Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-11-17
matrimonial Hoax at Leeds.

Matrimonial Hoax at Leeds.
On Tuesday evening last, clever hoax
was played upon gentleman at the Bul
and Mouth Hotel, in Briggate, Leeds
Some six weeks or so ago several matrlmo
nial advertisements appeared in the Londor
newspapers from gentlemen wanting wives
Some members of the Leeds Stock Ex,
change took it into their heads to hoa,
some of these adventures, ,anG they accord
ing entered into correspondence with the
parties advertising adopting for the purpose
the name of Miss Bailey. After some cor
respondence, two of the parties sent dowr
Photographic likenesses of themselves Il the
third animated that che thought the sub
stance better than the shade, "and suggest
ed a personal interview. Miss Bailey
"thought so too" and wrote accordingly,
lamenting the awkward position she was
IN, but added, that she had mentioned the
matter to her brother, who had reluctantly
consented to the interview, and had prom
ised to be present at the interview as her
protector. She also intimated that a cous-
in of hers kept the inn above named, and
that she and her brother would call at The
hotel, and remain there until the arrival OF
the stranger, who was to ask for her by
name. BY the next post the languishing
swain wrote to say that he would be in
Leeds by the train arriving there at $50 P.
M. on Tuesday and would at once drive to
the hotel named in cab. All this arrang-
ed, one of the party here, stockholder,
undertook to play the guardian and clerk
from the office was selected to personate
the lady-Miss Bailey; no expense being
spared to adorn the lady with suitable and
lady like apparel. At the appointed hour
Miss Bailey and her brother were at the
hotel waiting in private room, when at Z
o'clock cab drove up. Miss Bailey and
her brother took their places on sofa, and
on the stranger asking for Miss Bailey, he
was shown into the room. He was gen.
tleman of about As; ruddy complexion, and
thin hair. He introduced himself as H
of 'Atherstone," in a certain midland
county. The young lady's brother intro
duced her as his sister. Mr.. H. was smit-
ten at first sight for the young lady's pale
and pensive features, the downcast eyes,
commanding figure, and rich flowing ring
lets, would have been too much for even
a stouter heart than he could boast of, es-
pecially when it was made known that the
proprietor of this graceful form had FL 800
in her own right. The trio at once pro-
ceeded to business, the brother putting
number of questions to Mr.. H., .,all of which
were cheerfully and unsuspiciously answer
ed. Having satisfied the brot her that he
was pretty we'll to do IN the world, he ad-
ded that he was widower with three chill
dren, but in order that they might not an
noy the mother-in-law they wereto be sent
to boarding school and as to the young
lady's fortune which he was happy to find
she possessed,it should be settled upon her
and her children. With these explanations
Miss Bailey and her brother were satisfied
in fact it was settled thing. The broth
er retired for few minutes, when Mr.. H.
at once drew his chair close to his lady
love, and became very sentimental, giving
full vert to the feelings Of his heart. Miss
Bailey. with becoming modesty, rebuked
him for "such foolishness," and his too ia
miliar advances. In short time the broth
er returned, and said he had met with few
members of the family, whom he proposed
to introduce at once. Mr.. Fl. was in rap
lures, and desired him TO introduce them
forthwith, but he was somewhat astonished
to find that in few minutes not less than
one hundred jovial souls, who had been
waiting below rushed into the room to laugh
at him, and the hoax which had been play
ed. In an instant Miss Bailey disappear
ed, while uncles, cousins, and other rela-
tives shook HIM my the hands after an
other. As soon as he found he was hoax
ed, Mr.. H. made rush for the staircase,
but mistook his way and goI into the bar of
the house instead of to the outer door. He
was instantly penned in on all sides so that
he could not escape but was compelled to
listen to the reading of the whole cores
poudence, and at last,in reply to the health
Of miss Bailey" gentlemanly looking
young man, who had been sitting beside
Mr.. H., smoking cigar,rose and acknowl-
edged the compliment and described the
scene in the room when her brother left her.
Eventually the Atherstone lover decamped,
and has not since been heard of.-London
Sun, Sepi 18Th.