Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-10-13
from the Star spangled Banner.l
THEINTERRUPTED BRIDAL;
OR, THE ACCOMPLICES.
BY wM. ROBINSON.
THE UNLIMITED GUEST.

| MerVYn VITA SUOOQ on the summit OF
la gentle eminence, about half mile
distant from the west bank of the riv Ell
Hudson; and commanded not only a
fine sweep of that truly noble stream,
with the countless small crafts fitting to
and fro over its broad, blue bosom, like
Ibuoyant wildfowl, but, landward, rich
and varied prospect of verdant mead
ows, waving groves, and silver streams,
winding their quiet way between flower
decked banks, until the whole scene
was at length closed in by the stipend
Gus range known as the Highlands of
the Hudson.
The proprietor and occupant of Mer-
vyn Villa, at the date at which our story
opens, was Washington Mervyn, Esq.
He was little past the prime of life, and
appeared still older than he really was;
but it did not require very close scru-
tiny of his external appearance to arrive
at the conclusion that either grief, in
dulged passions, or perhaps crime had
more than contributed their share, in
thus prematurely silvering his hair, and
deepening the many burrows on his
broad brow.
OF Squire Mervyn's family connec-
tons nothing was known. Nearly
twelve years had now transpired, since
he had suddenly arrived in New York,
on board a vessel, from one of the West
India Islands, and commenced business
as cotton broker. Through a careful
attention to business, and several lucky
speculations, he had in few years ac-
cumulated a pretty considerable fortune;
when, retiring from active life, he pur-
chased small estate, built his present
residence, and thus surrounded by all
that taste or wealth could furnish,
seemed realizing the Utopia of the
brain-happiness.
Squire Mervyn's family consisted of
but one daughter, named Ada, who, at
the time we introduce her to the reader,
had but Just completed her seventeenth
year. Ada was very beautiful-sur-
passingly so; possessing a complexion
of that delicate mingling of the blonde
and brunette, which is generally al
lowed to be the summun bonum of
female beauty; eyes large and lustrous,
whose midnight hue was only equalled
by the jetty tresses of her luxuriant
hair, and a form of such sylph-like
proportions and elegance, that seemed
almost too ETHEREAL for a daughter of
Eve.
Possessed of these attractions, then,
and being moreover, the sole heiress of
her fathers great wealth, it was not all
a cause of wonderment that Ada Mer-
vyn was never without train of ardent
and devoted admirers; but, though
neither prude, nor a Ninon d. Enelos,
Ada had celebrated her sixteenth birth
day, without ever having had her little
heart the least wounded by the many,
very many arrows which Master Cupid
had discharged thereat. This, how
ever, was not long the case. The
coming man. at last came. Yes, when
Captain Oscar Bridges, of the U. S. N.
presented his frank, open countenance,
eagle-like glance, and manly form at
Mervyn Villa, ostensibly as visitor,
but in reality a suitor for the hand of
its fairest ornament, poor Ada's little
heart at once passed away from her
own keeping, into the charge of the
graceful and gallant Captain.
The Captain, being bold and vigor-
Gus wooer-your sailors are ever De-
caturs in love matters-and the lady
very, very deeply enamored of him,
and papa, too, not having the slightest
objection to urge to the match-for the
Captains family connections were ire
proachable-it was but little more than
three months, after the lovers had first
seen each other, when it was publicly
announced that Ada Mervyn and Cap
tain Oscar Bridges, we're about to take
upon themselves the yoke of Hyman.
Brightly rose the sun on the auspi-
cious day; bright, and cloud-clear, as
though typical of the future happiness
of the youthful couple, who, ere his
beams arose again, would have become
one. A large marquee was erected on
the lawn in front of the villa, where all
that could please the palate, and conduce
towards difusing a general spirit of
gaiety and pleasure, was provided in
lavish profusion. This was for the
miscellaneous guests, or any one who
chose to come. For the invited, and
more select, princely repast was pre-
pared in the grand saloon, to which
place we will now conduct the reader.
1t was about FIVE o'clock, P. NJ, the
nuptial ceremony not having yet been
performed, and the merry Jest and
silvery laugh, the smart repartee and
gallant speech, are mingling with the
clatter of knives and forks, the ringing
of glasses, and clinking of plates, as
the whole party now seated in that
gorgeous apartment, are busy discus
sing, particularly, the merits Of the
rich viands before them. Suddenly. a
4 slight disturbance is heard at the lower
end of the room, while loud above the
buzz and din voice of singularly harsh
and discordant tones may be distin-
guished, exclaiming:-
s.Stand aside. fellows, and let me in,
or by all that's holy, you shall rue it."
At the moment these words were
| spoken, Squire Meryyn was in the act of
taking wine with the lady sitting next