The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-06-07
: HURRIED COURTsHIP.

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 Ia
bor and wits in the general struggle of
gaining living. The blow came in
the shape of the failure of large firm
in which my capital was invested.
after securing a 6elerkship in the
house of creditor of our late firm, my
sive boarding house than the fashion
able one in which | was living. / in
serted an advertisement in several
widely circulated city papers, asking
for reasonable board in q strictly pri-
vate family, and of course received a
multitude of answers by the next post.
Out of this motley installment of epis-
ties, there was but one that pleased me,
and that one | decided to answer in
person immediately. #
Grace Kingsley was the name OF the
favored landlady writing to me, and
| the letter stated that her house was en-
| tirely private, having no boarders what
| ever. [ was much pleased with the fair,
| delicate handwriting, and an idea took
possession of me that Grace wasa young
! and fascinating widow. was not dis
appointed when ! reached the house,
4 tlIIu lily dGU uOUE-UEll WaLS
answered by the lady herself. She in
vited me into the parlor in a manner
| so courteous, and yet SO modest, that |
had fallen desperately in love with her
I before could cross the threshold.
enjoyed a very pleasant chat with
| Mrs. Kingsley. During the conversa-
/ ton she informed me that her late hUs-
| band had been in fair way of business,
and at his death, year previous, had
| left her in very comfortable circum-
stances. They had but one child; and
| this item of mortality I was most gra-
ciously permitted to look upon, as it
| lay peacefully slumbering in its cradle.
[ also learned t hat the lady was living
! in the house quite alone, and desired
| male bOarder more as a means Of pro-
tectiOnsthan as a source of revenue. In
| conclusion the landlady looked so
pretty (she was quite young, NOT more
| than two or three and tWentyo and the
| board so moderate, her companionship
| SO inviting, and she seemed to trust
in me, and look upon me so favoTably,
4 that would have been o heather, dead
/ to all charms and inducements of the
sex, If had not engaged board on the
spot. 5.-
| The next day I had my trunk removed
to my new bOarding-pla and per-
manently established myself there.
| Before leaving my boarding house q
letter was handed me by the postman,
but did not find time to examine it
until was comfortable ensconced in
| the parlOr of Mrs. Kingsley's cosy house.
Ie7 Opening the letter discovered it to
be from o wealthy uncle of mine, re-
siding in Vermont, who regularly sent
me letter once year, but whom l had
Il He n-o1c&1o, .a1T
short and to the point, generally consist
| ing of an acconrlt of. the weather in his
locality, and good advice to me to take
care of my money, as [ might be bur-
dened with some. more Of it before I
was much older. was always very
glad to get this advice from him, as +
regarded it as an iTti1nati0n that was
| to inherit his wealth on his decease.
One day, however, about year pre-
vious, received letter from him
which contained another topic besides
those, have mentioned. My uncle
made some pressing inquiries about my
matrimonial prospects, and stated that
If I was not already married should at
aonce enter into the welded state, and
let him know of it. or he would never
more be an uncle of mine.
Now, as my uncle lived in Vermont
and in Philadelphia, and | never an
ticipated that he would ever pay. me a
visit and discover the falsehood, Wrote
and informed him that j was not only
married but the father Of q bouncing
baby, This intelligence so pleased my
uncle that he sent gold goblet and sill
yer Dap-sDOon to be presented to my
child. Lat once sat down and wrote
a very romantic letter to my uncle,
thanking him for the present and then
visited the nearest jewelry store and
turned both the goblet and spoon into
cash, which pocketed. 4 ~
i L had received no further letters from
ii NV uncle until the one read in Mrs.
4 Kings1ey's paflor. The postscript to
fllig not onl + asto tonished, but absolutely
ffrIigIatened ne. read as follows:
ST. have never visited Phila-
delDhia, SO have decided to do so at
once, and gel, a look at you and your
1 wife and child. You may expect me
about the 10th of the month"
fGood gracious! by uncle, is com
ling to visit nae, Iexclaimed, and its
Inast the 10th Of the month now; I don't
know at what moment he may pop IN
1 What am, i to do for q wife and child r
/ At that moment there came a terrible
null at the. door bell, as IL the man who
pulled it inagined that he owned the
hOuse and could make as much noise
las he pleased. a siekening sensation
took possession Of me, for I bad mis-
| giving that it was my uncle. Now, az
good fortune would have it, Mrs. King.
lsley had gone out TO aneighboring store
for a few moments, and had requested
| i me to have. an eye to her child while
she was gone, so that. it wouldn't fal
, i o,1t of fhe cradle and hurt itself As