Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-03-05

my motives when / say | have had many OPP
portunities to marry which the world call good.
But they weigh advantages by scale different
from mine. They look for show and for sub
stance. They want rich houses, dress and fur
niture and want a homo-real enjoyment, that
outside matters of money, fashion, and such,
can't spoil | believe in marriage for love, and
as have not met any one since my husbands
death that | could love, have not married"
Mrs L, with a vast deal of similar talk,
labored to convince Mr.. Gillette that her mo-
tiyes for going to the matrimonial Office were
as spotless as a bran new shirt-collar all of
which was unnecessary; for Mr.. Gillette had
acknowledged to himself that fifty thousand
would sanctfy many Irregularities.
ado you love poetry?" she asked him with
lively glow of enthusiasm.
"Oh, yes, very much," replied Gillette, al
though in truth he could not repeat ten stanzas
to save his head, unless he quoted from Chris
TVS Negro Minstrelsy.
81 am very fond of poetry" continued the
widow-"very fond of it. OF course you have
seen lngomar the Barbarian"
81 believe | have seen him.
"Certainly-it is play. There is a beauti-
ful description -
IT what love is thoudst be taught,
Thy heart must teach alone;
Two souls with but n single thought,
Two hearts that beat us one"
"She's sentimental" thought Mr.. Gillette
and although that worthy gentleman was as far
from home in the field of sentimentality as ever
Sancho Panza in the field of chivalry he resolv-
ed, for the sake of $4,000, to make desper-
ate effort to be sentimental, and forthwith broke
out into various awkward and rapturous excla-
nations in appreciation of the poetry, with
which the widow seemed greatly delighted.
The widow quoted any number of love -ditties
and sentimental Passages to all of which Mr..
Gillette listened with great apparent pleasure,
and made as many abortive attempts to say
equally pretty things; and the widow seemed so
much delighted that he actually thought he had
succeeded. The interview was prolonged until
near dark, when the widow, expressing great
surprise that it was so late, arose to depart
Mr.. Gillette requested the privilege of calling
upon her at home.
mot yet" replied the widow. al should be
happy to have YOU do SO, but the truth is, do
not at present wish my father to know that |
receive the visits of gentlemen. There are rea-
sons which prefer not to state now, but which
are entirely satisfactory. If you wish to see
me again, will meet you here at any time you
will name"
Tomorrow" suggested Gillette
Very WE'LL said the widow, and laying her
soft hand lightly in Mr.. Gllette's, babe that
thoroughly smitten gentleman good night.
As soon as she left the house the landlady
came in and asked anxiously-
"Did you tell her?'
"Tell her what?"
"That told you she was rich?"
"No."
81 am glad. She would never forgive me-
She wants to be loved for her own sake, she
savs-not for her money"
"She deserves 1t, hang me if she don't" in
terpos9d Mr.. Gillette, quite dropping the senti-
mental style.
"You like her, them"
ayes, desperately"
''Hir1yI, 'uueSs She YfAe meth
Like you Yes! she is in love with you al
ready"
mo" said the excited Gillette fairly SPRING
ing from his chair with rapture. "Did she tell
YOU SOP"
''Not in so many words" replied the house
keeper; "but she might as well have said it.
She said she was greatly pleased with you, and
| could tell by her actions that she was dead in
love. But the matter has got to be managed
cautiously. As told you yesterday, as long as
she lives at home her father has the handling of
her money, and he's a sour old fellow, and is
very much opposed to her marrying, ynd would
make great fuss if he knew she intended to.
1t makes him mad for a week if gentleman
calls upon her, and she has to be very careful
ann avoid society on that account. But if you
once marry her, he can't help himself, and will
get over his fit, and it'll be all right But if
you should go there two or three times he would
be sure to forbid you the house. don't sec
but one way of your doing it, and that is to
meet here"
"Well," replied Mr. Gillette, ait will be Just
as we'll / shall propose to her at the next
meeting, or the one after, and l hope to be mar
ried in little while"
you can meet her here as well as not, Mr..
Gillette. You see have decent parlor where
you will not be disturbed; but of course, YOU
know, have to pay a good rent for it, and you
will, of course, be willing to do what is right"
"Of course" said Mr. Gillette, at the same
time handing her five dollars. He believed the
fifty thousand, to some extent, dependent upon
the good will of the matrimonial broker. Hav-
ing arranged everything to his satisfaction, he
went to his lodgings, full of golden visions, and
taking volume of selections from the reading
room, labored until midnight in committing
snatches of sonnets and sentimental tit-bits, to
fire at the widow next day
The meeting next day was highly satisfactory
and another interview was appointed for the
day succeeding, in which Mr.. Gillette proposed
ana was accepted.
"Now," said the widow, "do you believe me
poor or rich?"
II have made no inquiries concerning youl
circumstances" was the equivocal reply of the
suitor. 81 do not want to marry you for money
it is for yourself"
"The very reason l can love you," replied
the widow. "You have acted nobly. You have
proposed without knowing anything of my cir.
umstances-without even asking to see m,
friends. And since it is so, will tell you now
that am worth considerable property"
"lndeed" said Mr.. Gillette.
ayes, | suppose l have fifty thousand, o.
thereabout And now will explain why dc
not want you to call on me at home. My faith
er wants the management of my money, and il
very much irritated if gentleman pays me any
attention. l prefer on his account to be mar
ried, without his knowledge, to leave the city
and inform him by letter. He will be angry fo
little while, but will soon get over it"
at will be easy to arrange matters in tha
way" replied Gillette "We can be married
here, at the Office and leave town. When shal
we goP"
"Whenever you wish"
sit shall be week from to-day"
"lf you wish it."