The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-04-22 00:00:00

conqnereil not. Leaving Northamptenshire on Friday,
he reached his destination on Senday, and, after taking
refreshments at a hotel, hasteeed to the house of one of
Miss "Constonce's" friends st Bedminster, where it was
el r.,nged, in the absence of the young lady herself, that
the liingisottght interview should take place at eight
o'clock on the following evening. At the appointed hour
the house in question was well tilled with the male
friends of the ladies who hol conducted the negotiations,
and in • chair in an inner room sat the timid, bashful
" 31iss Constance," deeply veiled for the occasion.
couli lie at that moment have entered that room and
uplifted that veil—could he have learned the lintece•
dents and Mates of her who was about to Inc introduced
to him as Ids future partner in life—how could he have
withstood the shock ! She wee a our widow, blessed
with a goodly number of children, awl her occupation
was that of a charwoman. The adventurer arrived
penelnally at the apt ointerl hour, and was ushered into
the dtawing-room, where he incoherently descented for
a while on the weather and liisjeurney, Anil awaited the
introduction of his " intended" with nervous excite-
ment Presently the door wan opened and
Minis Constance" walking in an gracefully
as ails Wald, tilo ietrodnet ion took place.
They were then left alone to talk over
momentous matters to themselves. But the prying
curiosity of the inner-room occupants would not allow
them to converse with that privacy which the occasion
demanded. The keylicles and chinke of the doors were
besiege.' with care, listening to the swain's t des of love,
his predictions of the bright future, and his de, larations
of sincerity. Many questions did lie risk of her concern-
ing her predilections alit permit*, ant no doubt the
answers siie returned satiefied him that he had secured
lady who, if she had nut aecomplishments, nevertheless
poasessed a genial iiisi issition and a supple will. Ile
suggested taking her to tine Great Exhibition, and
inquired if she I referred any particular spot in
which to reside. To this latter question Ile re.
plied that Clifton will suit her very well, hut Clifton
rilee red to be too plebian in the estimation of our Brack-
ley visitor. Me preferred taking her to a " itioaw awie-
toewatie" region. Just at the moment when he weds
deacanting on the glories of the intended Exhibition an
exhibition, ef a raatly different kind appeared before him,
in tie shape of "moving figures"that were ushered into the
room as the friends of tine lady of the house. The room be'
Caine well filled, and considering the errand they were on
they well sustained their gravity. The stranger eyed each
as he enter.4l, and took a broad survey of the whole when
they were fairly grouped before him. Miss Constance,
after hearing hersuitortwitted on points which must have
iniegeated to his mind that he haul been hoaxed, begged
to !gave the room for a few momenta. Her suitor wished
to (ollow suit, but that would not suit the company, no
they pressed him to shy and dance • pirouette to the
tune of

Pm &young man from the country,
But you can't get over me."
Nethiug, however, would induce him to stay. He begged
(or his umbrella, coat and necktie, tallish he had allowed
to lie taken into another room, and those were furnished
him after he 11141 snffereti considerable teasing front his
iraientora Then he reach ,d the front d3or in great
berry and excitement, his persecutors being hotly at
his be,)..; but here, ales! he was doomed to another
disappointment —thedoor was locked and the key was
lost! The irritation continned, but the poor fellow was
eventually released, much to his aatisfastion. His
astailanta fol!owed him to the door sad yelled him out
of the neighbourhood. Poor Verdant bad not retnrned
to his hotel at • late hour last night.—Western Daily
Press of Tuesday.