The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-12-17
EVANSVILLE IND. MONDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 1856
'CBt 9ailg gonrnal
A RICH OLD UNCLE,
AND A BILIOUS FEVER.
[BY OUR FAMILY PHYsIcIAN.l ]

Linda Ray was scarce seventeen. Beauti-
Iful as an houri, of course, as all heroines are.
But ntore than this, Linda had mind and a
heart of goodness as we'll as personal beauty.
She was the brightest scholar of Mrs.-'s
Iseminary and was the joy of her father, the
pride of her mother, the go-between and conf
dant Of score of littl Rays--her noisy young
brood of brothers-and the friend ard consoler
lof all the poor and distressed who came With
in her knowledge.
Linda was engaged to young Slocum, an
embryo lawyer of fashion ard of some talent,
who had euly the slender income of his pro-
fession todepend upon, but which added to the
moderate little fortune of Linda would enable
the young couple to live quite comfortable
1t was now in the fitful month of April.
The following June was to witness the bridal
day of Linda and her lawyer lover, upon which
event the happy pair were to start immediate
ly for the Springs.
Linda looked magnifcently on horseback
and on this April morning, indulging in her
favorite exercise, she was sitting like Queen
of Beauty, glowing with freshness and radiant
with JOY upon the back of her matchless bay
the most knowing and graceful piece ofhorse
flesh to be lighted on by fond and indulgent
parent.
Young Slocum was by her side, and was
descanting upon the beauty of the morning. and
the beauty of the morning queen when sud-
denly the latter sped from his sight like the
morning breeze. Llnda's bay had taken flight
and was flying through the air, scarce touch
ing the paving stones, at fearful speed.
She will certainly be thrown and killed.
and Slocum's heart as he exclaimed thus-or
the place where his heart should have been
beat with feeling akin to despair.
4 u a.
or four miles further towards the edge of a
lefty, a scene met his view that called up other
Iemotions than those of pleasure at the safety
of his beloved.
Linda was seated on the turf, reclining
against the trunk of a tree. A tall, handsome
stranger was bending over her, laving her
brow with water, and pouring the magnetism
of its warm life into her fainting energies.
The look-the strange mysterious look
that of soul, which passed between them when
Linda opened her eyes full upon him haunted
young Slycum like disagreeable nightmare
for months. r..s.e-a.ft r.. ~
The next day the tall handsome stranger
called upon the lovely girl he had rescued
from death, to inquire after her health.
1 Some how or other it was full three hours
before the 'calp was concluded. Time had
passed so pleasantly in that easy flow of
thought and sentiment, where soul met its
kindred and both were surprised at its rapid
flight a
Again and again they met; always talking
as though they had been friends forever so
Iunconstraned and easy was the interchange
lof thought between them. 1t generally hap
Ipened, too, by some strange chance, that Slo-
lcum was either out on some fishing excursion,
Tor something of the sort, whenever the tall
handsome stranger called on the bride elect.
The middle Of May arrived. The wedding
day was drawing more near In a maze of be-
wilderment the young betrothed awaked as
from a sudden dream.
Do love him well enough 70 become his
wife? asked she of her own heart
Alas! deeper depth had been sounded in
THAT young heart. A deeper depth than the
shallow line ofthe groom elect could hope to
Sound. t-
4 But the spirit that had taught her-her own
lheart-that had taught her the meaning of the
word love-the tall and handsome stranger
he had gone as sudden as he came Business
had called him to distant country and cline
d True, he had never, spoken ofiove, but
when he was gone, Linda had found to her
dismay that he had taken her heart with him
$ Slocum seemed 10 her now nothing more than
lautomatom man, brainless and heartless. r
But will be true to honor and my promises
lsaid the courageous Linda, resolutely-I will
lmarry him and make him true wife; | viii
bury my own heart and it's love- and perform
= my duty faithfully.
q Alas! alas! there is many slip betwixt the
e cup and the lip.
a A rich old uncle of the portionless Slocum
suddenly arrived from the golden East sought
: Ibis nephew, made his will, and Slocum, the
almost penniless, the almost briefess lawyer
awoke in the morning rich man.
His uncle secuted the idea of his wedding
the fair Linda, with her very moderate fortune
{, telling him that such handsome, accomplished
: land wealthy fellow as he (Slocum) could picE
a millionaire heiress from almost every bush
His kind uncle bid him travel, and choose from
any of the aristocratic and wealthy beautie:
of Europe.
EIated with his sudden fortune, puffed III
: with personal vanity, Slocum followed his un
y cles advice setting sail with high heart t.
cross the ocean for Europe and success
He dropped careless note to his beloved
ID telling her of his determination to travel, anC
: to leave her free.
: Somehow or other, Slocums remittance
from his uncle did not arrive as he had reason
to expect, and he had not much soone
: crossed theAtlantic than he re-crossed it.
What was his dismay upon arriving hom
q when he found his quodum bride elect hat
married his rich old uncle, that the viii ha,
Z been remade, and that he (Slocum) was cut Of
N without even a shilling-the will being mad
& lin favor OF linda and her successors
The discovery was maddening; but wors
: than all, the rich old uncle had thrown ava.
his ugly wig, and the hump on his back, an
his wooden leg and he stood up as Linda
youthful bride -groom-the tall, handsom
: stranger! He had once rescued her from death
It was pleasant ruse--to those VINO ENJOY