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Caruthers, William Alexander, 1802-1846 [1834], The Kentuckian in New York, or, The adventures of three Southerns. Volume 1 (Harper & Brothers, New York) [word count] [eaf038v1].
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CHAPTER XI. V. Chevillere to B. Randolph.
“Baltimore, 18—.

Dear Friend,

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Though I had but two hours' sleep, I was up
betimes to catch a parting glimpse of an interesting
person who need not be named. When I descended
into the great vestibule of this extensive
establishment, I found the door of their parlour
open, and the entry nearly blocked up by band-boxes,
trunks, and all the little paraphernalia of
which you and I are as yet quite ignorant. A carriage
stood at the door; the lady and the old gentleman
sat side by side upon the sofa, the former
in her travelling habit, while the latter held in his
hand a cup of coffee, which he sipped, giving directions
from time to time to the servants. I paid
them the compliments of the morning, not in the
most bland and courtly style, for to tell you the
truth I felt a little inclined to poaching, and the
old gentleman looked to me not unlike a vigilant
and surly gamekeeper; however, he received me
with a welcome, perhaps it was a northern one;
but of that I will tell you more when we get fully
into the enemy's country, as your namesake of

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Roanoke would say. My presence seemed to
hurry the old gentleman's coffee down his throat,
hot as it was, and in ten minutes, before I had exchanged
ten words with the lady, all was pronounced
in readiness.

“The old gentleman did not leave her for a moment.
I of course handed her to the carriage,
and took, as I supposed, a last look. I suppose I
must have appeared dolorous enough. The parting
moment came, the last pressure of the hand
was given, the door closed, whip cracked, and the
carriage had gone some time, before I found myself
standing in the middle of the street, my head turned
to one side just far enough to catch a glimpse of Lamar
in his nightgown, half-way out of a three-story
window, laughing with that complacent self-satisfaction
which is peculiar to him. `Half-past four and a
dark stormy morning,' cried he, in true watchman
style. I pulled my hat down over my face, and
walked away from the hotel as fast as my impetuous
blood would drive me; indeed, I felt provoked
at the time. I had not walked far, before I recollected
having felt something in my hand, as if it
had found its way there by accident, while I was
exchanging adieus with my enslaver. I had mechanically,
while abstracted in the street, thrust it
into my waistcoat pocket. I now drew it forth,—
it was a small roll of paper, which you might have
put into a thimble,—I opened it very carefully, in
hope that there might be some even carelessly-scribbled
line, which I could preserve as a

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memento. By heavens, Randolph, there was a memento
upon it! and evidently intended for my eye
alone.

“The writing was in pencil, and scarcely legible;
with some difficulty I could make out these words.

“ `The explanation sought by Mr. Chevillere has
not been surreptitiously avoided by me, nor will it
ever be; but if he is wise, he will forget one who
has already extended the influence of her unhappiness
too far.'

“I read these lines over again and again. I
walked round Baltimore as if it had been a hamlet.
It seemed to me that every person whom I met
could read in my countenance something strange
and hurried. At length, however, I found my way
to the breakfast table. Lamar, as my bad luck
would have it, sat almost opposite to me. I do not
think I ever saw him perfectly disagreeable before;
all his remarks seemed to me mal-apropos,
and he is not usually so unfortunate, you know. I
made a hasty breakfast, and hurried out on purpose
to avoid him, but in vain! he was with me in an
instant. `All settled, I suppose, Chevillere,' said he.
`Yes, all is settled for our journey to New-York,'
said I, `except our bills, and that you may attend
to as soon as you please.' I ordered old Cato to
see the luggage on board the steamboat for Philadelphia:
Lamar did the same. `But, Chevillere,'
said he, `you are not going to leave the Kentuckian,
' upon which he set off to summon our new
companion.

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“Our next epistle will in all probability be from
Philadelphia or New-York; we shall only stay a
short time in the former place, as we conceive the
other to be the true point from which to make observations.

“Yours truly,
V. Chevillere.”

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Caruthers, William Alexander, 1802-1846 [1834], The Kentuckian in New York, or, The adventures of three Southerns. Volume 1 (Harper & Brothers, New York) [word count] [eaf038v1].
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