Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-11-16
From Dcdge's Literary Museum.
THE MATCH-MAEING WIDOW.

-NHAANAA a ~
CHAPTER ELEVENTH,

CHAPTER ELEVENTH..
As the widow and her daughter met
the next morning, at breakfast, Lena said
indifferently-
g Well, Robert Grant proposed yes
terday, and L accepted him.
g Sorry to hear it," rejoined the mo-
ther, Greatly sorry. If you hadn't been
so hasty with this affair, you might have
made an impression on this English lord,
beside whom Robert Grant is not to be
looked at. Beside this, we are to have
a new minister in our church next Sab
bath, who it seems is young man of
fortune and family, who comes to so small
Il parish on the simple assurance that he
eau do much good here Think of it.
What pity You have SO soon fettered
yourself"
I" When Robert spoke to me-" answer
ed Lena, "I did try several times to
pique him into postponement of his pro-
posaIs. But he was not pleased !; and,
fearful lest he should delay them altoge-
ther, led him on, and accepted him af
ter the most approved fashion. He has
so many friends, that an attempt to break
up the engagement without sufficient
cause, would ruin our standing here. So
it must remain as it is, and the sooner the
wedding is over the better. Why not
take Lord Melville yourself?''
9 prefer to be the mother-in-Iaw in
stead of wife," returned the widow gai-
ly. g [ consider the position would be
much more agreeable for me. But for
You. with your youth and beauty. the
station such a match would give would
be Invaluable. My advice to you is, to
seek some pretext for dismissing young
Graut--you know this wouldn't be your
first instance of the kind-and we'll soon
have no doubt, recognize you as Lady
Melville. The title looks tempting enough.
doesn't it %
Il must admit it has it's charms. l
will see what can be done. Pm sorry
hadn't left my young advocate to Alice
FreeIand."
by the BY" exclaimed the widow,
. keep up your intimacy with Alice
Never, for Heavens sake, let her disco
yer, or at least be allowed to believe that
you had any part in the affair of her
MS"
- To think L should be foiled thus,
when believed everything so sure" mu-
sed Lena bitterly, ''and all through that
old man of the mountain
At this moment the door-bell rang,
and Lord Melville was announced.
"What an early riser the man must
be. to make a call this time ofday," laugh
ed Lena as she went to greet him.
From that day the Englishman's vi
sits became even more frequent than Ro-
bert's at the widows. In the absence of
the latter, Lena devoted her every eff
tort to entrap the lord, and her mothers
establishments were added to her own
one as yet, showed no change of manner
toward Robert, but talked freely with
hum upon their approaching marriage,
which had been set for an early day, and
allowed their engagement to become
currently known.
:" Better not dismiss him, YOU know,
mother" she would sometimes saw. ..till
l am sure of my lord"
Thus matters went on, and the English
man throughout the whole village, made
his round of visits, still making Mr.. Ack-
Hrman's his home. He was feasted and
feted, and toasted. and in every way Ii
onized. The fieetest horses to be found
N the surrounding country, Mr.. Acker-
nan had been deputized to purchase for
nim, and Lena rode with him in his light
phaeton, rejoicing in the light Of the en-l