, 1859-09-16

W uSSe WOIus cOulu nVe IOf ner, but could
not die for her; SO protested that had known
his .pretensions to the lady should never have
made advances, and should thenceforward think no
more OF her. This, he said, was so prodigiously
handsome, that he should be happy to become more
particularly acquainted with me; and we parted
with an engagement that should dine with him
the next day, having, he said, six elegant sisters
whom he was desirous Of introducing me to. 1.
went, and was most graciously received by the
whole family, particularly by Miss O'Shane, the
eldest daughter, short thick girl, with axen hair
(now. like Lord Byron, II hate dnmpy woman
and faxen hair is my abOmination) white cheeks,
and no eyebrows. Next this lady l was seated at
dinner in the evening we went to the rooms, and
with this lady it was my fate to dance. The next
morning the Colonel called on me, and took me
with him to inquire after the ladies; they were
about to go on q shopping expedition, and Miss
OShane was handed over to my protection. In
short, by the extremely clever conduct Of Mrs.
O'Shane, Col. 0'Shane, and Miss O'Shane the
fashionable circles Of the fashionable city Of Bath
speedily resounded with the intended marriage Of
this accomplished young lady and Mr.. Tyrrel Trem-
lington.
Things had gone on in this way for a few weeks,
when one morning meeting the Colonel in the
Crescent, he took me by the arm, and turning into
the gravel walk, Faith, Tremlington," said he,
IoaAiJ INV uOu tnlllh yOu uht me Weil IN tnl1
affair with my sister; here's all the world ac-
quainted with your attachment TO Martha Il al
ways detested the name Of Martial except her
own brother, and your particular friend. Now
If this cOncealment arose from any doubt Of my
consent my dear fellow, put that out Of your
head, for do not know the man with whom would
sooner trust the girls happiness than yourself
Upon my soul, now, I'm In earnest and she is, /
must say, the best creature in the wOrld-iust
suited to you-full Of soul and sentiment 70 wo-
man Of soul and sentiment was always my abhor-
rence). Just now, to be sure, shade OF melan-
choly hangs about her in consequence Of Sir Thom-
as LitsOns conduct-perhaps You have not heard
Of it-iAith he was great scoundrel. II was at
Brighton last summer he had been paying her
attentions at oil times and everywhere-as kind
and atBectionate as your own, my dear fellow-and
everybody said the day was fixed, as they now do
respecting you, you know. He had made, too,
considerable advances in her alections-not 80 iar
as you have, however, that i must acknowledge.
Well, Ispoke to him one morning, Just as l am
now speaking to you, and he had the impudenee
to tell me that he had nothing to do with the talk
Of the town, and that he had no intention Of en-
cumbering himself with wife. You may guess
the rest, my good fellow; we met the next morn
ing on the downs, and settled his business com
pletely. never made cleaner shot in my lite
thesurgeon told me afterwards that 1t went through
the centre Of the pericardium. It struck first,
Just here" said the Colonel, tapping the fourth
button Of the LEFT lapel Of my coat and the blow,
gentle as It was, would have prostrated me, had
It not been for the supporting arm Of the Colonel
"But come, see you are agitated," continued be,
and the sooner we get over the declarations
Prs%ter pas you lnOw-the sooner your happiness
stopped moment-I thought that / also
could tell him that was not prepared to encnm-
Der myself with wife; for moment considered
whether il would not be better 70 be shot at once
than to be married to Miss O'Shane; but the
thought Of the pistOlbullet through the centre Of
the pericartlium came across my mind with all is
dreadful circunistantiality, and suffered myself
to be led to the Col0nels house, where we found
the young lady, solitary and melancholy. Here
the Colonel soon settled the business; he assured
his sister Of my unalterable attachment, ehtreated
her by q sisters love to have compassion on the
feelings of his friend; and when the girl hid her
face in one hand and held out the other, he placed
the latter in mine with most tremendous squeeze,
and declared il to be the happiest day Of his Life.
He then led me aside, and entFeated me not TO
hurry the weddingday too quickly he hoped l
could wait three weeks well, IL could not, Il
my ardor was 50 great he must insist, for his SIS
ters sake, that Il should not take pace for q fort
night He then turned 10 his sister, and begged
her, rs she valued my happiness she would not
delay beyond the neriod 6e Ind named, What
could Miss O'Shane reply 70 this aHectionate ad-
iurationG She turned IN her ewes most patheti-
cally, and vowed she valued my happiness 100
highly to permit her to refuse me anything
Thus went home an engaged man, and an
nounced my fate, with tears and trembling, to my
mother, the gooa lafIv scohIel- ---1nr az could
scold, and hsd not oItrrown the teFrors Of her
voice; but arguments and anger were both thrown
away upon me--the dreaded bullet through the
pericarVlum rendered me deaf to the one and care
les Of the other. .T3h1
My wedding morning arrived with q speed IeaF-
approach. OH tkat wretched morning! to com