Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-09-08


terly. 81 hold thousand pounds of his
worthless paper, and his estate will not hold
a iarthing in pound"
ooh, sirl" said Maria, "let us go and
comfort Frederick. What must his feelings
be 2"
frederick comfort him You do not
think of your father, ungrateful girl. Can
he pay me my thousand pounds He is a
beggar; think no more of him."
"Oh, sir P' said Maria, "you are wealthy
This loss cannot, will not affect you. Bid
me not forget him whom you have COM
manded me to love and receive as my hus-
band"
"Peace, unfeeling girl p cried Archibald,
"nor dare to mention the son of the man
who has robbed aud plundered me- He is
beggar, and no match for the daughter of
Archibald Merton. Never more shall he
cross the threshold of my door. Forget
him !"
Maria did not hear this last command, for
she fell as if stricken by death upon the
floor Of the drawing room. Archibald rang
the bell, and summoning the servants, left
the forlorn and hapless maid to their minis
tratlons, and retreated to his accustomed
coffee house, TO ascertain if there were any
hope Of dividend from the estate of Mr.. Bel
ton.
Recovering from her swoon, and finding
that her obdurate father had left the house,
Maria, attended by her maid, with the bold
ness of despair, Immediately sought her af-
nicted lover.
Her absence was unobserved; her obedi-
ence, indeed, was undoubted; but surely,
under the peculiar circumstances of her sit
uation, her conduct could not be reprehend-
ed by the severest moralist, fo- the love Ar
chibad had commanded, could not be coun-
fernandez at will
A correspondence between the lovers was
the natural consequence and at the end Of
six weeks, Maria eoped, and married the
husband of her fathers choice.
Archibald's anger was deep and inhexible,
he uttered no expression, but he felt and
nourished an unnatural feeling Of resent
ment against hls daughter and her paramour
as he bitterly denominated the unfortunate,
and perhaps what worldly people would call
though!ess Frederick.
Months elapsed, and Archibald heard
llOtHlIl0 vi HIS ulSODCultUt dIQ pour
Maria, although married to the man Of her
fathers and her own hearts election, was by
no means perfectly happy; for she had been
so accustomed TO bow so religiously to his
will in all things, that she consequently ex-
perienced many qualms of conscience at the
step she had taken, which ever and anon
passed like dark clouds across the sunshine
of her existence. Frederick, too, was una
bic to obtain any employment, and the little
money he possessed was fast dwindling
away and to add to the misioriunes Of the
young couple, Maria promised to become a
mother.
Too proud and independent to sue for
help where he considered it ought naturally
Tor have been proffered, Frederick tried ev-
cry means in his power TO procure means
elsewhere before he resorted TO solicit the
assistance of his implacable father-in-law.
Stern necessity at last compelled him TO do
that which he deemed degradation.
"What is your business, sir" demanded
Archibald, with chilling indifference, when
by sort Of stratagem, Frederick had OBJ
tanned an interview"
81 have no business, Mr.. Merton" replied
Frederick; "and indeed, no pleasure in the
application | am about to make TO you"
"Then the sooner our conference ends,
the better"
"Not so, sir" replied Frederick indig-
nantly, "and you must and shall hear
me p and rising abruptly, he locked the
door of the apartment
"What is the meaning of all this outrage ?"
demanded Archibald.
"Pear nothing, sir you are Mara's faith
err, and that is sufficient protection for you"
81 disclaim, and will disnherit the DISC
bedient GIRL" said Archibald.
"Listen, sir" said Frederick. "You
sanctioned my addresses TO your daughter !;
you did all in your power to promote the
match; and had it not been for my fathers
misfortunes, you wonld have gladly ratified
the agreement into which you had entered"
"Well, sir, but he failed in his part, and
have every right TO retract."
"You forget, sir, that this was not mere
contract of bargain and sale the affections
of the parties we're involved. You are still
a rich man, and Maria is your only child
| do not ask you to give her the handsome
portion you promised on her wedding day !;
but do claim some assistance which will
enable me to enter INTO business, and recov.
er at least part Of that competence which
my father had by his industry and integrity
obtained. He was unfortunate but not gull
ty."
"Your daughter, too, is in precarious
state, and requires every comfort; and if
you possess the feeling of parent, You will
afford it to her."
"You have married the girl, and you
must be responsible for your own w:lfulncss.
For my own part, | care not if she applies
10 the parish for the shame will be upon
your head for your rashness. Have you