The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1860-10-06
DAY, OCTOBER 6, 1860.


Whereupon the old gentleman betook himself t..
his evening slumber, and the unhappy Merton again
had recourse to the decantcr, till sooth to saw it
refused to yield drop more. Having at length
made his way into the drawing-room, and seated
himself beside Mrs. Harbottlc. the youth fetched
a deep sigh and began to speak volumes. of which
the following is but bri ief abstract madam, that
l feel the most pure and uncomfortable affection for
your daughter is altogether undeniable; but the
Squire, now under the benign nt uence of Morphe
us, has, l cannot but hope jocuary, been pleased
to mark out for a course of studies which will
feel, be impracticable. .
''Ah, my DEAR" said Mrs. Harbottle, addressing
her daughter, your father has been insisting on
those ridiculous conditions feared as much"
An imploring glance from the tea urn too plainly
intimated that Mabel partook of her mothers che
grin.
''Well, but madam said Merton, fcrventlv, 'is
there no way OF evadng these prepostcrous articles
of treaty -
II fear not, indecd' the reply; and both
ladies' sApok thelr beads despondingly; and here
th6 aoiing sutar :alf into profound reverie.
At early daybrcak the meet morning Merton was
aroused by vociferous halloong. and the wild
blast of horn beneath his window in the midst OF
which the stentorion voice of the squire broke up
on his ear, summol,ng him without delay to the
meet, some four miles distant.
With heavy heart he proceeded to obey, and
crawling down stairs, was at once conducted to
furious quadruped, whose locomotive propensitcs,
even before he well in the saddle seemed to
fo:cte!l disastrous downfall and disgrace and init
mated by anticipation that compound fractures and
dsI"catlons Of the neck were by unfrc-
quent to those adventurous cavaliers who should
/ make up their minds, rather their bodies to
mount her. But Merton, "albcit unused to the
hunting mood, was by no means disposed at that
moment to dissolve the partnership then subxi, ting
between himself and the four-egged pest which was
capric'ously gambolling over the country and xc
cor,ingly contrived to attach himself closely to
the animal expectant heir to an expiring rcla
tive and made himself rs it were u part and nor
ton OF the beast with all the certain security Of
Centaur while tho infinite cncomiums at the CON-
clusion of the day upon the manner in which he
had acquitted himself drew tears of delight into
the eyes of Mabel and caused The face of the elder
lady mantle with satisfaction.
And now more thaa 4 month had elapsed and
the West Indian had been regularly introduced into
| the vestibu!c of the various sciences tc which it
Was deened cxpedient that he should devote his at
tention, and in spite of the athletic strength and
| constitution of the squire, he had more than once
contryed to bear away the palm of merit from his
competitor. In truth, the severe exercises in which
lie for the first time a partcip tor, hai i
not only recruited his FRAME but had given i'm
petus before untelt to his constitutions and it w.s
with rather degree Of satisfaction than otherwise
that >hc obeyed the matutinal mandates Of the
squire.
1t is true there several particular liegc
anuscments, not altogether recognized by the votx-
ries Of fashion, (which (and he huggcd himself in
the convction) were perfectly unknown to his aris
tocratc friends; aud if he did occasionally heur
corls drawn at incredibly short intervals and cheer
fully list in the absorption of the fluid at such
times liberated, who was the wiser! Not he, Ger
tanly
But It was deemed high time by the ladies that
these delights should have end. They thought
and with reason, that the implicit adherence to
the squires whms and fantasies would not only
| furnish forth bad precedent but superinduce a
ia al habit in the Young man himself The elder
lady knew full well that 'if vice by custom grow
not into nature, it is unsghty graft, ncvcrthe-
less. And Mabel said, half upbraidingly, that
Henry WIS grown strangely partial to papa"
And she began to believe quite seriously that lie
ika1 70 To herSe
But the old gentleman would hear of terms of
commodation- He averred that he had n,t hal
done with the boy yet lie protested that his
rage would be his ruin, and declared tnat he would
not hear a word about it under penalty of breaking
off the match altogether.
What is to be done?" urged Merton cxpostua-
ting with the ladies in private conference Il
solclnnly that have done everything in my
power conciliatc the Squre's esteem, and to de-
serve his friendship. l have tanned hi, most unruly
horses have than during our spar
ring exercises. caused him to adopt iuvoluntarl,
hor Zontal posonal, and have him descend
Under tho horizon of the table in all the glory Of
setting sun. Can do more p
All this it must be confessed appeared rcasona-
Die and cunsolotary enough, least far as the,
afforded evidence of our lovers unchansiug affection,
and each party fain to wait patiently for few
weeks longer. till some more auspiccus "pportuni
ty of compelling the squire to the spirit and letter
of his agreement should But the squire
grew in1cxble daily. He had become attached
TO his young friend, forcsaw plainly that his union
would cause all instant ana Ilnal Cessation OF tne
agreeable course If famuscncnts and companionshp.
without which he verify believed he should not b.
able to exist. He sought therefore, to put off the
evil day to an indefinite PERIOD and was impractical
bly, impatient of any all,lson to the subject.
1t became at length too evident to Merton that
steps must be taken forthwith to check the
wecning se!f-w of the squire, and that such mon
strances should be made would c.icctualy co.,
duce to the end he had originally proposed to
himself in his visit to 1Iarbottic Court Preparato
rv however to the discussion of the matter, he
took the opportunity one morning, when they wer,
exercising themselves in sparring, to deliver such
blow at the old gcntemans 5 ribs could by no in
genuity be Iikencd to anything more nearly, than
to the effort of giunt furnished with .ledYs-
hammer and having enj Dyed for few moments q
bird'Scye view of his prostratc antagonist, our
gratified boxer betook himself esurey to the break
fast-table Immediately after the conclusion of the
meal propitious silence having presented ITSELF the
youth lifted up his hear and voice, and with much
gravity delivered himself as follows
esquire IIarbottle beg you to bear in mind the
purpose for which came down"
:. What do YOU mean my dear fcow--what are
YOU aiming at ?' said Harbetle, in surprise
"My meaning, squire, ought to be instantaneous
| ly obvious-your daughter, slr--
| 6 No. no. my good lad, not word about it, in
! sist-a lad of your spirit am surprised.' ~
- Mr. Harbottle" said Merton, solemnly, ''thc in
stitutiun of marriage needs no d. fence from me AL
/ civilized nations have consented that such insti
tuition is Indispensable. l am candidate for I'D
mission into that community"
| Pshaw! !-stuff.-vile can't y shouted the squire
''It mustn't bel wont permit it,"
LET refresh your memory by recital of yo'
! own conditions" resumed Merton in a gradual!