Squatter sovereign., 1855-07-31
Mlistellaneous,
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THE SOUTH CAROLINA BELLE
OR,
WHO LOST THE WAGER.
CHAPTER I.

IVY uncle NeQ ndO set his nedTt upOl
marrying me to my cousin Rosaline; but
the thing savored of compulsion to me, and
I made up my mind to be just as obstinate
as the nature of the case may demand.
l confess to being little sentimental
1 have read heaps of novels in my day,
from the Children of the Abbey, down to
the Bleak House, and the thought of hav-
ing my uncle pick out wife for me was
repugnant to my ideas of proprie-
ty and the rights Of man.
Uncle Ned was jolly old fellow, and
laughed in my face, when told him l
could not think of such a thing as permit
ting him to select wife for me. looked
dignifed and felt dignifed; and was not
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 a
year. said he. "Think of that
"My dear uncle, beg you will deem
me above mercenary motives in so impor.
tant matter as this" I replied with a
seriousness in keeping with the solemnity
Of the topic discussed.
"Perhaps you don't mean to take wife
die an old bachelor-eh g. continued he,
punching me under the short ribs as he
poured forth another Of his abominable
"guhaws."
"Not so; on the contrary, I mean to
take 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!"
"That is perfectly immaterial. sir. as YOU
are aware that my fortune is amply sufTi-
cient without the addition of wife's dow
ry"
"But the money would not do any harm
would it o.
"No, I should not object TO lady who
has the requisite qualifications, because
she happened TO have fortune at her dis
posal, though in my estimation it would
add nothing to her fitness to become nv
wife"
''Indeed ~ drawled Uncle Ned, looking
at me with such a funny expression that
could net tell whether he was going to
laugh or get mad. didn't care much; for
l deemed it beneath his dignity to attempt
an interference in such delicate matter
"But, Bob, Rosaline is the most beauti-
full girl in South Carolina. Thousands oi
young gentlemen at the South would iumr
at the chance TO step into your Shoes"
"They can do so, sir; 1 tell you plainly
she can never be my wife. if she was g
pearl and had all Of South Carolina fol
her dowry," said 1, with dignified earnest.
ness
"Whew!''
"Your sneers will be as useless as your
persuasions; they shall not move me-"
"But, Bob. you know her father earnest.
ly desired that you should be married, be-
fore he died." added the uncle more seri
ously.
at matters not. sir; must be entirel,
unem barrassed in the choice of a wife
Let me tell you plainly, that, even ifI hac
no other objection, the mere fact that yo,
have attempted to draw me into this mar
rage were sufficient reason for me |.
oecline it."
"Eh! you young puppy, what do 20,
mean by that g.
"Just exactly what I say, viz: that / vii
neither be led or driven into marriage witt
Rosaline. l think we have said enough
about it,
had begun to talk little coollv. II,
was, in my opinion, treading upon the pre-
rogative of free born citizens.
What did the old fogy meana Did h,
think | hadn't sense enough to choose m,
own wife? Rosaline was entirety out O
the question: could not, on principle, b,
driven into matrimonial connection, evel
though the other party was an angel ant
had dowry of eight thousand year.
"Mr. Bob, listen to reason. Rosaline
handsome, and graceful, and all that sol
OF thing; sings like nightingale, play
the harp and piano, and can talk Frenc
like Parisienne."
"lt matters not, sir; / object to the prin
clpie OF the thing. l repeat, cannot an
will not marry her" So
"Bob, you are fool"
.sAm L."
''Pon my word you are; you don't kno,
which side your bread IS bUtse1ea"