Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-11-14

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PLANTATION. Ifyou are sincere in your desire
1 have the power of gratifying your wish
es. OF that, you may rest perfectly as.
sured. Only it is requisite that you
should sign this little document" produ-
cling slip of paper.
"a document what sort of docu-
ment ?'' cried the bewildered baron.
CA mere trife, responded his interlo-
cutor SIS merely memorandum of our
words. So, if you are in earnest, let us
proceed to business. To every person
but yourself, you will henceforth appear
a perfect altered man. Your suit will
be accepted, you know in what quarter.
Are you content ? Answer on the in
stant. or the opportunity will be lost to
you forever"
The baron as we may we'll imagine,
felt some little misgiving. But the tone,
the manner, the whole demeanor of the
stranger was imposing. That he pos
sessed the power of divining into the
most hidden thoughts of the human mind
was clear from the short colloquy that
had just taken place. Why should he not
possess the power he mentioned ? Be-
side the opportunity might never occur
again. In word, what between sur
prise and bewilderment at the strange and
sudden occurrence, the brightness of the
prospect thus unexpectedly opened before
him and last, though not least, no incon-
siderable bias towards superstitious Gre
dulity, he affixed his name to the prof
fered document. Whereupon the stran-
ger, with another polite bow, disappeared
in one Of the dark recesses Of the hall.
The baron, recovering in some degree
from his dream, for such he at first imag
ined it to be, albeit he, on the other hand,
felt perfectly satisfied of his being broad
awake, after musing for few moments on
his late adventure, resolved to put the
fact Of his metamorphosis to An immedi>
ate test. He rang for his attendants. The
summons was obeyed, and the servants
made their appearance. In the evident
surprise depicted on their countenances,
he read an assurance of some remarkable
change having really taken place in his
outw ard form. He consulted his looking
glass. but to his own eye no alteration
whatever seemed to have supervened.-
This. he rccollected, was in strict accor-
dance with the strangers undertaking.
The following day, tho Baron lost no
time in still further assuring himself Of
the reality Of the auspicious change i'll
his appearance on some trifling pretext,
he summoned together his whole house
hold and presented himself among them.
This time there was no room left for
doubt on the matter. From whisperings
and other indications Of surprise, one or
two Of the more conGdentiaIly employed
among them, ventured on respectful
congratulation to their master on the man
ifest and surprising Improvement that
had so suddenly taken place in his per-
son. Full Of the most pleasing anticiPa>
tione, and clated with hope, he ordered his
equpagc. and paid morning visit to
the house Of his hitherto obdurate love.
Here too, as though by magic, he found
that most propitious change had taken
place. His reception by the fair one
WAS as favorable as it had previously
been discouraging. In short the happy
day of union was arranged, and nothing
now seemed wanting to his felicity.
The evening preceding his wedding
day found the Baron Won D. seat
cd rs before in his antique chair, in the
same corner Of the huge gothic chimney
piece, and whiting the perfume of the
faithful "meerschaum. But how differ
cnt the tone OF his thoughts and the sub
iect Of his meditalions. All was now al
Turing hope and blind anticipation. I'M
agine, however, his surprise. when, feel
ing a kasty tap on the shoulder, he turn
cd round and beheld his quondam mys-
tcrious visitor at his elbow.
There was one little circumstance
I forgot to mention at our last interview" 3"
said the stranger; "your wish as to a
favorable change in appearance has, you
know, been gratifed, and your suit has
been successful. Should you, however,
persist in espousing the object of your at
tention, you will fall l;feIess corpse on
the very steps Of the altar Be care
full, therefore. The young lady is secret
ly espoused to her cousin =. Take
my advice, renounce in public all claim to
the hand of the lady, and recommend her
parents 10 sanction her union with her
cousin. Mark me. it is the only course
you have left T.
The poor baron would vain have re-
monstrsted with his visitor but he had
disappeared as before. At first he was
tempted to hazard the issue but reflect
ing that one part of the drama had al.
ready come to pass, the denoument might
possibly follow with equal certainty, he
wisely resolved on following the strangers
advice, however unpalpatable and this
resolve he carried into effect the next
day.
Disguised with the scene of his disap-
pointment, the Baron Won D., hav-
ing arranged his affairs in Germany,
shortly after retired to Paris, and in the
gaieties of the capital, had nearly lost
sight of his adventure, when lately, to his
surprise, he received legal summons to