The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-10-29
MR.. SMITHS ADVENTURE
By FRANCIS A. DURlEAGE.

On very pleasant juno moIHluS,
handsome young man OF twenty Two or
whereabouts, fashionably attlred, ana
with that pensive, melancholy air, which
we'll became his dark eyes and wavy
locks, and which marked him as poet
of the Byron school, rejected lover, or
on uuluckly gamester, or turf defaui-
ter, or a brletless attorney, or whatever
you will, for melancholy has many
csuses, and wraps her dark mantle
round many shoulders in this weary
world of ours-a handsome, melancholy
Young man, we say, interesting enough
TO flutter the hearts ola whole boarding
school, was strolling along pleasant
lime in one of the rural counties of Eng
land. He had come down by the Lon
don coach, and, while waiting for con-
yeyance TO take him across the country
TO the place of his destination, thought
TO amuse himself by brief ramble. lie
paused now aud then to gather fra
grant rose, or bunch of hawthorn from
the hedgerow; but he tossed away the
flowers as carelessly as he culled them.
"HeighOw he muttered 10 himself.
at remains to be seen what will be
the upshot of this visit TO my rich old
bachelor uncle, my only surviving rela-
tive. Is it at all likely the whimsical
old humorist, whom l have not seen
since childhood, will suit me, or that L
shall suit himi A retired man of bust
ness, how can expect that he will fancy
a COED for nothing fellow, who never
did ANY business in his whole life IA
poet. whose book didn't sell; dramat-
lat. whose play was failure; literateu-
who found no favor with the publishers
Will be pay my debts, and make me his
heir My whole London lite has been a
failure, and the only agreeable episode
was nv trip To Bath. Poor Sophy
Wruggles! | believe she loved me SIM
cerely. Bat l acted honorably. When
found that my heart was engaged, l
tore myself away without an explana
ton. For what had to offer herf |,
bankrupt in hope and purse"
As he unused thus morufully, he came
In sight of handsome villa facing q
broad. smooth. shavcn lawn, and backed
by pretty garden and park of orna-
mental trees. AS he paused to survey
it with the pleased eye of q poet, smart
servant III spruce livery advanced along
the road, and after glancing at him
sharply, touched his hat, and sald. re-
specially, "Mr. Smith"
That's my name"
Thank ye-thank We, sir" said the
fellow, grinning from ear to ear; and
turning on his heel, heTan of and disap-
psared.
us that fellow crasyi"
A moment afterward dozen or more
farmers bows, armed with muskets,
suddenly appeared in tho road before
him, and setting up loud hnrrah, dis
charged their weapons simultaneously,
aud then Disappeared in the smoke.
What the deuce is TO pay heref'
Thought Smith. SIS this election day,
or fair day or is that lunatic asylum,
and these fellows msdmen u
He walked on. curious to learn the
cause of the commotion. As he advanc-
ed, he saw a white flag dying on the
lawn, and he beard the distant sound OF
music. AS he approached nearer to the
village, gate In the thick hedgerow
opened, aud portly gentleman in black,
Win spotless white wa;stcoat, very
rosy gllls, and bunch of flowers in his
putton-hoie, suddenly appeared with
Doth hands extended.
:, NY Dear boy" said he, welcome!
You're before Your time; but so much
the better. ltspeaks well for your gal
Isntry. But where's ysur uncle"
haven't seen him yet, sill; aud Ihear
he's unwell."
"Well, well, said the old gentleman
al hardly expected him. You don,
look quite well yourself-a little naIa
nervous. No matter, it will soon h.
over-heyi VOL, you don't look a biz
like the old man; | expected to find
you shorter and stouter. thought
Sopby must have been mistaken in your
appearance"
Hsophy " excla:r ed Smith, more and
more Lewlldered.
Gay, ~, my boy! She's told ME all
how she met you at Bath and loved you,
sand how you suddenly disappeared.
You had no idea of entering into an ar
rsngement for lie without seeing your
intended; aud faith, don't blame sou
Tor 1t. When was of yeur age /
wouldn't have married girl to please
thousand uncles till I'd satisfied my
sell. But you never let your uLcle know
about that trip 10 Bath. Sly dog! But
come along"