Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-05

rage l responded kept my word.-She
bowed to me with much courtesy, laughed
again, and desired her servant to drive home.
| where is that, Johnp saidI.
Number -, Sir, in -- street. said
John; and away they went.
We walked steadily along, the bird Of prey
reckoning up the advantage ofhis bargain
with me, and in mood of equally interest
ing reflection.
what are you bordering about, young gen.
| tlemanr he at last commenced.
q am bordering whether or no you have
not overreached yourselfin this transaction
How SOP
why begin to think shall be obliged to
give up my harum scarlm way oflife; drink
moderately, leave off fox hunting and sell my
spirited horses, which, you know will make a
material difference in the probable date OF my
demise
But where is the necessity for your doing all
thisp 30
MY wife will, most likely, make it stipu-
lation.'
your wife,
Yes. That pretty disconsolate widow, we
have just parted from. You may laugh; but
If you chose to bet the insurance which you
have bought of me, against the purchase mo-
ney, will take you that she makes me Sc
date married man in less than two months
Done," said cormorant, his features, again
straining their black skins at the idea of having
made double profit of me. Let US go to
nv house, and will draw deed to that eff
feet, gratis =.
Ibid not finch from the agreement My
case, L knew, was desperate. Ishould have
hanged myselfa month before had it not been
for the EPSON Races, at which had particular
business: and any little additional reason for
disgust to the world, would, thought, be IA
Their pleasure thana pain-provided was
disappointed in the lovely widow.
Modesty is sad bugbear upon fortune have
known many who have not been oppressed
by it remain in the shade, but have never
known one who emerged with it into prospe-
rity. In my own case it was by no means q
family disease, nor had ! lived in any way by
which waslkely to contract it. According
ly, on the following day, l caught myself
very, coolly knocking at the widows door; and
so entirely had been occupied in consider.
ing the various blessings which would accrue
to both of us from our union, that was half
way UP stairs before began to think of an
excuse for my intrusion. The drawing room
| was vacant, and was not actually in some
temple Of the Loves and Graces. There is
not a thing to be seen which did not breathe
with tenderness. The ceiling displayed a
little heaven of sportive Cupids, the, carpet a
wilderness of turtle doves.-The pictures
were a series of the loves of Jupiter, the va
ses presented nothing but heartsease and love-
lies bleeding; the very canary birds were i'm.
spired, and had nest with two young ones;
and the cat herself looked kindly, over the
budding beauties Of tortoise shell kitten.
What place for sensitive heart like mine
could not bearto look upon the mirrors
which reflected my broad shoulders on every
side, like so many giants; and would have
given the world to appear little pale and in
teresting, although it might have injured my
life dozen years purchase. Nevertheless,
I was not daunted, and i looked round, for
something to talk about, on the beauty's usu-
al occupations, which found were all in a
tone with what had before remarked. Up
on the open piano lay "Auld Robin Grey"
which had, no doubt, been snug in alluson to
her late husband. On the table was half
finished drawing of Apollo, which was, equal
ly without doubt, meant to apply to her flu
ture one; and round about were strewed the
seductive poems of Moore, Campbell, and
Byron.--This WITCH thought l, sis the very
creature have been signing for! I would have
married her out OF hedge-way, and worked
upon the roads to maintain her; but with
twenty thousandpounds-ay, andmuch more,
unless am mistaken; she would create fe-
yer in the frosty Caucasus! was III the most
melting mood alive, when the door opened,
and in walked the fascinating object OF my
speculation. She was dressed in simple grey,
wholly without ornament, and her dark-brown
hair was braided demurely over forehead
which looked as lofty as her face was lovely.
The reception she gave to me was polite
and graceful, but somewhat distant; and per-
ceiycd that she had either forgotten, or was
determined not to recognize me. l was
not quite prepared for this, and in spite OF
nv constitutional confidence, felt rot alt
tie embarrassed. I had, perhaps, mistaken
the breakings forth ola young and buoyant
spirit, under ridiculous circumstances, for the
encouragement ofvolatile coquctry; and, for
moment, was in doubt whether I should
not apologize, and pretend that sho was not
the lady for whom my visit was intended.
But then she was so beautiful. Angels and
ministers! Nothing on earth could have
sent me down stairs unless had been kick
ed down! eMadam,' began-but my blood
was in a turmoil, and 1 have never been
able to recollect precisely what sand.
Something it was, however, about my late
father and her lamented husband, absence &
the East Indies, liver complaints and Life In
surance; with compliments, and condolences,
pardon, perturbation and peter phi-peifect
limperinence. The lady looked surprised,
broke my speech with two or three well
bred calculations, and astonished ME very
much by protesting that she had never heard
her husband mention either my father or his
promising little heir-apparent William Henry
Thomas, in the whole course OF their umon.'
| .Ah, Madam saidI, 'the omission IS extreme.
" natural lam sure am not at all offended
with your Iate husband upon that score. He
was an elderly, sickly, sort Of man. My
father always told him he could not last, but
he never thought he would have died 50 soon
after his marriage. He had not time-he had
not time, TO make his friends happy by in
Producing them to YOU" go ~
IbeIeve, upon the whole, ] must have be.
haved remarkably well, for the widow could
! not quite make up her mind whether to Gre