The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-29
MisteIl
HOW He GOT HIS WIFE.
BY ]. NJ. MALONE.

Tom Waters was just entering upon
his profession-the LAWN thelittle viii
lage OF Daleville, where he became deep
IL enamored of pretty little Bessie Nor
ria, The merchants daughter.
In truth, Bessie was pretty enough to
turn any head. Although she had not
quite completed her ighteenth summer,
yet the precocity of the Southern CLINE
had fully developed her into state of
wotsianhood. Not one of these wasp
like creatures that the hand might span,
but into stout, square built woman;
low of stature, and possessing the bust,
and the graceful, tapering limbs of a
Venus de Medici. Her face was between
the oval and the round; her forehead
was rather low, and as free from marks
as piece of Paphian marble; her nose
was tho mitieated aquiline; and her lips
though full and pouting, wore a saucy
curl about them that gave them a far
more tempting expression. Her eyes
were ofthe deepest blue imaginable, and
although generally smiling and saucy,
when occasion demanded, they could be
as soft and tender and loving as any lit
tie eyes under the dcme of high heaven;
her hair, too, silken, fiaxen, and luxur-
liant, falling in wavy ringlets around
her neck and gradually sloping should
ers-had a half saucy expression about
it, when tossed by a movement of the
pretty head.
Forsooth, was she as bewitching a
creature as ever tripped through the
streets of Daleville, and no wonder that
Tom loved her.
Nor did he at all refrain from telling
to her Of his attachment, and she, like a
brave, good girl, acknowledged that che
loved him in return. And when he
asked her to be his wife, che bravely
told him
'Yes."
And now the only thing that remain
ed to coniplets their happiness was to
gain the consent of Bessie's father, and
be happily married.
But, somehow, "true love never did
run smooth" When Archibald Norris
was interviewed by the young man and
his sanctions of their intention sought,
he drew himself up to his full height,
and custing look of inetfable scorn
upon poor Tom, said in contemptuous
to les. .ta l.tl
"You marry my daughter You, sir I
And, pray, what have you got to take a
wife tor"
Tom looked somewhat abashed, and
told the merchant that it was true he
was poor, yet his profession, he thought
yielded him an income sufficient to sup
port a wife, and also that the said pro-
fession was rapidly growing.
leave my mouse, young man, and
never dare to enter itagain or il may be
worse for you'll And remember, too,
never presume to address my daughter
again ~ ..-
And with this the merchant showed
Tom to the door. qdl 9H alnug ST. I,
He went forth somewhat crest-fallen,
but not entirely despairing. He was
determined not to give Bessie up so
easily. ntle sefa rHlt e43l
The following day, at an hour when
the merchant was likely to be absent,
Tom Drawing everything, betook him
self to the house of Archibald Norris. j..
Bessie had already, learned from her
father of the interview and its result,
and she met the young man with look
of hopeless misery; for she very we'll
knew: that when her stern old father
said anything there was naught ofearth-
ly power that could turn him from his
stubborn purpose. 'et, ~
Tom told her that now their only chace
lay in flight, and clandcstine marriage;
and that probably the old man might
soon forgive them. And they were
quietly discussing this point, when who
should break in on their privacy but
AchiDald Norris himself. Yes-Archi-
bald Norris; and the dark, om:nous
cloud that rested on his brow plainly
foretold the dreadful storm that was
ewing.