Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-11-21
SOPHIA
THE GIRL OF THE PINE WOODS.

1coNcLUDED]
One of the young ladies in the plot, had o
brother residing in New York, of some resIccta-
tlity, and the plan to circulate report IN
the village that Sophia had purchased her fathers
liberty at the expense of her vrtue for what else
could induce stranger Ike M. jackson to be
so free with his money. That he never meant to
marry the girl was beyond all question. He
might decoy her to New York by specious prnm
Uses of marriage, to facilitate their intercourse,
but when that was done, she would, after awhile
find herself abandoned by him, like thousand
romantic girls before her.
Every one who knows the world, has not yet
TO learn how ready most people are to imbibe slrs
picion, and when that is excited, how easy is il
to pain creduhty over the belief of reports the
most scandaous, and the most absurd. Suffice ii
TO say, that in less than ten days after the depar
sure Of NJ jackson, poor Sephia's character was
ali in tatters among the gossips of the village,
without her knowieg or feeling the slightest mo-
ton of the breeze, that was blowing away her
regulations.
The girl before mentioned then wrote to her
brother in New York, that Sophia had been Sc
s,uced by stranger aud her character was totals
Nv rainea--that Col jackson, too, had been there,
aud not knowing her infamous conduct, had been
taken with her beauty, and she believed actually
intended marriage--representIn the stranger
and COL jackson to be two distinct persons, and
that the seduction Of Sophia sntecedent to
his short acquaintance with her--that it was his
duty, and she urged him by allme ansto acquaint
so respectable gentleman as Col. jackson, with
the true character of Sophia And that it might
not rest on her assertion alone, she enclosed n
certificate signed by several respectable persons.
that Sophia Thompson had recently become Of
very infamous character, so tar as common re-
port was to be accredited. This certificate she
requests her brother to present TO Col. jackson,
staiing that the high respect which they enter
,ained for his reputation, had alone Induced then.
10 disclose the matter.
This letter reached the brother, and he took the
earlias, opportunity oi diyulgius the whole con-
tents of the budget conf!ded to his care.
Col. jackson was far from being two credu-
lous and he, for while suspected it wss all false
and malicious; hut he could see motive for
raising such report against harmless and de-
tepceess female The letter, toe, and the docu
ments accompanying it, were signed by respects
able names, as he learned from the young gentle
man who had presented them What then could
it all mean? He could not think that so many
people of responsibility would combine together
to ruin girl for no cause whatever. The young
gentleman assured him that he believed 1t, and
This Young gentleman was no mean character
;t-accused himself of being weak--easiy dup-
ed--love sick, and every thing else. He finally
concluded to write to her father, of whom he had
nbtained consent He did write--tore up his let
ter-wrote agan--burnt that-wrote once more
.-hesitated-read it over and over--sealed it
where was his usual decison--it must be done
,at last he sent it to the post office, and sorry
he had done so FIVE minutes afterwards--but the
mail was Just going--it YVES goneH
This letter informed Mr.. Thompson of his res
clution r.. withdraw his hand from his daughter
forever enclosing the letter and certificate before
mertioned as the cause of his taking this painful
ster--stating that every thing which he had en-
aged to do for him would still be done--eXcept-
inc that 1t would be better for him to remain
where he was: he had settled all his debts, and
he might draw on a house in New York for mon
ev as he wanted il, to the amount of the SUN first
offered. He presumed that Mr.. Thompson was
innocent, although his daughter might be crimi-
nal without his knowledge "My wife, II ever
have one,n said Mr.. jackson, "must be like that
of Caesar, not only spotless, but above suspcion."
Before this letter reached the village where
Mr.. Thompson resided, he had started with his
family for New York, and arrived there totally
Ignorant of what had been transacted.
Mr.. jackson had told him at parting, to call
,,non him Immediately on his arrival. at a number
designated in a certain street, and MIR. Ihomp~
son lost no time in going to the place. But how
was he astonished on being told that Col. Jack
son three days before, had left thu city for the
southwark, and was net expected to return until
he LAPSE Of year. How mysterious! How
;nexuiicable was his conduct!
He carried the news to his family, yet weak
and gloomy from the fatigue of travelling, who
rece;yed it like shock Of sudden thunder--es~
pecially Sophia.
They took lodgings at boarding house, and
Mr.. Thompson went in search constantly for
two or three days in succession, TO if he could
oass;bly ssceztaia any thing more particularly