The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-01-26

dramatic manner, ''Impossible My dear
Sophiar never could deceive me!' How
the dowager Mrs. Allen made the discovery
is not mentioned-but she was right. The
individual whom the Cockney husband
called ''Sephiar" uas lady's maid, and
not "a lady" She protested that the dowa-
ger was mistaken-that this was wicked
world, apt TO slander innocent people
that if she told her husband story about
the $50, 1000, (which was invested, NOT in
funds, but on the security Of a splendid
chateau de Espagne, or of the Isle of Skys,)
he had also trickcd her, by declaring him
| self worth $4,000 a year, and that he kept
brougham." Finally, it appeared that
she had only hired the carriage at Chelten-
ham, to ride few times, while Allen was
in that town, and that the attendant waiting
maid-the soubrette of this little drama
was quick -witted Abigail, fellowservant
indeed, who had lent herself to pass off
"Sophiar'' as lady of fortune, and thus
anchor her safely and happily, in the haven
Of matrimony.
Worse than this monstrous cheating.
Mr.. Allen found his bride behaving so i'm
properly, after the icticieus nature of her
fortune had been ascertained that, in five
or six days after their return from Paris,
she left his house in company with another
man, against whom he brought an action
for Grim. con-, and recovered $500 damages
which-were not paid. So closes act ".
Misfartunes come in battalons. Poor
Mr.. Allen found it SO. That the $4,000
should be myth was bad enough. This
was not ALL The faithless 'Sophiar had
contrived, before marriage to get into debt
to the tune of $4,000, and Mr.. Allen had to
pay it. Wanting pecuniary means to do
this, he became gentleman in difficulties.
Moreover he had to refund what he had
borrowed on the strength Of his lady's for
tune to cut dash with in Paris. Nor is this
all, naturally enough, he desires to break
the matrimonial fetters. But marriage is
knot easily tied. and Especially in England)
not easily loosed. Just while he was de-
liberating what to do, and how do it-sit-
ting, in brown study. in his ofice-in
walks ''Sophiar." She it seems, had com
menced a suit against him for alimony, and
actually had the effrontery to ''tender her.
SELF in legal form, to be taken back to his
bosom, and there nourished and cherished
as his lawful wife. In default of his so TAX
ing her back, her action for separate main
tenance would lie. No doubt, also, that
she would He-to prove her case. Here,
with the hero sued for his wife's debts at
common law, and put into the ecclesiastical
court for alimony, sufficiently tragic
finale is arrived at. The audience, acting
as a jury, will give verdict of ''seryed him
right" and the curtain drops.
All these circumstances are very unlike
every day life as we see it. but have the
strongest family resemblance to every day
life as representation the stage. In
The School for Scheming," by Bourci
cault, there is precisely such a scene as
occurs in this case where pair of adven-
turers, mutually deceiving and deceived,
commit matrimony. each in full expecta-
ton that the other is very rich, and present
ludicrous appearance when the truth
breaks in upon both, at the same moment.
We have not told this story, however,
with any view to make our readers smile.
We would only draw attention to the re-
tributive nature of poor Mr.. Aliens pun
ishment. He merely wanted "a woman
with money" he was willing to sell himself
for money he misrepresented his own cir
cumstances to deceive this woman, and he
was properly served out by being deceived
in turn. We sometimes notice in news
papers advertisements in which persons
calling themselves men, but evidently not
possessing honorable manly feeling; ad
vertise for wives--the main qualification
being that the fortunate lady shall possess
property. We know not whether any wo
men so qualified ever do seriously reply to
such notices should any be SO weak as to
expect fair play or honorable treatment
from persons who would thus sell themselves
for gold, they may profit by the perusal of
Mr.. Aliens matrimonial misbaps, and ap-
ply the moral of tie story to their own
case.