Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-11-13
THE, IiEIRESS.

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A sprightly, roSy-cheeked little Girl used to
sit, in the pleasant evenings of June, on the
marble steps opposite my lodgings, when Iiv-
ed in PhIlydelphia, and sing over hundred
little sCunets, and tell over as many tales, in
sweet voice and with an air of simplicity that
charmed me many time. She was then an
orphan child, and commonly reported to be
rich. Otlen and often have | sat, after day
Of yeXation, and listened to her innocent voice,
breathing forth the notes Of peace and happi
ness which flowed checrfully from light heart
aud felt portion Of that tranquility steal over
my own bosom. Such was Eliza Hadley.
Several years bad elapsed during which time
| had been absent from the city, when walking
along one Of the most fashionable squares |
saw an elegant female step into carriage, fol-
lowed by Il gentleman and two pretty children
did not Immediately recognize her face, but
my friend, who was by my side, pulled my e-
bow: "Do you not remember little Eliza, who
used to sing for as, when we lived together in
| this cty!" | did remember--t was herself
She used to be fond, said he, of treating her
little circle of friends with romances-and at
! last she acted out a neat romance herself She
came out into the circles of life under the aus
! pces of her guardians. 1t was said by some
! that she was rich, very rich. but the amount of
her wealth was no matter Of publicity; how
ever, the current and as was generally believed
well founded report, was sufficient to draw
around her many admirers, and among the
number, not few serious suitors.
She did not wait long before young gen.
, tenan, on whom she had looked with some
what partial eye, because he was the gayest
and the handsomest of her lovers, emboldencd
| by her pariality, made her an offer. Probably
she blushed and her heart futered little, but
they were sitting in a moonlight parlor, and as
her embarrassment was more than half con-
cealed, she soon recovered, and as a waggish
humor happened to have the ascendant, she
put on a serious face, told him she was honor
ed BY his preference, but that there was one
matter which she wished we'll understood be-
fore: by giving a reply, she bound him to his
promise, Perhaps you may have thought me
wealthy; would not, for the word, have you
labor under mistake on that point. am
worth eighteen hundred dollars
She was proceeding, but the gentleman star
lars' he repeated, in manner that betrayed the
utmost SURPRISE yes, ma am, said he awkward
ly, | did learn that you were worth great deal
mort-but-
No, sir she replied no excuses or apologies;
think about what have told yon; you are en-
barrassed now; answer me another time; and
and rising, she bid him good night.
She Just escaped trap; he went next day
to her guardians to inquire more particularly
into her affairs, and receiving the same answer,
he dropped her suit at once.
The next serious proposal followed soon af-
ter, and this, too, came from one who had sue
ceeded to large portion of her esteem; but
applying the same crucible to the love he offer
ed her, she found like result. He, too, left
her, and she rejoced in another fortunate es-
cape.
She some time after accidentally became ac-
quaned with a young man whose labor as
mechanic made him him his weekly living, and
which caused him to be diffident, unaspiring
and unselish. Eliza soon discovered more of
that timourous love than she had before wit
messed. She did not check him in his hopes,
and in process of time, he, too, made her ali
offer. But when she spoke of her fortune, he
begged her to be silent; it is to virtue, worth
and beauty, said he, that pay my court; not
to fortune. In you shall obtain what is of
more worth than gold. She was agreeably
disappointed. They were married; and after
the union was solemnized, she made him mas
ter OF her fortune with herself. / am indeed
worth eighteen hundred dollars said she to
him, but have never said how much more; and
| never hope to enjoy more pleasure than
feel this moment, when | tell you my fortune
is one hundred and eighty thousand dollars!
1t was actually so but still her husband Of
ten tells her that in her he possesses far more
noble fortune.