Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-10-17

hold thousand pounds of his worthless pa.
per, and his estate will not yield farthing in the
, pound.''
'Oh sir !'' said Maria, let us 90 and comfort
Frederick. What must his feelings be 20
Frederick comfort him You do not think o
your father, you ungrateful girl. Can he pay me
my thousand pounds He is beggar think nc
more of him."
'Oh sir !" said Maria, you are wealthy. This
loss cannot, will not affect you Bid me not for
get him whom you have commanded me to love
and receive as my husband"
Peace, unfeeing girl" cried Archibald, nor
dale TO mention the son of man who has robbed
and 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 the last command, for she
fell as if stricken by death upon the floor Of the
drawing room. Archibald rang the bell, and sum-
moning the servants, left the fororn and hapless
maid to their mnstrations, and retreated to his
accustomed coffee house, to ascertain if there were
any hope of dividend from the estate of Beron.
Recovering from her swoon, and finding that
her obdurate father had left the house, Maria at
tended by her maid, with the boldness of despair,
Immediately sought her affiiced lover.
Her absence was unobseryed; her obedience, in
deed was undoubted but surely, under the pecu-
liar circumstances of her situation, her conduct
could not be reprehended by the severest moralst,
be countermanded at will
A correspondence between the lovers was the
natural consequence and at the end Of six weeks
Maria eloped and married the husband Of her faith
er's choice.
Archibald's anger was deep and infexible ; he
uttered no expression, but he felt and nourshed
an unnatural feeling of resentment against his
daughter and her paramour, as he bitterly denom
mated the unfortunate, and perhaps what worldly
people would call, thoughtless Frederick.
Months elapsed, and Archibald heard nothing of
his disobedient child /; and poor Maria although
married to the man of her fathers and her own
hearts selection, was by no means perfectly hap
py; for she had been so accustomed to bow so re-
lgously to his will in all things, that she conse-
quently experienced many qualms Of conscience
at the step she had taken, which ever and anon
passed like dark clouds across the sunshine of her
existence. Fredeick, too, was unable to obtain
any employment, and the little money he posses
sed was fast dwindling away and, to add to the
misfortunes of the young couple, Maria promised
to become mother.
Too proud and independent to sue for help
where he considered it ought naturally to have been
proffered, Frederick tried every means in his pow
er to procure means elsewhere before he resorted
to solicit the assistance of his implacabe father
in-law. Stern necessity at last compelled him to
do that which he deemed degradation.
What is your business, sir !" demanded Arch |
ibald, with a chilling Indifference, when, by sort
of stratagem, Frederick had obtained an inter-
view.
/ have no business, Mr.. Merton," replied
Frederick ; "and indeed no pleasure in the appl-
cation | am about to make TO you"
Then the sooner our conference ends, the bet
ter"
Not so, Sir" replied Frederick Indignantly,
and by heavens you must and shall hear me !"
and rising abruptly, he locked the door Of the a
What is the meaning of all this outrage 2" de-
Fear nothing, sir; you are Mara's father, and
that is sufficient protection for you"
disclaim, and will disnhert the dsobedienIt
GIRL" said Archibald.
Listen, sir" said Frederick. You sanction
ID my addresses to your daughter; you did all in
your power to promote the match and had it not
'een for my fathers msforunes, you would have
,lady ratified the agreement into which you had {
ntered" 6
We'll, sir; but he failed in his part, and have
very right to reiract."
You forget, sir, that this was not mere con- i
ract of bargain and sale; the affections of the par
les were involved. You are still rich man, and
Maria is your only child. | do not ask you to !
i've her the handsome portion you promised on t
er wedding day; but do claim some assistance,
which will enable me to enter into business, and .
ecover at least part of that connection which
ny father had by his industry and integrity OBJ
alned. He was unfortunate, sir, but not guilty. e
Your daughter, too, is in a precarious state, Il
nd requires every comfort; and If you possess the
ceiling of parent, you will afford it her."
You have married the girl, and you must be
esponsible for your own wifulness. For my
wn part, care not, if she applies to the parish
'r the shame will be upon your head for your L
lshness. Have you anything more to say 2"