The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-30

me, and I hardly gazed upon Rosalie
during the hour we spent at the table.
After dinner we went out to ride on
horseback Uncle Ned annoyed me
again by contriving it so that l should
help Rosalie mount her horse, and ride
by her side, and he, the provoking old
fool--dd offices of gallantry for Sylphie
No use, old chap, you shall loose
your bet,' thought |, and l tried to be
civil to my cousin.
/ don't think [ succeeded very we'll,
| am very sure l did not fall in love
with her. My eyes rested all the time
upon the fair and graceful horse woman
who rode in front of me.
And thus it was for week. Uncle
Ned managed to keep me by the side of
Rosalie nearly all the time. If we play
ed whist she was my partner if we
rode in the carriage she sat by my side
if we walked, he monopolyzed Sylphie
and left Rosalie to me-and more than
once the old fellow left us alone togeth-
er as though he thought l was ready to
pop the question, and hand him over
the thousand.
But | was discreet. I gave her
wide berth, and sighed for the love of
the beautiful Sylphie Howard. I was
bead over heels in would have
leloped with ner in moment, if she
wOuld have consented
In spite of my uncle's vigilance, how
ever, | found opportunities to firt lit
tie with Sylphie, and one day lured
her into grove of palmettos in the rear
of the mansion house.
Time was precious. I was the hero
ola novel. Cruel uncles in bob-tail
| wigs sought to crush out the affections
of my heart. In short l threw myself
at her feet, and with all the eloquence
that Harvard College had been able to
crowd into my composition, 1 declared
my love. used classic terms. 1 quo
ted Milton, Byron, and Shakespeare,
and called on all the gods in the calen-
der Of Greece and Rome. ~
Did she accept me' of course she
did she couldn't help accepting me-
[ am not an ill-looking fellow, let me
say, in extenuation of her weakness, and
| had popped the question in decided
ly original manner.
| printed twenty-four kisses on each
of her pretty cheeks, and she blushed
till | thought her eye-lashes would take
fire and cheat me out of my prize.
We kept our own council for two or
three weeks, and one morning, when we
were riding out, We got away from I'm
Gle Ned and Rosalie and clipped it
away about ten miles to a clergyman,
who was so obliging as to supply US with
a marriage certificate.
We rode back more leisurcly. 1 was
in my element. An elopcmcnt was just
the kind of excitement to suit me.
We got back to Uncle Ned's about
dinner time.
Where have you been = asked my
Uncle Ned.
'Over to Mrs. Allow me to
present my wife, said I, with perfect
nonchalence.
'The deuce y
Just so and Uucle Ned you have
lost the wager. One thousand, if you
please holding out my hand.
{ No you don't, puppy
Fairly won.'
6 Is it, Rosalie = said he turning to
my wife.
Il believe not
Eh, what do you mean, Sylphie p
'Ha, ha, ha,' roared Undlc Ned.
/ didn't know what to make of the
affair at all.
You have lost, Bob,' cried the jolly
old fellow, as soon as he could speak.
'No.'
Fact, Bob,' said be, pointing to her
| had hitherto known as my cousin,
this is Sylphic Howard
You have cheated me, them
Il have cheated you into the hand
soonest wife, and the biggest fortune in
South Carolina. The fact is, Bob, you
were prejudiced against Rosalie. You
came here resolved to be uucivil to her :.
Il determined to give her fair