The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-22
Short Courtship.


IL ficient means to enable me TO live atmy
ease, and refrain from labor of any kind,
when suddenly there, came blow that
scattered my prosperity TO the winds, and
forced me to employ my labor and wits in
the general struggle of gaining living.
The blow came in the shape of the failure
of a large firm in which my capital was in
vested.
After securing clerkship in the house
of acreditor of our late firm, my first care
was to look up less expensive boarding
house than the fashionable one in which l
was living. inserted an advertisement
in several widely circulated city papers,
asking for reasonable board ina strictly
private family, and of course received
multitude of answers by next post. Out of
this motley installment of epistes, there
was but one which pleased me, and that
one decided to answer in person imme-
diately.
Grace Kingsley was the name of the
favored landlady writing to me, and the
letter stated that her house was entirely
private, having no boarders whatever.
was much pleased with the fair, delicate
handwriting, and an idea took possession
of me that Grace was young and fascina-
ting widow Twas not disappointed when /
reached the house, and my ringing at the
door-bell was answered by the lady herself.
She invited me into the parlor in manner
so courteous, and yet so modest that had
fallen desperately in love with her before
could cross the threshold.
1 enjoyed very pleasant chat with Mrs.
Kingsley During the conversation she
informed me that her late husband had
been in Efair way of business, and at his
death, which occurred a year previous, had
left her in pretty comfortable circumstances.
They had but one child; and this item of
mortality l was graciously permitted to
look upon, as it lay peacefully slumbering
in it's cradle. / also learned that the lady
was living in the house quite alone, and
desired male boarder more as means of
protection than as a source of revenue. In
conclusion, the landlady looked so pretty
(she was quite young, not more than two
or three and twenty and the board SO
moderate, her companionship so inviting,
and she seemed to trust in me, and look
upon me SO favorably that l would have
been heathen, dead to all charms and in
ducements of the sex, if had not engaged
board on the spot.
The next day had my trunk removed
to my new boarding place, and permanent
ly established myself there. Before leav-
ing my former boarding house, a letter was
handed me by the postman, but did not
find time to examine it until / was COM
fortably ensconced in the parlor of Mrs.
.. Kingsleys cosy house.
Opening the letter, / discovered it to be
from wealthy uncle, residing in Yer
mont, who regularly sent me letter once
year; but whom had never seen. His
epistles were always short and to the point,
: generally consisting Of an account Of the
weather in his locality, and some good ad-
vice TO me to take care of my money, as
= might bs burdened with some of it before
. / was much older was always very GLAD
to get this advice from him as / regarded
it as an intimation that l was to inherit
), his wealth on his decease.
One day, however, about year previous
= 1 received letter from him which contain
: ed another topic besides those have men
toned. My uncle made some pressing in
q quiries respecting my matrimonial pros
poets, and stated that if / was not already
q married should Immediately enter int,
= the welded state, and let him know of it
!, or he would never more be an uncle o
mine.
Now, as my uncle lived in Vermont ant
I, in Philadelphia, and never anticipated
the old gentleman would pay me visi
!, and discover the falsehood, / wrote and in
formed him that was not only married
, but the father of bouncing baby. Thi
y intelligence SO pleased my uncle that h
a sent gold goblet and silver pap spoon
to be presented to my child. at first sa
ol down and wrote very romantic letter t
- my uncle, thanking him for the presents
10 and then visited the nearest jewelry stor
and turned both the goblet and spoon int
VI cash, which pocketed.
- had received no further letters from m
:, uncle until the one which read in Mr.
% Kingsley's parlor. The postscript to thi
-, rot only astonished, but absolutely frigh
at ened me. 1t read as follows:
70 ST. have never visited Philadelphia
H. SO have decided to do so at once, and g