Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-02-15
MY FIRST MYSTERY.

In the even tenor OF my uoineIy AAo' LIZ"
ever, it was what is termed an event.
1t turned out for the best as many bitter
things do in this life of struggle, Many,
am told, are scourged by the aftiiction
under which unconsciously suffered.
was always staid, quite fellow, whc
liked home and puEctual, comfortable
life, but being bachelor, l began at the
age Of nine-and- thirty, to feel little
lonely, and my income being nearly FIVE
hundred year, and my house and appur-
tenances being quite enough for modest
family, very secretly, and with much
precaution, began TO look out fora wife.
/ believe people supposed me to be
rather older than Iactually was. My hair
was little thin at top; some people said
was bald perhaps was So My face is
not short and dumpy. don't think there
is anything vulgar about it 1t is long
AMI thin. not smirking, impudent coun,
tenance, but very grave. and perhaps a
little shy. i called young ladies miss"
and their mammas madam" and treated
both equally with the ceremonious res.
pect that tatters their selEes eem, without
for moment violating that profound
sense of decorum which is ever upTermost
in the mind of young la iy Of delicate
feelings and refined education.
lad no doubt that | should be fortu-
nate enough, in consequence of the marked
superiority. in the poin;s have indicated.
fhnaa ~
men who were then to be met say
had no doubt that should be fortunate
enough TO please whatever young lady out
of the eleven with whom had the hcn2r
TO be acquainted should ultimately Sc ect
for the partner o. my life and the regula-
tor of my hoaseho.l Icio SO Miss Martha
Fend!es. She was tall and silent had
commanding black eyes, AMI was full Of
prudence. knew had only to speak.
did. She looked surprised Her IN gni
fcent black eyes were fixed steadily upon
me for nearly half minute. while she
med.tated. and tl.ea she accepte me.
She came home. sss srred her of my
undying af'cc; ION. end tjl&ei Of culinary
and household affairs. aske.i her, among
other things, how much wine-it WAS a
subject | was sensitive upDn-she thought
wo Id cutie suiiice her every week. She
10 ME she never drank vine. beer. or
any othei ezcitnc fluid; and It dinner,
luncheon, and supper. her Il IS ;lwavs
stool empty, except when there was wlter
il t. loved her more and more every
CAV
found her alvice most valuable. She
recommended me st.ongly, for ins:cncc.
to cultiv.te Eer coCs,n, Captain Thunder.
lie was all, loud, and had back whiskcrs.
His name was Thomas Frisk Thunder,
ID his air was .stive an military.
lie was in delicate he lth. though he
Looked roba:t lie WIS threaten d with
60 sumption bur his color as Il, r.d and
lis ap; elite excellent But consumption
is Il treachcr0us complaint. end lis alvan-
ces, l am tod, irsidi us AMI disguised.
He had twenty thousand pounds in three
yer cent government stock, aid hal quar-
relied with all his relations except our
selves
quite agreed with my wife. Here
kin,luesS anl prudence pointed in the
sans dire ton. We were very attentive
u him. He Almost lived al Poplar Hol.
low. that was the name of our house We
bor. great deal from him. He had that
loose way of finging his limbs about.
which Martha detested US much as | and
he was t1tally destitute of the rcpectful
Gcercn"e AMI reserve which are found
q ways so winning with the fair sex. |
Lave seen him. when lie thou ght ! was
no looking. ci uck Martha under the chm.
Aud. or both our sakes she bore it like
~ a"gel, lut when | talked OF it TO her,
sh requested me to tell him how it dis.
gu led her; which did, and begged of
him to consider lady's feelings; which
lie promis me he would.
verythjng was going on thus happily,
and lie was growing 10 like us more aud.
NOR. when his regim, mt wa, ordcre 10
tie Vet indies. AMI in little more than
yer and half, poor fellow, he died Of
yellow fever.
The conSuls did not turn up | supp Sc
H. was extravagan.. lie must have sold
Ii s ,1o,k.
We hal acted for the best. however.
and did not regret it much. although he
had been a very heavy item in the expenses
of our little hous hold for upwards of
year. lie liked DUCKS and peas and AS,
laragus and oysters. and drank ridic,
ulous quantity Of port.
expressed TO dear Martha's mother.
when next saw her in town. my surrr ~
At the total disar, a"ance of poor Thun-
ders twenty thousand pounds stock and
sh look ed at me for some seconds, as if |
had two heads, and then, being one of
those fat women who see something di-
crous in everything. she shook and whcezed
with laughter, until good stiff 1t of
coughing pulled her up.
Then drying her eyes, she croaked with
q most unfemin ne grin st II painting:
WHO on earth, my dear Jerry told YOU