Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-05-26
Sstlctt Gale.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BELLE
Or
Who Lost the Wager.
CHAPTER I.

My uncle Ned had set his heart upon mar
rying me TO my cousin Rosalie but the thing
savored OF compusion TO me, and / made up
my mind to be Just as obstinate as the nature
Of the case might demand.
confess to being a little sentimental /
have read heaps Of novels in my day, from the
Children Of the Abbey down to Bleak House.
and the thought of having my uncle pick out
my wife for me was tolerable repugnant to
my ideas Of propriety and the rights of man.
Uncle Ned was q jolly old fellow, and
laughed iii my face, when told him could
not think of such a thing as permitting him
to select my wife for me. | looked diehiicd
aud | felt dignifed; and was not a little
mortified when the old fellow haw- -hawed right
in my face.
But, my boy, she is as rich as mud-with
an income OF eight thousand dollars year."
said he. Think Of that"
MY dear uncle, l beg you will deem me
above mercenary motives in so important n
matter as this | replied. with seriousness
in keeping with the solemnity of the topic
discussed.
Perhaps you don't mean to take 4 WIFE
die an old bachelor-eh?" continued he.
punching me under the short ribs us he pour
ed out another Of his abominable ''gufiaws."
'Not so; on the contrary. / mean to take
/ a wife just as soon as ! can find one exactly
suited to my mind"
"And you don't mean to marry girl that
has got any money!"
"Ihat is perfectly immaterial, sir. rs you
are aware that my fortune is amply sufficient
without the addition of wiles dowry."
But the money wouldn't do any harm,
would it?"
mo. | should not object to lady who pos
sessed the requisite qualifications, because she
happened TO have fortune at her disposal
though in my estimation it would add nothing
TO her fitness to become my wife,"
"lndeed " drawled Uncle Ned. looking at
me with such funny expression that | could
not tell whether he was going to laugh or get
mad. | didn't care much, for i deemed it
beneath his dignity to attempt an interference
in such a delicate natter
But Bob, Rosalie IS the most beautiful
girl in South Carolina. There are thousands
Of young gentlemen Of the first families ut The
South who would jump at the chance to step
into Your shoes"
"They can do so, sir, tell you plainly she
can never be my wife, if she were a pearl and
had all South Carolina for her dowry," said j,
with dignifed earnestness.
"Whew?' p
persuasions, they shall not move me-"
But Bob, you know her father earnestly
desired that you should be married before he
died" added the uncle, more seriously
ut matters not, sir; must be entirely un-
embarrassed in the choice of a Wife Let me
tell you plainly, that, even If bad no other
objection, the mere nct that you have at
tempted to draw me into this marriage were
a sufficient reason for me to decline it,"
"Eh you young puppy, what do you mean
! by that ?"
Just exactly what / say, viz that / will
neither be led or driven into marriage with
Rosalie. think We have said enough about
it,
had begun to talk little coolly He
was, in my opinion. treading upon the prerog-
ative of a freebcm citizen.
What did the old iogy mean? Did he think
| hadn't sense enough TO choose my Own
wife g-Rosalie was entirely out of the ques-
toni could not. on principle, be driven into
matrimonial connection. even though the
other party was an angel and had dowry of
eight thousand "A year.
f. MIR. Bob. listen to reason. Resale is
handsome and graceful, and all that sort of
thing sings like nightingale, plays the
piano and harp, and can talk French like a
Parisenne"
1T matters not, sir l object to the prin-
eiple of the thing and repeat, cannot aud
will not marry her."
Bob, you are fool !"
"Am II" go
"Pon my word yon are you don't know
which side your bread is buttered."
Enough, sr!"
But, Bob, you will pay US that visit won't
your
Certainly; but do not fatter yourself
shall make love to Rosalie. shall go pre-
pared 10 shun her; yes, to be even uncivil tC
her. If am, blame yourself for your impu
ldsnt interference in my concerns"