Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-11-21

Wefc Dit hNQ he Dccn pSflcCl Ill
all respects, the heart of Sophia was pre-occupi-
ed, and that was enough
Finding repulse at every attack, and being
in great eagerness for victory, he resolved on
masked battery stratagem. He went to the pa
rents and solicited permission for the daughter to
take ride with him few miles into the coun-
try, in tandem gig, in company with several
other ladies and gentlemen who had made up
party of pleasure, composed of some of the first
young people of the city, whom he named quite
filppantly.
For the benefit of Sophla's health, and not
wishing to offend the young man, the parents
and pursuaded their daughter to go.
This was in the morning, and they were to
start precisely at two in the afternoon, for Kings
bridge about fifteen miles.
She was ready at two O'clock but no partner
appeared yet. She waited till three, and was
about giving up the chase, when the beau APP
peared before the door, in his tandem style, in
high gee. He pretended that he had been de-
tanned by unavoidable incidents, and begged par
don for the delay.
? Sophia skipped into the gig with apparent
pleasure. and off wheeled the vehicle,
With gathering, dashing, rapid fight,
Till all was fairly out of sight.
But instead of steering for Kingsbridge he took
the road leading to New Haven, in Connecticut,
for while driving Jehu-lke, on pretence that
the company had gone on before, and he was has
tenipgto overtake them.
Sophia did not know the way, and did not sus-
pect any deception, until they had travelled about
three hours, and it began to grow towards the
close of the day. When Mr.. Quill Driver drove
up to public house, and ordered some refresh
ments for themselves and horse.
He conducted Sophia into room, and presen-
ted her glass of vine. She trembied, Looked
pale, and inquired with a falterng voice, where
they were, where the company were, and how
much further they were going? adding that it
would be very unpleasant to travel after night
He answered all these inquiries by saying, he
had taken circuitous route for the pleasure of
riding, but that he should now alter his course di
rectly for the place where the company were to
meet, and that they would soon be there. ''The
weather." he said, twas fine, there would be a
moon and they could return In season, and with
much pleasure"
He called for his carriage, handed Sophia into
it, sprang in himself, and drove off, keeping much
the same direction as before.
Sophia, who had not been very we'll satisfied
with his answers, began to be more alarmed than
ever; especially as the night was approaching,
ard she in strange part Of the country. She
however disguised her fears and said nothing.
At length Van Derman (such we shall call his
name) broke silence in words to the following pur-
port.
"Sophla you will forgive the trick which have
PLAYED upon you, when declare in the presence
Of God, that my love Tor you, above all earthly
objects, has prompted me to the act. | cannot
i've without you. Until we are Joined in we'd
ock, or Joined in death, | shall never let 60 my
aold.-I need not tell you that there was no par
" Of pleasure formed, it was all stratagem of
my own. Your virtue shall not be violated
that is not my object You must be mine, or
must be eternally miserable. Here is pistol
ssThis in moment, puts me to an endn
Il YOU refuse to make me happy by marriage this
nght, your spirit shall accompany mine to the
shades of eternal repose.
These words were uttered in manner so firm
md frantic, as to rouse all the forttude and pres.
snce of mind, which Sophia possessed. The
lorse was on slow walk, in by road through
thicketo of woods, and it was dark. She sprang
n an instant from the carriage, and darted into
he thicket, Ikea hare pursued by hounds.
He leaped after her, and the horse started on
ui run with the empty gig, and soon dashed lt|
Hto tuouSduu irdS,tieu'o. no WiChCt was q
swampv piece of ground, full of quagmires, and
our hero had not gone far before he found himself
up to the chin in clay pit, such too as was 10th
70 give up its prey
In word, he stuck fast, and found it impossi-
Bile to extricate himself without help. He called
aloud "Sopha! Sophia! Sophia!" but Sophia,
lying with the nimbleness of deer, was not
within reach of his sweet voice; or if she were,
I'D not know it was the cry of distress.
The horse, however, in his flight met couple
If neighboring farmers, who stopped his wild ca
eer, and led him back IN search of the carriagel
md owner. Coming near the place where the
,srse started, Van Dorman still calling Sophia
'hark ~ says one, ~ hear the cry of fre."-
YES says the other, sire, fire, let us fasten the
lorse and run, it comes from the grist-mi, let lis
tut across the swamp" They had not gone half
way to the grist-mill before they began to think
I was bullfrog, so hoarse was the voice. To
.ut the matter short, they found the man--drag-
red him out, all besmeared with MUD, instead
If b:ood--.ook him and his horse home with them,
earned his story, and were next morning at day
light in search of Sophia.
Sophia fit across the Dogs through the swamp,
With the lightness of fairy, and when she arri
-ed on terra frma, steesed her course across the
fields, in that drectfnn which she judy
d to be towards New York, until she came to a
Dad which aDDea red TO he considerably travelled