of your daughter
will console me for the calamity, which, I doubt not, I shall be able to
make up for by industry and exertion.'

'The possession of _MY_ daughter?' exclaimed the planter; 'do you think
I would marry my daughter to a beggar? No, no, sir, the affair is ended
between you--and I insist upon its being utterly broken off.' Such was
the action of the heartless gambler, rendered callous to all sentiments
of real honour by his debasing pursuit.

Young Osborne was equal to the occasion. Summoning all his powers to
manfully bear this additional shock of fate, he calmly replied:--

'So be it, sir, as you wish it. Depend upon it, however, that my bills
will be duly honoured'--and so saying he bowed and departed, without
even wishing to take leave of his betrothed.

On returning to New York Osborne immediately disclosed the transaction
to his father, who, in spite of the utter ruin which impended, and the
brutality of the cause of the ruin, resolved to meet the bills when due,
and maintain the honour of his son--whatever might be the consequences
to himself.

The bills were paid; the concern was broken up; old Mr Osborne soon
died broken-hearted; and young Osborne went as clerk to some house of
business in Wall Street.

A year or so passed away, and one day a lady presented herself at the
old house of Osborne--now no longer theirs--inquiring for young Osborne.
She was directed to his new place of business; being no other than his
betrothed, who loved him as pass