The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1844-05-11
THE FIRST OFFER.

Susan Willis was a sprighly cherry
checked girl Of seventeen, when she mad
her conquest. Edward Litteton loved he
with all the sincerity Of II young and arden
soul, and made her honorable proposals; she
was pleased with his preference, allow ec
his visits because she loved to be admired
and walked and rode with him TO show the
world that she had made conquest; bu
when, after having frequently urged her OF
the subject Of marriage, he told her he wouIC
have decided answer; she laugh ed ant
told him she hoped he did not thnk that one
30 young and So much admired as hers eli
would become the wife Of poor mechanic
lie blushed deeply, then FIXING his eyes on
her fuce with determined look, asked her
II she was in earnest -'Never more so,
che carelessl y replied :sSusan, continued he,
you ought to have told me so before; why
have you received my attentions SO long,
and by your conduct taught me 10 hope that
my warm affection was rec,procatedr sfIa,
you trust every smile thenr she sneeringly
replied. Edward felt his heart breaking,
and after wishing her long and happy
lilo ne hurried from her presence. He had
no sooner left her than he fell himself re-
leased from a dangerous snare; he consoled
himself by rejecting that she was unwosih.
OF his love, and if he was not altogether so
happy as he might be, be was DOT so unhap.
py as no had expected 10 be- He applied
himself closely to business, and in the course
OF few months, married an.amable woman,
who brought him not only much persona
worth, bu, handsome estate.
In the meantime Susan, proud Of her con
quest, and dreaming herself as much ad.
mircl by all as she had been by he faith
tul Edward, though; herself entitled to se!ec,
such an husband as she should prefer from
among the village beau, but her vanity soon
became obvious to every one and the young
men were so Disguised with her airs * CO.
quetry that they all forscaa her; it was al
so known that she had i'll treated Edward
i,ittleton, and as he was beloved by all for
his steady and amiabe disposition, no one,
ether old or young, thought any the better
Of her oa that account.
Time rolled rapidly along, and Susan
found herself twenty two years of aye with
out having had a second offer. True that
narrow faced bachelor, turned Of fifty, once
asked her fathers consent to address her,
and she fretted whole week and would not
90 to meeting because her prudent parent
gave him negative answer without cons
sulting her. There was also occasionally
some stranger in the village who would per-
chance bow politely significantly 10 her
as he passed her window, and even some
times ask her to take morning ride in his
carriage; but what of all this? Noone p,cfes-
sed wha. Edward had, she began to reAec'
little sorrowfulIy on the unkind treatmen
she had given him. lie was nov in easy
circumstances, and might sometimes be
seen riding in his own carriage with his wife
and two blooming little cherubs. Three
years more passed away, and Susan began
to think in good earnest, that she should be
under the necessity Of living life "of single
blessedness," when new parsonage came
to pass few months ic the village. He wore
gold watch. rode in an elegant gilt chaise,
and what was more than all /, he came Greet.
~ from the city. The villagers looked up
On aim almost "a a superior being, and no
one spoke higher in his praise than Susan
willis, for he passed her window every day,
and always took particular pains to make her
fashionable bow. She Unce met him at a
oa''' and what was her ecstacy of delight,
~nen after having shown her much attention
curing the evening, he very politely offered
70 escort her home. This was indeed mo-
men, o' triumph to the neglected Susan.
one mad csught he city beau, and the dis