The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-07


net out elsewhere.
After much cogiration and searching, he at
last hit upon an old rich Colonel, living up
1son his own estate, about 90 miles from the
capital, who fortunately had no acquaintan-
ces in London, and was the father of an on
ly daughter
Into the house of this gentleman, by the
means of friend. to whom he promised half
the booty he got himself introduced and re-
ceived. The daughter OF the Colonel was
an awkward country girl. with round chub-
by cheeks like Reuhen's cherubims, and look
ed particularly odd in the hand-me-down at
tire of her santed mother, which did not at
all fit her, and was Of course not OF the most
fashionable cut. Her mind, too was as at
tractve as her attire; she could only talk of
hens and geese; and when any other topic
came above board, her conversation was linn
| tied to Yves, yes, Of a mo, no, = all beyond
this seemedt to hersinful
Thctwooden puppet was indeed mighty
contrast to the sprightly, say and lively
nymphs vita whom the Young Britain had
until this period, been toying; put ne CAREFUL
| " confined TO the solitude OF lis own bosom
the disarreeabie feelings Of this heaven and
earth distant difference Frs Gateering tongue
called the girls Stiffness celestial innocence,
and her swollen cheeks, he linked to the
beauty OF the full blown damasE rose. The
end OF the song was, he turned to the father
and sued warmly for his daughters hand.
The Colonel, during his sixty years ca
reer through the world, had collected this
much knowledge OF mankind, that however
slyly tho Young man had masked himself, he
could. nevertheless, discover tho fortune
hunter peeping through disguise. At first
therefore, he thought Of peremptorily refu
sing him permission to WOO his daughter;
but on the other hand ne thought the youth
! is fashionable, and perhaps may be doing
him inustice--he as vet betrays no anxiety
about the portion. and why should the girl,
who is marriageable, remain longer at homer
His request shall be granted; but his appar-
ent dsinterestedness shall stand a decisive
trial.
The sutor was then informed that the ia
ther had no objections to the match, provid-
ed the daughter would give her consent; and
she, poor thing, replied as in duty bound
lsMy fathers will is mine" Indeed could
any thing else be expected
In the course of few weeks, the mar
riage ceremony was performed at the coun'
try-housc of the colonel, and he instantly
made his son. in-law acquainted with his
wife's marriage portion, amounting to So,0UC
dollars. The dissembler acted asif he wish
ed to know nothing about the matter, and sol
emnly vowed that he had not, as yet though
on such things, but had reguarded only the
noble qualities of his charming wife, whose
pure self was dearer to him than all tht
treasures in the world.
The father-in-law then announced his de
termination that they should Immediately Sc
out for London.
The son-in-law was confounded, and be
gan to make some excuses about travellini
on the first day Of his happiness; but the sol
der maintained that these were futile, as
suring him that he had particular reason
for proceeding forthwith to the capital, AM
that his matrimonial joys would be as vel
realized in London, as in the country. Wha
was to be dones Why the journey was i'm
mediately to be undertaken. The old ma
D secured in a small basket, before the eyes
the bridegroom, tie portion of the bride
partly in gold and partly in bank notes, too
it under his arm, and placed himself by tn
side of the young people in the carriage.
The road ran through forest, and scarce
ly had they fairly entered, when two horse
men dartcd out from the brushwood, wit
masks upon their faces, and stopped the Cal
riase. One of the persons watched the pos
tillion with presented pistol. while the otf
er approached the coach window, and salt
1--WE are atlventurers, andrequest you to civ
us up instantly the portion of the bride.
The colonel and his son-in-law swore an
ranted but the robber cooly insisted upe
his demand. After some parlying, howeve
the horseman bent towards the young ma
and whispered in his car, "that you may Sc
we are the most reasonable men, we give yc
choice of two things-give us eitherthe brid
or the portion; for reasons it is quite immF
tcrial to us, and moreover, no one shall cvt
know your decision"
The bridegroom did not think abou II
matter, for he whispered, 'take the brlde'
"Brother," cried the robber to his accon
plice. ."we shall take the bride"
e Tn the twinkling Of an eye the soldier sell
J. ed his son-in-law by the neck, shook HIM
of olcntIy, and exclaimed with thunderIr
IN voice, lila, villain so my conjecture was n
Of unfounded, that you cared not for my daugl
e. ter. but merely for her fortune. God
of praised that my child and my money are n
d, irrecoverably in your clutches Know ,hs
st knave, the man who married you was Dr.
lie ther soldier in priests attire-and these &c
r. tIemen are no highwaymcn, but frlends WI
,y have done me the service OF proving yo
to Since, then, you have laid open your wno
yillainness. we shall have no more conneHlc
a. I shall return home with my daughter al
ANU orr I.nn u