The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-10

gauntlet along silarp IRE VI lnuSketry
swan strong current and mounted Bu-
cephalus at the head of our gallant COM
pany indeed | did, landlord, YOU under
stand me-"
Not long after this, Capt. Fudge called
the landlord aside. and after some CONVEX
sation, was heard to say, "You will pro-
cure me, landlord, the privilege of paying
my respects to Miss Wheeler, although
her father is, you say, Whig.'
"All right, sir" replied the landlord.
The fact was our captain in his ride
had caught glimpse of young lady who
was the daughter of Mr.. Wheeler, in the
neighborhood of the tavern. lie applied
to the landlord for his assistance in OBJ
tanning an introduction to the family, al
though he almost despaired Of overcoming
the obstacles which the Whigism of the
father would probably throw in the way
of an intimate acquaintance with his
daughter. The constant recollection
which the captain had of his own person.
al beauty and his power over the sex pre-
vented any doubt in his mind as to his
success in the subsequent points, provi-
ded he could once obtain an opportunity
of employing his address.
At this time small detachment Of A
merican soldiers lay at no great distance
from the village, and TINS circumstance the
landlord well knew. Capt. Fudge, how
ever, was not aware of it, and If he had
been, would not have relied upon his own
troops which he had left few miles OF.
and his fellow officers who were engaged
yet nearer to him in such recreatons as
the times permitted.
The landlord procured for him the de-
sired introduction. The father was cold
but ,olerabe civil, and the daughter was
declared by the captain TO be the most vic
torious rebel he had met with in two cam
paigns After his first visit he made the
landlord aware of the character of his de-
signs toward Miss Wheeler. His plans
were laid and his visits were continued
nearly a week with what seemed to the
suitor manifest advantage to his purpose.
His eoheme was cunfded ouly w the land
lord, Mr.. Ruggles. one or two shrcwri
neighbors conjectured the existence of
some special interest between them, but
these had no other reason for it than their
having noticed in the conversation be-
tween them, slight and momentary shade
pass over the usual hard and unchanging
features of the landlord like the shadows
of cloud driven by the wind over a field
Of wheat. Meanwhile he had left the vii
lage for day or two--upon what bust
ness was not known 10 the captaIn-and
on his return he FASTENED his schemes to
their consummalion. The details were
inlrused to his care and he arranged them
with Miss Wheeler to her satisfaction, and
10 the captains so far as he was aware of
them.
The shop of Mr. Wheeler formed a
part of his house, and stood upon cor
ner, so that the window of both looked
upon a street. In the second story of the
shop there was door for taking in goods,
placed between two windows, and over
this door beam projected, with rope
and puly for the purpose Of raising heavy
burlhens. The captain rightly thought i,
impossible to obtain the sanction of hcI
father TO the wishes he had no doubt the
daughter entertained in common with him
self, and had therefore deliberately limited
to her, after he thought himself sufficient
y master of her heart, the plan Of admit
ting him by means of the pully and has
ket into the upper part OF the store ant
: then to her chamber lie was not sur
prised, when after some becoming maid
emily hesitation, she intimated her assen
to his proposal; for he had endeavorcd t,
, secure the intercession of the landlord il
, his favor, and his own attractions of them
l selves, without the eulogium of his host
: he thought sufficient to secure his success
He had concealed it from her father, We
| he wondered the stern Wing should hav,
so civily tolerated his frequent visits a
t his house.
: The night came. Beneath the bean
, stood Capt. Fudge, and he deposited him
i self in the basket. High above him wa
the door Of his flushed expectations, stan
o ding half open and partially disclosing tn
y figure of his "conquorer and victim. -
: He cast up one delightful look, twitche
c the rope, and the basket mounted. 1t
= at the beam, there is but step to the door
d he raises himself TO take lt-but the doc
II is closed, the rope is firm
5 "'Pon honor" muttered the captain
IS "ifitwere not fine evening, this evening
J. this would be unfortunate would nc
, | I a.. Tn, M