The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-07-02
TIL E PR T. SIS.
oINoINNAT1, sATuRpAY, JULY ..
IRON the New York Ledger.
; FAL AND TRUE;
CAPTAIN UNDERHILL,s PRESENT.
[coNoLupEp.1

paulmOny IN obtaining tne euucauon Wnlcn
admirably fitted him.for one of the loftiest of
human avocations - that of teacher. He
might have entered profession, but believing
himself peculiarly adapted for the instruction
of youth, he had chosen that for bis life work.
lie had been in Beverly two years before
Marcia came home. Until then he had been
entirely devoted to his work, entering into ii
with an enthusiasm and self-sacrifce which
had produced remarkable results, and had
won him the approval of parents, and the al
most adoring regards of his pupils.
Many bright eyes had cast admitting glances
at him, and he had been pleased to look upon
beauty. But it was with the eye of an artist,
only, with the pleasure every lover of the
beautiful feels in graceful forms, and lovely
expressions, and admirable coloring. 1t was
not until he saw Marcia Underhil that any
woman had won from him more than passing
admiration. Even she did not, until he met
her at the quiet winter parties we have spoken
of, in the pleasant rambles along the sea side,
and in the woods that crowned the slope in
the spring-time; and, as summer deepened,
talked with her in the still, calm evenings
when the stars shone overhead, and the dis
tant music of the sea alone broke the mute
pauses when their voices were silent.
Then be had lelrned to love her, how or
when he knew not, but she had become to him
more dear than words could tell, long ere he
had solved the unquiet secret that struggled
within his heart. And Marcia loved George
Yale, and the words were spoken that made
the two one, so indissolubly that no human
power, no space of continents, or seas, or of
time, could separate them, or destroy union
so close and sacred.
All this time Captain Underhill was seeking
the present he wished to make to his daugh
ter-her husband, and his steward.
Among the nleasnre- see kers which that sum-
mer brought to Beverly, was one whom Marcia
instinctively detested from tho instant her eye
rested upon his face, and whom her father
would have said he as instinctive1y admired,
from the first.
A man of thirty, polished, suave, brilliant
and very handsome, was Justin Clay. Keen,
willy, urprincipled-the merest ADVENTURE
but with a stock of assurance and command
Of expedients the most extraordinary, he had
never been baf1ed. The very day he arrived
in Beverly he had heard of the Captains. plans
(for that worthy had not been very discreet),
and resolved to be candidate for the "situa-
tion."
"I am a right handsome present for lady,
now am not, my good fellow?" be said to
himself, gazing in his mirror, that very even
ing, before he retired, and ho showed his white
teeth as, with sardonic grin, he turned away
and laid his scheming head upon its pillow.
This was the man who speedily made the
acquaintance of Captain Underhill, who fiat
tered him to the top of his bent, and ere many
days were past, had become his constant vis-
itor. Within month he had made himself so
useful to the old man that he saw he could not
we'll do without him. So he talked of going
away, and when the matter was mentioned dis
claimed oil reward for his services, save one,
as he hesitatiugly affirmed, that was so far be-
yond his deserts, and even the highest hopes
of one so humble, that he dared not men
ton it.
Captain Underhill fell into the net, while all
the time he believed himself to have been wa
rily entrapping his victim. Having progressed
so far, the rest was easy, and Justin Clay re-
turned to his hotel with the fathers promise
that Marcia should be his wife. He had hinted
that Marcia might not be so willing to accept
him, but the oldman laughed down the thought
as too ludicrous to be worth moments con-
sideration. ..... ..5. .t
Next morning Captain Underhill offered his
present to Marcia's acceptance, but to his sur
prise found that she was not inclined to receive
it, while she was prepared to offer son-in- law
to his own.
The Captain was Obstinate but Marcia was
firm. She was accused of ingrattude, and re-
piled that she could not be grateful for the at.
tempt to force an unworthy stranger upon her,
when her heart and hand were already prom
ised to one of the bcst of men, whom her
father well knew to possess every qualification
that his choice possessed, with the additional
ones of an excellent character, well known in
Beverly, and mental capacity far beyond JUS
tin Clay's.
She was ordered to prepare to marry Justin
Clay within the week, and her father withdrew
to inform his intended son n-in-law Of the man
ner in which his suit had been received. He
fna IIa aalynl
for time, for he really admired Marcia, and had
| no desire to receive an unwilling bride, even
| while he had learned enough of her character
| to believe that she could not be forced into a
marriage that she detested.
But Captain Underhill was firm. Discipline
must be maintained, he swOre, and he would
not be baked by a headstrong girl. The we'd
| ding should take place, and if Clay would not
be the bridegroom, another should be found
who would accept the girl and his dollars. Clay
relented, for he had no idea of allowing the
prize to escape him. Before the worthy pail
separated their plans were all laid. Marcis
was to be surprised into surrender. Nothing
| more was to be said to her, but at the ap
| pointed time Clay was to come to the house,
! clergyman was to be in attendance, when they
relied on the girls astonishment and indeci
sion to make hera party to the ceremony.
But fortunately the "native," whom Captain
| Underhill never considered as q human being
was present at this interview, and Marcia
winning ways had made him her humble friend
He fastened to disclose the cruel plot to her
though beyond that he had no power to al
her. r...l. .#
But there was one man who was both stron
and wise. To him Marcia hastened, and wher
a few hours later, she sought her home, it wa
with the utmost calmness and content.
On the appointed evening Marcia was seate
in the drawing room of her fathers house. Sh
was plainly attired in a walking dress, and he
face wore an expression of slight anxiety
though without fear. She was, apparently
reading, but really listening.
Presently her father entered, accompanie
by the clergyman Of his church, and momeI
later the native ushered in Mr.. Clay, who at
vanced, bowing and smiling, but evidently NJ
fully self possessed. The clergyman noticel
with an expression of surprise, Marcia's dres
and the evident absence of all preparation fl
the event for which he had been summone
But he knew his rich parisbioner to be eccer
trio, and said nothing. None of the part
observed the slight sign given by the "native
as he left the room. A moment later he r
turned, followed by the house. keeper and
maid, and the circle was complete. Clay a
vanced to the side of the heiress, the clerg.
man produced his book, and Captain Underhi
: in a voice intended to be firm, ordered Marc
!. to stand beside her intended husband, and d
> minister to proceed. aIr efT ..
Marcia sat pale but firm. As the two mI