Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-10-19
AN AMERICAN vAGABOND.

there appeared in q village in the more
nOTtherly part of the State of New York
a remarkably handsome young man by
the name Of D.. Good looks are
always a valuable passfort to their pos
SCISSOR, but the credentials of the
bearer were, in this case, endorsed by a
singularly happy manner and agreeable
address. Indeed, looking back on a
long life, can scarcely recall an in
stance of young man in whom COM
hination of exterior advantages was
more remarkable. Such an easy gra-
ciOUsness Of manner, such frank, pleas
ant smile was his.
Manners did a good deal for D..
There were living at that time in
G., the village in question, a gen.
tleman who had long resided there, and
held very high place in the estima-
tiOn of the country side. He was the
father of numerous family, and both
sons and daughters had proved worthy
of the stock from which they came, and
every one was desirOus of their acquain-
tance and good opinion. 1t appeared
that D had been induced to come
to the village in consequence of hearing
that vacancy was likely to occur in
the position of a schOolmaster. He had
been graduated from Princeton, with a
high reputation for ability, and so soon
as he arrived at G., set to work
with a view of canvassing for the eX-
pected vacancy, which presently occur
red
He quickly cOntrived to form an ae-
quaintance with the family to which
have alluded. His appearance and
manners had their usual effect, and be-
fore he had been many days ut the
place he was made quite free at their
house. When the vacancy arose, their
interest, the most powerful in the place,
was eXerted in his behalf and he pres
emily occupying the coveted position.
His intimacy with the family increas-
ed. and ere six months were over he
proposed to one Of the daughters, and
met with a ready acceptance, both from
herself and her family. However, the
course of love, whether true or false, is
apt not to run very smoothly. Disa-
greeable rumOrs of gross misconduct on
the part of this model young man began
to be noised abroad, and at length reach
ed the parents of this bride. At first
they were disregarded, and attributed
to malignant gOssips, but gradually the
allegations took form too definite to
be any longer contempt. The father of
the young lady sent for her suitOr, told
him plainly, of the charges brought
against him, and intimated that so long
as such accusations hung unTefuted
over his head, the marriage was quite
out of the question. And now all the
subtle address and insinuatiOn of which
D. was q cOnsumate master, were
brought into play. BY hook or by
crook this 'artful dOdger' succeeded i'm
convincing the ingenious minds, but
too willing to believe in his innocence,
that the malignant jealousy was the
instigatOr of the foul charges preferred.
against him, and finally the father
agreed that the marriage should take
place.
It was not, however, many weeks af-
ter the ceremony circumstances occur
red, which left no doubt whatever, whit
what truth the imputatiOn against
D. had been made. In fact indig-
nation ran so high against him that he
was compelled to beat pTecipitate
retreat. He went to New York CITY,
In New York his talents soon gained
him employment, and he had not been
many weeks on the commercial ladder
before he got up a round or two. Mr..
D. had no notion Of being a drudge
for others when he might be doing bus
mess for himself, and with the adrOit-
ness for which he was remarkable he
soon started business on a large scale
without a dollar Of capital. But tiian-i
ner, appearance and ability are valu-
able stock in trade of themselves, and
no man knew better than he how to
make the most of it. He proposed,
presently, to resolve to extend opera
tiOns. He opened a branch house at st.
Louis, another at New Orleans, and three
worked wheel within
wheel. All went well. Like Col.
POmpley in the novel, he was esteemed
as 'sueh as respectable man, Won
know But at length one of the cogs
in the fly wheel brOk. The master saw
that he could not mend it, and that the
chain would probably run down. The
unjust steward was not more fully equal
to the occasion than D. He pres
emily announced that he had bought a !
territory Of the most valuable descrip-
ton in Virginia, and having very deftIy
forged the title deeds of this delightful
estate, took his departure, Ostensibly to
visit his new acquisition, having pre-
viOusly deposited the documents with a
house which had advanced him q EIifie
Of a good many thousand dollars upon
this property,
Suddenly, changing his purpose, he de- |
ferred his visit to the Virginia estates, :
and, instead, repaired to a seaport, /.
where, accompanied by his wife and I
child, he betOOk himself to England, (
and was for many long year heard of
no more in the United States,
It was not, however, many months |
before the wife and child made their ap- |
perance in New York. It seems that /
This admirable husband and parent had /
put them on board a vessel and sent |
-hem home.
Meanwhile D, changing his
name, and not imprObably adopting
some steps, to alter his personal appear
lnce, pursued the zen tenor of his way
n the British metropolis. Soon he
was again in business and prOSnerinC.
His manner and appearance once more
stood him in stead Here was no mon
ed city snOb, but n fellow who really
vas agentleman,' people declared, and
he very best class of city men, 'swells'
and those who tura their noses
Up at ordinary rank and file of Thread I
leedle street and Conhill, received
linn as favOrite guest. Before two
ears were over he had got into SOcie-
W and belonged to one of the West
end Clubs, and not much later he en-.
,uged the affections Of Lady A.
3---, daughter of the Earl of D
nj was subsequently married to her. u
nut he had now pretty well, the
ength of his tether. About q yenr af-
er the marriage, his affairs became
OmpWhnf NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or1 y, -,