Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-05-22

property. She was his only child, and would
fall heir, at his death, to all his wealth. OF
course, this young lady had attractions that
were felt to be of most weighty charter, by
certain young men of the town, who made
themselves as agreeable to her as possible
Among these was Lawrence Tilghman.
Larry said friend to him one day-they
had been talking about the young lady it's
no use for you to play the agreeable to Helen
! Walcot'
And why not, pray 2 returned Tilghman
They say she's engaged
TO whom!'
TO young man in Columbus
who says so .
Il can't mention my authority; but it's
good
Engaged, ha! well, I'll break that engage
ment, if there is any virtue in trying.
You will 2
Certainly. Helen will be worth plum
when the old man, her father, dies; and I've
made up my mind to handle some of his thou
sands
But certainly, Larry, you would not at
tempt to interfere with marriage contract =
i don't believe any contract exists replied
the young man. Anyhow, while lady is
single, l regard her as in the market, and to
be won by the boldest.'
Still we should have some respect for the
rights of others.
'Every one for himself in this world re-
piled Tilghman. That my motto. If you
don't take care of yourself, you'll be showed
to the wall in double quick time. Long ago,
| resolved to put some forty or fifty thousand
dollars between myself and the world by mar
riage, and you may be sure that will not
let this opportunity slip for any consideration.
! Helen must be mine.
| Additional evidence of the fact that the
young lady was under engagement of mar
riage soon came to the ears of Tilghman.-
The effect was to produce closer attention
on his part to Helen, who, greatly to his ua-
easiness, did not seem to give him much en-
couragement, although she always treated
him with politeness and attention whenever
Tilghman had heard, that Helen was engag-
ed to a young man in Columbus; though il
was true that she was in correspondence with
gentleman there named Walker, and that
their acquaintance was intimate, and fast ap-
preaching love-like character.
Still, she was not Indifferent to the former,
and as he showed SO strong preference for
her, began gradually to feel an awakening
interest. Tilghman was quick to perceive
this, and it greatly elated him. In the exul-
tation of his feelings, he said to himself
IN show this Columbus man that Tm
worth dozen of him. The boldest wins the
fair. l would not give much for his engage
ment'
Tighman was a merchant, and visited the
east twice every year for the purpose of buy
ing goods. Last August, he crossed the
mountains as usual. Some men, when they
leave home and go among strangers, leave all
the little good breeding they may happen to
have had behind them. Such man was
Tilghman. The moment he stepped into a
steamboat, stage, or railroad car, the every
one-for-himsef principle by which he was
governed, manifested itself in all its naked de-
( formity, and it was at once concluded by all
with whom he came in contact that, let him
be who he would, he was no gentleman.
On going up the river, on the occasion re-
ferred to, our gentleman went on the free and
easy principle, as was usual with him when
in public conveyances; consulting his own in
clinations and tastes alone, and running his
elbows into everybody's ribs that happened to
come in his way. He was generally first al
the table when the bell rung, and, as he had
good appetite, managed, while there, to Sc
cure a full share of the delicacies provided
for the company.
Every one for HIMSELF was the thought IL
his mind Oh these occasons and his actions
fully agreed with his thoughts.
On crossing the mountains in stages as fal
as Cumberland, his greedy, selfish, and some
times downrightbeorish propensities annoyed
his fellcw passengers, and particularly q
young man of quiet refined, and gentleman
y department, who could not, at times, help