, 1863-04-30
A Successful swindle.

ton. My money has been obtained from me
under false pretenses; my feelings have been
most cruelty lacerated, and assault and battery
committed on my heart. Is there; 10 this free
and enlightened country, no redress for wrongs
like thesef ask this repeatedly. and am as
repeatedly assured there Is none. AN can do,
therefore, Is TO write clear statement Of the
circumstances under which suffer, in the hope
that nv fate may prove warning to other young
bachelors, and lead them to beware Of basaars
and Of young ladies behind . counter.
am young man Of good family, with hand
some allowance, and flrst.rate expectations. |
suppose should be called q catch BY match
making mammas and their daughtefA l am .
captain In crack regiment, my height Is six
feet, and my whiskers are eunexeephonable. Al
together, till misfortune overlook me, ! was as
pleasant, gOod-looking . young fellow - ever
flirted at q waltz, or made love at picnic.
One morning last July, while lounging In my
quarters at Dover, and doing nothing 10 particu-
lar, received the following pink note: 'a1
sDEAR CAPTAIN BRANTHwAYTE: We have
al been very busy here getting up q fancy fair
In aid Of the endowment fund Of Z new church
at Clay.cum.S Sickle The Rev. Augustus Needall
has kindly consented to undertake the FespOnsi-
bic duties OF the incumbent but bis principles
will not allow him to enter on his new and ar
uuuuB bDucEe uulll tuo Gll0OWulptb AuA4 70 SotA-
pleted. The dear man says, so wisely and feel
ingly: How can I administer to the wants Of
Q numerous and starving flock, when 90 many
Of the bafe neeessafies Of life are wanting to
myselfP So We want about $1,000 more to
make up nice little income, and build him Q
commodious parsonage, and then we shall do
charmingly. His excellent wife Is aiding us,
heart and soul; and you, ] am sure, viii like
wise contribute your mite, and bring over some
Of your brother officers to do the same. The
day is ixed for next Thursday Bring your
friends 10 lu1eh at my hotise, and do not fail me-
"Yours, sincerely,
"CEcILiA PKYoR.
"PLucKwELL, Saturday. 'le" -
"P.S.-There will be a ball In the evening at
the Assembly Rooms for the same object.
Tickets, 81 Is How many win you havefe
Now, knew Mrs Pryor was busy. mcddle-
some person, but also knew that pretty girls
were generally to be met at her house besides
old Pryor had bin Of still champagne 10 his
cellar that was ~ no means to be despised. So
wrote OF forthwith, promising TO bring over
half dozen friends, for whom tickets might be
secured. Thursday being fne, we set OF In high
spirita, and reached PluckWell In time for good
lunch at Mrs. Pryor's, aiteF which we started for
the scene Of action.
We soon reached the large field In which the
tents were pitched-entrance q. 3D., which We
paid cheeffdlly, Il being the first demand. In
the field We found the usual wheel Of fortune,
gipsy's tent, refreshment STALL and one large
marquee with gaily dressed COUNTERS and still
more gaily dressed girls behind them. Crowds
Of people moved about the iield, looking as mis-
cradle as English folks always do on festive occa
sions. Suddenly one Of my companions ex
claimed: "Holloi Branthwayte, look q that
little creature there standing on the chair"
looked round, Of course, little thinking Whist
would be the consequence, and my gaze was
spell-bound BY the sweetest little fairy eyes ever
looked upon There she stood on chair, before
little looking.glnss, trying on pink hood, which
she was endeavoring TO persuade some idiot 70
buy. -. Il, f.ss Il
Never before bad seen such charming IN.
consciousness, such naivette, such grace. ldon't
know what she had on; Il was something white,
and cloudy and angelic. But much clothing
seemed superHuous IN her case, for clouds Of
golden curls fell showeFing to her tiny waist and
were brushed back from the sweetest, gentlest,
and withal most piquant face IN the world Ql
am aware that am using great many adjee-
tiVes, but really the occasion demanded them)
nv irst feeling on seeing hot Was that ! had
never truly loved till then; my second, an almost
irresistible inclination to knock down that dri-
Yelling maniac who was actually hesitAting about
buying the hood. He said 1t would be Of no
use 20 him. Fool m
Ia moment was beside the chair, and. speech
less with emotion, rendered sovereign for the
All thSt's capital I" she said, with the sweet
est lOOk Of gratitude. awhy, NJ. Serewker has
been doubling whether be would give me ifleen
shlngs for Il. ! hope yOu dOpt want any
1Chaneel" Isasped; anever.S
"Then come 70 our stall, she said, jumping
daintily down from hef elevated post "and
will iind some Of my very own work for you"
|. Of course, followed her to q large stall,
where three other charming girls and hand
some mamma presided; and Of course gave
fabulous price for cigar-case, which she said
she had worked. Il don't believe she bad, for It
was hideous.l OF course, too, had to buy
something quite useless Of ell the three sisters,
and to put into an the rafties, winning at last
large wax doll, several sizes larger than q child
Of six months, As this last acquisition em.
barrassed me Q good deal, gave Il back TO her,
and afterwards saw her sell L over again for .
considerable sum TO good'natuFvd old gentle.
You make . capital shopwOman," said
"Ah, yes, have some toleFable dodges
did Q good business before you came in iaded
sixpenny bouquets, which sold for i've shillings.
They were 50 worthless that good many peO
pie gave them back to me, and sold them over
again. sold one nine times, and made forty.
ave shillings BY i'll" and she gave . merry litlle
laugh eat the folly Of some people" with = sly
glance at me- ventured on tender rspFOaeh: :
"And nothing whispered 10 you 10 keep .
bouquet for met" .stA
"No, indeed but can get you rosebud, q
beauty, Il you like" and OF she danced, way;
ing me back, when I wouid have followed; and
beckoning to an elderly grave-lOOking person,
who stood BY the stall, and who was 10 all ap-
pearance the father Of the charming quartett
She soon came running back breathless, her
attacked that slinEy Nj. Screwkef who would
not buy the hood, and whom she now tried %