Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-10-01

i
fered to lay a wager: you did well in not
accepting it.
After my second return from the East
Indies became acquainted with Emile
Harley, the most perfect Of women. /
loved her most passionately. Her wealth,
her family connexions, influenced nv
friends in her favor; but was influenced
only by her beauty and her noble heart
! / Joined the number other admirers. Ait
excellent Thevenet, was so unfortunate
as 10 become the most unfortunate of riv-
ais.
She loved me above all, made no secret
I oft, but still she rejected me. sought
her hand in vain; in vain | implored her
parents and her friends to intercede for me
she was still immoyeabe. For long
tune was enable TO conjecture the cause
OF ne rejecting me, since, as she confessed
herself, She loved me almost to distraction.
One Of her sisters at length betrayed to me
the secret. Miss Harley was a wonder Of
beauty, but she had a natural defect-she
had but one leg-and on account of this
imperfection she feared to become my wife
lest should esteem her the less for it.
Ny resolution was taken; ! resolved 10 be-
come like her; thanks to you did become
so. came with my wooden leg to london,
and in the first place visited Miss Harley.
1t had been reported, and myselfhad writ
ten 10 England, that by a fall from my
horse ! had broken my LEG, which was con-
sequently taken Off 1t was much regret
ted. Emile fell into a swoon the first time
she saw me. She was for a long time
inconsolable, but now she Is my wife. The
first day after our marriage, intrusted to
her the secret Of what a sacrifice had
made in consequence of my wish to obtain
her hand. She loves me now the more
sincerely. o my brave Theyenet had
ten legs to lose, | would, without single
contorton offeature, part with them for my
Emelie. Come to London aud visit us;
become acquainted with my wife; and then
say, WAS A FOOL.
CHARLES TEMPLE"
.4aager Of .Hr. 1Ecuenet
"Sir,-I thank you for your valuable
present, for so must call it, because /
cannot consider it pay for the little trouble
was at. congratulate you on your mar
riage with woman so worthy of your af-
lections. tits true leg is much to lose,
even for beautiful, yirtuous, and afec.
tomato wife, but not too much. To gain
possession of Eve, Adam was obliged 10
part with rib; and beautiful women have
cost some men their heads. But after all,
permit me to adhere TO my former iudg-
meut. Truly, for the moment you were
correct; but | also was correct. but with
this difference correctness ofmy iudg-
ment was founded on long experience as
every truth should be, which we are not
naturally disposed to acknowledge Sir,
mind me, lay wager that after 2 years
r you repent that your leg was taken off a.
boye the knee You will find that below
the knee had been enough After 3 years
you will be convinced that the loss of the
foot had been sufficient. After four years
you will conclude that the sacrifice of the
great toe; and after five years, Of the little
toe, had been too much. After six years,
you will agree with me that pairing of the
nail had been enough. But / do not say
this in prejudice of the merits Of your char
ming wife. 10 my youth, devoted my
life in love; but | never parted with a leg
had done so, should al this day have
: said, Theyenet, thou vast a fool.
have the honor TO be yours. &c.
LEWIS TnEyESEr.D
: In 1893, / l years after, during the hor-
rors of the Revolution, Theyenei. whom
7 a person that enyied his reputation caused
to be suspeeted ofarlstocracy, Aed to Lon
don to save himself from the guillotno. 49,
3 He enquired after Sir Charles Temple. 81
was shown his house. lie made himself
known and was received. In an arm
chair by the fire, surrounded by twenty
newspapers, sat a Compliant man who
could hardly stand up, he was so unwield-
u ly. Ali welcome Mr.. TheyeneG cried the
corpulent man, who was no other than Sir
> Charles Temple, excuse me If / do not
rise; this cursed leg is a hinderance 10 me
ineyery thing. You have come to see il
your Judgment was correct. ~ come as
fugitive and seek your protection.v You
shall have it with pleasure. You must
live with me, for truly you are a wise
man. You must console me. Surely,
Thevenet, should this day have probably
been an admiral Of the blue, had not my
wooden leg disqualified me from the SER
vice ofmy country. When read the Ca
zettes, the brown and the blue make me
angry, because can have nothing to do