Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-01-05

ly die away, and that her father would
forget to urge the ceremony, His
perseverance in any cause wholly de-
pended on the opposition he might meet
with in carrying out plan When
there were obstacles to be overcome his
energy was perfectly indomitable; but
he became careless, and, indeed, quite
Indifferent with respect to fayorite
project, on ascertaining there was moth
ing in the way Of accomplishing designs.
Contrary, howeyee. to the usual
course, Wezzel one morning astonished
the household, by declaring that Winnie
freda should be united to her cousin the
same evening at seven O'Clock, in the
cathedral. Preparation had been made
by himself, the priest had promised to
be in waiting. but no guests were to be
present at the happy event.
Never was distraction more thorough
depicted in a human face! The poor
girl in the depths of her wretchedness,
came near dying with excess of grief
at her impending fate. Her only ave-
nue. to relief was to despatch an earnest
note to Steinburg, through the trusty
old pocket, in which she described the
intensity of her misery. One bright
thought, however, CLEANED a ray Of
sunshine. She gave minute account
of the determination of her unfeeling
father, and closed by urging the brave
lieutenant, without failure, to conceal
himself in an ante-room of the church,
with a trusty companion or two, and
upon the honor of friend and lover,
as he valued her life, to be there before
the family party should arrive. A few
other suggestions were parenthetically
introduced, which were not lost upon
Lieut. Steinburg, who was as ingenious
as herself in expedients to prevent the
union with her vulgarian cousin.
By extreme activity through the day,
and extending his inquiries among the
tailors, on the receipt of the contents of
the burgomaster's pocket for the day,
he ascertained precisely the kind of
dress that the bridegroom would have
on, and procured fac simile of each
in all respects. Being of the same
height, it was the united opinion of his
assisting friends that he might pass in the
evening, for Steigler himself.
With the circumspection of a general
in an enemy's country, Steinburg sta
toned his forces, having previously ap-
prised Winnefreda by the return pocket,
that under any circumstances, not to be
alarmed at the alter. He cautioned her
to give her hand readily, make all the
required vows, and, in short, do pre-
cisely as the holy man in surplice should
direct.
just as the evening shades were set
ting in, Van Wezzel having smoked an
extra pipeful on the glorious occasion,
the family, with the afiapced bride,
walked over to the cathedral. Cousin
Steigler returned to the ante-room to
arrange his dress, while Winnefreda,
with her mother and a single brides
maid, entered another, which is Gus
tomary on such occasions. No sooner
had he passed fairly in, than napkin
was thrown across his mouth, and half
dozen stalwart fellows, by dint of
strong arms, carried him out of the
building, by a back door, threatening
instant death if he even breathed audi
bly,! Where they went with him was
never known. Even the kidnapped
fool, in after years, could give no ac-
count of it.
Personating the abstracted Steigler,
the bold lieutenant appeared at the door
as the lady re-entered from the other.
He walked to her with an air of conf
dence, and led her to the front of the
alter. Van Wezzel with his quiet
brow, stood back in the rear, while the
solemn ceremony was conducted COM
pletely through, and the priest in a
loud voice, proclaimed: "What God
hath joined together, let no man put
assunder!'' "Now," said the burgo-
master, when he saw the twain was one
flesh, 81 am the happiest man in
Amsterdam, and my daughter the
richest wife" At that juncturs, the
bride and bridegroom turned found to
greet their friends. The lamps had
been lighted, and, to the confusion Of
Hans Van Wezzel, he saw with his own
eyes that Lieutenant Steinburg, in
stead Of Sebritz Van Steigler, was the
husband of his only child and heir
He could not speak beyond family ut
tering, "Dunder and blixenP'
| How they got home, or what was
said in extenuation of the trick that
had been played at the expense of his
fool of a nephew, the chronicles of the
times do not mention.
Immediately, the whole transaction
took wing, which no precautions on the
part of the Van Wezzel family could
control; and the story finally reached
the Kings ears at the Hague. He en-
ioyed it amazingly, and the court
laughed over the affair as being the best
of the season. His majesty on inquiry,
having ascertained that lieutenant Stein
burg had rendered meritorious service,
for which he had not received a cores
ponding recompense from the crown,
made inquiry into his history. He
proved to be the heir of favorite Of
ficer, the late Count Steinburg, Of glo-
rious memory. The King at once di-
rected commission to be sent TO the
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