Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-06-25
stl!llii 8faoilry
WHICH TO CHOOSE.

thirty summers, ahu III Inc Hi Uioohl@o vi
her. beauty, was II the matrimonial market
closely besisged by three suitors, all of
them good looking, all gentlemen, and all
protesting unbounded and disinterested atfec-
:tion for the fair lasly. Capt !Trevanien had
hcel, Cavalry officer. ba. he he had dretir.
5e,tiiiom The service. He was tall, ,GlAshns
figure, with very aristncralic manners, aud
like Ned Pepper. Paul Cii[o:d's f,iend, POS.
sessed an auhinnon iiae head of hair.
Indeed it was rumo:ri that his anhrosial
curls were. MOI natures Gift "hin,, nd! the
gspo.,ia op;sis a" <ona na'nr!rss ;'liu mme
favored ndiv;Lrr,l, prncare'I "i b"s'e br The
iuiurmpili.:i.,.i OF u certain aiii"unl ut filthy
lucre. The cap,ali HAD Inherited large
fortune.
.Suitor No 2 was {. Young rlaa about town,
very fashionable, palisLed and pleasant. lie
contrved to keep out of debt, but his fnan-
cial resources were 5: id TO be very limited.
Mr.. Claude Careless ev,n,ly had a good
prospect Of success.
The third suilor, Mr.. Stanley Moreton.
was an ar,-studeht and also cultivated poe.
try. Though very modest aud unaffected
he was slightly eccentric in the matter oil
costume-woie n hut, and black velvet coat,
and during the kossuth excitement had Sc.
rious thoug ght of completing his equipment
by a reather-but his bstter genius saved
him from this. solecism. As he was quite
sensitive and limid, had an awkward habit
Of hlushing. and was silent in company,
the Cautain and Ca.l.ss made light of his
rivalsllip aud considered ihe contest as con-
fled to themselves.
The Captain proposed after The most aP-
proved taste Of fashion. dropping gracefully
o. one knee. and pressing the lips that mur.
INJURED his vows to the fair hand he solicited
as his guerdon.-
When he retired, Claude paid his devoirs,
and made his proposals with great earnest.
ness. His professions Of disnterestedness
were no less emphatic than the Captains.
The painter came next When alone
with ii e lady of his love he found voice
which failed hin in the presence OF others.
To each Of the sui'ors she gave the same
reply-namely. that she would return def,
mite answer 70 his suit, exactly three weeks
from the date Of his proposal, requiring him
in the interval, to refrain from calling or ln-
uuiring about her, anu to absent himself
from the city. The commands of rich
beauty are imperative. Each wooer prom
ised knghtly obcd encr, and kel his p!,ds,".
The Captain ran down to Newport; Claude
went to Saratoga, aAL Stanley carried his
sketch book up to the White Mountains.
The widow shut herself up for three
weeks. At the expiration of that time,
punctual to the appointed day, hour and
minute, the elegant Captain entered Mrs;
Champions drawing room, and surveyed
himself from head to foot in the Versailles
Mirror, and with smile Of satisfaction He
was engaged in self.admifation, when light
step recalled him 10 sense Of prop'iety. tie
turned and beheld the widow, but thick.
veil covered her face. He drew chair to
her side and addressed her.
dearest Isabella, said he, in his; most per-
suasivetones, allow me to remove the en-
vious screen which shrouds charms that were.
never meantsto concealed"
""sAlas, Captain" said the widow, with a
tremulous voice, aud drawing her yiel yet
closer, those charms exist no, longer"
els it possible!' cried the Captain in
tone of alarm. (" What do you n.ean!"
"Since saw you have been very sick.
When was child, my parents neglected.
to have me vaccinated, and the ravages OF
the small pox-'
aThe small poxp cried the Captain, push
ing his chair back TO the other side OF the
room.
"Don't be afraid, Captain" said the Wild.
ow. "Itis all Overland am dreadful
object to behold-but Of course that makes
no difference in your affections"
"Hem!' cried the Captain. " IT would
make no difference if wanted to retire
with you into the country, to live like Darby
and Joan. But to go into society to intro
ducc as my wife at balls and sorees, per.
son dis6gured by dreadful disorder, 0
Lord. am, the idea never entered my
head"
81 release you from your engagement
you are Free" said the widow.
al have no doubt, ma'an,," said the Cap.
tain, greatly relieved, that you will find
individuals not exactly in my situation, who
will be-will be very happy ton short,
ma'an,, wish you very good day"
Cold.bearted, vain cgotist~ said the
widow, when he had left: 81 rightly guag
ed your character. You only wished for
handsome wife to enhance your consequence,
and parade in socicty,as as you show off your
handsome horse in the street. Let us see
whether my thoughts have w'ongcd Mr..
Caress."
TO Careless she told the same story. The
young gentleman heard of the loss of h'r
beauty with great nonchalancc."
But this is not all, said Mrs. Champion.
"My business man has just been with me
all the morning. My investments were most
unfortunate. | am completely hcegared'
"How unfortunate" cried Careless, for
/ am in the same predicamcnt. don't see
my way through this quarter. Now it is
very evident that it would be the height of
folly for two persons without any income
or prospect to marry enIy to multiply mise
ry. must beg you to consider my propo.
sal OF last month rs only conditional. Doubt
less there are rash unprircpled men who
would in my case think only OF sentiment,
but I am TOO good noralist, and too good
a citizen to think Of persevering now. Fare
we'll madame! farewell forever! | leave
You with despair in my heart aud ma3ness
in my brain"
D.lLI, ~ J.,I,r,i;o, of dacnair ,vos