The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-21


DERBY as if, like ourselves, it remembered and
mourned the Golden East and the friends we
had left behind, and the brief bright life Of
enchantment, vanished forever,
-%aA
a Local Romance
A singular phase of colonial life occurred IN
this district a short time ago. 1t reveals in
the narrative Of events which make up the .
whole, much of those comi-tragic clements .
which SO often find place among our every
day experiences, yet which we seldom find
\ linked together in continuous relation. The
story, with some embellishments, reached US
few DAYS since, but we preferred waiting to
ascertain the unadorned facts before submit
ting The occurrences to the public. A free Sc /
lector in the vicinity of Streatham, bad, in ac
cordancc with the provisions of the land bill,
commenced making the required improve
ments on his ground, and in order to carry out
these efectuaIIv small house was erected on
the allotment on which the laborers worked,
where the usual domestic duties were con
Quoted by young woman who possessed the
advantage of good looks and an amiable tem
per. These qualities, although existent in
the bush, did not long remain unseen or I'M
appreciated. They had their full effect on the
heart Of one Of the fencers who was employed
to assist in the Improvements, and in course
of time the enamored newer of wood revealed
his affections to a not unwilling ear
EIated with the success Of his rather short
woong, he very properly communicated with
the girls master, who resides in the small
township before named and the former hav-
ing ascertained that the intentions of the man
were honorable and his proestations of affcc
ton sincere, agreed to relieve the fiancGe from
her position. Her betrothed then conveyed
her to a hotel, not more than a score of miles
from Ararat, where it was agreed she should
; board for fortnight at the expense Of the in
tending bridegroom, so that she might prepare
for entrance into connubial life, and make such
! fitting preparations as her position demanded.
In the meantime, the expcctant arbiter of her
: destiny departed for the purpose of making
comfortable arrangements for the future
In due course O! time it was arranged that
: the wedding feast-that is to say a supper af-
f ter the celebration of the mawiage-should
take place at the hotel where the lady was
staying that the marriage ties should be
$ bound in Ararat where a luncheon would be
. partaken Of b. the happy pair, who would
$ then proceed to enjoy the feast in company
i with those guests whom they might invite to
the hotel where the lady was stopping. In
e pursuance of this plan a large and very ex-
e ceIent supper was ordered to be prepared and
a furnished on an evening named, while the
:. bridegroom elect went into Ararat for the pur-
It pose Of arranging matters in reference to the
marriage and the luncheon, promising to re-
9 turn and take away his intended in time to
d Join their guests, united couple
! On the day named the invited arrived, and,
amid the usual congratulations of those as
|, sembled, the fair intended awaited the an
: proach Of him with whom she was prepared
i to unite her fate. But the hours sped away
|. without bringing the intended bridegroom.
: Morning passed TO midday and midday on
d to evening, and still he did not come It was
h now evident that the marriage could not be
d performed on that day, and that if the guests
5 chose to stand upon ceremony they would de-
0 part to their respective homes without pagtak-
: ing Of the good things which had been pre-
: pared for them This was not to be thought
d Of The guests had fulfilled their part of the
d contract their appetltes were good and The
g viands tempting, so they sat down to the we'd
S ding feast without the welded or the wedding.
e They ate and enjoyed themselves and danced
they drank success and prosperity and good
e luck to the future happiness of those who had
: not yet been married, and they continued their
: good wishes and hearty observance Of the oc-
d casion far into the morning. but still there was
Ii no appearance Of the intending bridegroom,
and still waited the intending bride.
/; The next day brought reflection and alarm
S for the missing man, although it was still
! hoped he would make his appearance, and so
: active measures TO find the recalcitrant were
4 a ~
tel went to Ararat, determined to bring him
; back by means fair or foul, for he pittied, as
!, others did who were present at the pre-mar-
e riage feast, the position of the engaged. After
0 much inquiry, it was found that the man had
t been in three of the Ararat hotels, in one of
t which lie ordered luncheon for four, but here
$ all trace of him was lost, and the sympathis-
inc landlord left Ararat alone and alarmed for
the absence of the man, and the not very en-
yiable position Of the girl. While OH his road
: home or after his arrival there, he was Joined
! bv one Of his late guests, who expressed very
earnest Indignation at the intending bride
groom, and very strong sympathy for the ex-
pectant bride He diated upon her appear
ance and amiabiity, praised her admirable
bearing under the late trying circumstances,
and concluded by declaring She was a right
worthy girl, whom he would marry if she had
not shit to her back
The worthy Boniface pondered on this,
learned that the lover No. 2 was sincere and
arranged meeting. This took place in short
time afterwarl, and ended, after a very long
and earnest consultation, in which explana-
tons were freely given, in an engagement for
wedding No 2 This, we are glad to say,
was duly consummated, and the girl is nowin