Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

38
DANGER IN 'l'RE DARK.
of treachery, deceit, and all manner of baseness-
more fit for the gallows than the pulpit! Under color
of religion and love for souls, he has divided and well
nigh ruined several families of my acquaintance; to
compass his ungodly ends, he has separated the best
of friends, and kindled between them undying ani-
mosities. And see how he is playing the sycophant
with my neighbor, Mrs. Gerard; ever since the death
of her husband, which happened about a year ago,
that crawling serpent has been busy working his pious
meshes around the nnsuspecting woman and her only
child, Anna Maria, and aiming alone to get a grab
at the large estate left in their possession. Already
has he succeeded in getting the daughter into the St.
Mary's school, and now he is endeavoring to persuade
the widowed mother to become a Catholic; and also
insists that it is her religious duty to abjure the world
and devote the remainder of her life to prayer and
penance. I took the liberty to admonish Mrs. Gerard
that the wretch was only figuring for her estate, but
she seemed unwilling to believe him actuated by any
sinister motive, or any design other than a pure Chris-
tian love for her immortal soul.
"Previous to entering the St. Mary's Academy,
Anna Maria was engaged to Alonzo Carleton, a noble-
minded young man, who no doubt would have made
her an excellent husband, a devoted, kind companion,
and rendered her life happy. If Dupin does not suc-
ceed in breaking the engagement, it will not be for
the want of such an intention on his part, or the lack