Mrs. Meeker was prepared to utter a faint shriek, but it occurred to her that it would not appear well where she was. The young clerical gentleman cast a look of disgust and indignation on the intruder, who did not stop to resent it, but turned quickly on his heel and left the place. Mrs. Meeker, after waiting a moment to regain her composure, opened the note, and read as follows: 'DEAR MA: Come to me directly, and bring all the money you can. I am in a terrible fix! GUS.' Mrs. Meeker pushed aside the rich purple silk she was examining, with so much suddenness, that the young clerical gentleman could not but notice it. 'My dear madam, are you ill?' he asked, with a show of devotion distressing to witness. 'No, oh no; but this moment I recollect I have a commission to execute for a friend, which I had quite forgotten. And, do you know, I am going to ask you to drive home, and tell Belle not to delay dinner for me.' The young clerical gentleman bowed in acquiescence. For him to hear was to obey. But he felt curious to know what was the cause of so abrupt a termination of the afternoon's shopping. 'I hope there was nothing unpleasant in that letter?' It was presuming a good deal to ask such a question, but the young clerical gentleman could not restrain his curiosity. 'That letter!' exclaimed Mrs. Meeker, now quite herself again--'no, indeed; it is only a word from Augustus. What a queer creature, to send it by such a horrid fright of a man!' And Mrs. Meeker laughed. The young clerical gentleman was thrown completely off the scent. He bowed and hurried to the carriage, leaving Mrs. Meeker still at the counter. She looked carelessly over the different patterns, and said, in a languid tone, 'I think I will not buy anything to-day,' to which the clerk obsequiously assented--he well knew whom he was serving--and Mrs. Meeker left the store. Her carriage was out of sight; first she assured herself of that. Then she called a hack, and ordered it to be driven to a distant quarter of the city. The carriage stopped at the number indicated in the note. Mrs. Meeker was met at the door by her son, who conducted her to a back room in the third story. It was dirty and in disorder. Bottles, wine glasses, and tumblers were scattered around, and the atmosphere was full of the fumes of whiskey and tobacco. What a spot for the son of Hiram Meeker to select, in which to receive his mother's visit! What a place for the fastidious Arabella to enter! THE GREAT AMERICAN CRISIS. _PART TWO._