Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-05-04
PEGEDE'S PENALTY.

PREDE'S PENALTY.
was left an orphan at an early age
6ut with immense wealth. Arriving al
manhood, | enjoyed all that uulrammcct
leisure that money, could procure. ]
Travelled, and for some years pursued
those amusements and pleasures which
the old world, with its experience o
luxury, offers to the unoccupied and
wealthy. When | was abont thirty |
determined to marry; and as my prop.
erty consisted chiefly of land, situated in
my native country, l wished, when |
married, to return there aud make it my
home. Then | thought it would be bet
ter to select wife from my own coun-
trywomen--one who would consent to
settle down to the domestic life of her
own home and shrunk from selecting
my future life companion among the
gay and brilliant bellies of foreign cir.
cles. was weared of travelling and
pincd for some new sphere of enjoy
ment, A quiet married life could pro-
cure happiness for ne, | felt sure ; and
on my voyage home l built all sorts OF
domestic castles in the air
thought it wonld be very easy in my
own country to obtain just the kind of
wife | wanted. | had no doubt OF
my success. | knew | had a fine per.
sonal appearance, and good address,
which would, of course, secure the
heart of the happy lady Of my selection
then my handsome fortune and excellent
position in society would smooth away
all family difficulties.
Just after my return home | found
there were as many obstacles existing
to my marriage as abroad the women
were the same,-beautitul, accomplished
and interesting, but mere women OF the
world
mixed in the fashionable world, OF
course, aud was mark for scores of
maneuvering mammas and fair daugh-
ters. No one asked what faults | had,
or whether my disposition was such as
to insure happiness in married life. My
passionate, wilful temper was termed a
becoming spirit, my sellishncss was Ell
ther overlooked or unCared for. pos
sessed every charm of mind and person
because was an excellent match. Dis
gusted, | almost resolved on old bachel-
hood Tor the rest of my life.
One summer, after recovering from
an attack of illness, Happened, by
chance, in travelling about to restore my
lost health, to stop at a sea-bathing
place, unfrequentcd by the fashionable
world. 1t was so unlike every other
watering place had ever visited, that |
resolved TO remain there until became
tired Of it, as | had been Of everything
else.
At this retired place l met Fanny
Fairclough. Her parents had gone
there, like myself, for the benefit Of
their health, rather than amusement.
| soon discovered that Mr.. Faircough
and my father had been college friends /;
and though they had but rarely met af.
ter they left college, the recollection of
their boyish Intimacy was so pleasant
to Mr.. Fairclough that he received the
son of his old friend warmly and afec
tionatcly.
From my first interview with Fanny
Fairclough | felt interested in her, and
an intimate acquaintance increased that
interest. soon penetrated her charac-
ter-not difficult task, for never had
seen face so expressive Of the feelings
of the soul as hers. Her actions, too,
were dictated alouc by the impulses of
the pure heart. found that she was
artless, intelligent, and afectionate.
Nevertheless, when circumstances
aroused her, she possessed an impotuous
temper, and not little pride | soon
found that she was rather self.willed ;
but | excused this failing, for she had
been the petted plaything of parents,
friends, and teachers These were her
only faults, and | thought they might
easily be corrected, for, while harshuess
but incensed her, she was as easily con.
trolled by gentleuess as child aud
determined to win her.
loved her as had never loved wo.
man; read with her her fayorite au-
thors and mine; | walked and rode,
sung and talked with her. | told her
of the lands had visited, of the won
ders had seen; and when, at last |
gave utterancc to my love, my words
fell on willing ear, and | soon obtained
permission to ask her hand of her pa
rents. Great was their astonishment
when they heard their girlish daughter
demanded in marriage. They had seen
my attentions, it was true; but they
had looked on me as so much her SEN
ior-she was but twenty, beyond thlr-
ty-that they had never imagined the
possibility of my becoming a lover.
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