Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-06-19
A Hurried COurtship.

here came a blow which scattered my prosperi-
Ey to the winds, and forced me TO employ my la
/ Or and wits in the general struggle OF gaining
a living.
The blow came in the shape of the failure of
a firm in which the greater part OF my capital
was invested.
After securing a clerkship In the house Of
creditor in late firm, my hrst care was to look
up less expensive boarding house than the
fashionable one in which l was now living. |
inserted an advertisement in several widely cir |
cnlated papers, asking for reasonable board in |
strictly private family, and Of course received
multitude of answers by the post.
Ont ofthis molly installment of epistles there |
was but one which pleased me, and | decided |
to answer that one Immediately.
Grace Kingsly was the name Of the favored |
lady writing to me, and the letter stated that |
her house was entirely private, she having no
boarders whatever.
was much pleased with the fair, delicate
handwriting and an idea took possession ofme
that Grace was a young and fascinating wild
ow.
was not disappointed when l reached the
house, and my ring at the door bell was answer
ed by the lady herself.
She invited me into the parlor in manner that
was socourteous, and yet so modest, that had
fallen in love with her before crossed the thresh-
old.
Ienjoyed very pleasant chat with Mrs Kings
ley.
Dnring the conversation she informed me that
her late husband had been in a fair way ofbusi-
ness, and al his death, which occurred about
year previous, had left her in pretty comfortable
circumstances. They had but one child, and
this item Immortality was most gracionsly per-
mittcd to look upon as ii lay suInb ering peace
fully In its cradle. | also learned that the lady
was living quite alone, and desired male board
er, more as company than source OF revenue.
In conclusion the lady looked pretty, and the
price Of board was 50 moderate, and her compan-
ionship so inviting, and she seemed to trust In
me and look down 50 favorably, that l would
have been heathen, dead to all the charms and
inducements of the sex, if had not engaged
board with ner on the spot.
The next day l had my trunk removed to my
new boarding house and permanently establish
ed myself there.
Before leaving my former home, letter was
handed to ne by the postman, but l did not
md time TO examine II until was comfortably
enscsnced in the coZy establishment
Opening the letter, l discovered 1t 10 be from
a worthy uncle of mine, residing in Vermont,
who regularly sent me a letter every year, but
whom had never seem His epistles We're very
short, and to the point, generally consisting OF an
uninleresting account Of the weather in his To-
cality, and some good advice to take good care
of my money,as might be burdened with some
more Of it before | was much older. was al
ways very glad TO get this advice, from him, as
regarded it as an intimation that was to in
hert his wealth on his decease.
One day, however, about year previous,
received letter from him, which contained
another topic beside those have mentioned
My uncle made some pressing inquiries re-
specting my matrimonial prospects, and stated
that II | wasn't already married | should i'm
mediately enter the welded state, and let him
know it, or he would never more be an un-
Gle of mine.
Now as my uncle lived in Vermont and in
Philadelphia, and never anticipated the old
gentleman would ever pay ;iie visit aud dis
cover the falsehood, l wrote to him and in
formed him that was not only married, but
also the happy father Of JliGcing baby
boy.
The intelligence so pleased my uncle that he
sent me a gold goblet and silver pap spoon, tc
be presented TO my child
at first sat down and wrote a very roman
tic letter 10 my uncle, thanking him for thu
present, and then visited the nearest jewelry
store and turned both into money which
poeketed.
had received no further letters from my un
Gle until the one which | read in Mrs. Kingsley
parlor.
The postscript to this one not only astonisle,
but absolutely frightened me. 1t read as fol
lows:
P. ST. have never visited Philadelphia s
| have decided ito do so at once and get
look at you and your wife and child. 70
may expect me about or on the Tenth of thi
month.
"Good Gracious, my uncle coming to Wis
me, exclaimed, and it is past the 10Th OF th
month now, don't know at what moment L
NAV mop in. What am / to do for n wife an
child"
AT that moment there came terrible ring
the door bell, las if the man who pulled it ina
ined he owned the house and could make :
much noise as he pleased.
sickening sensation took possession OF n
for had misgiving that it was my uncle.
Now, as good fortune would have II Mr.
Kingsley had gone out 10 a neighboring s.ol
for a few minutes, aud had requested me
have all eye to her child while she was gone, s
as it would not fall out Of the cradle and hui
itself
As glanced at the cradle and thought of II
uncle at the door, bright idea entered N
mind.
determined in case the visitor was my VI
Gle, 10 claim the youthful occupant OF that or
die as my own.
The visitor proved to be my uncle | kne
him by the picture Of him had seen, and
likewise recognized me by my photograph whiC
had sent him.
After a mutual recognition and haI
shaking, | ushefed my bonored relative into Il
parlor, and presented to him the newly elaine
offspring.
There, uncle, said, is the first pledge
INV married life, take pleasure i'll presenting
you, my child
Its a fat little W ungster, said my uncle ga
igg at it admringly. 'By-the-wny, what is it,
boy or grip
That was knotty question for me to answ
for was as much acquainted with its gender
he was. But 1t would never do to show my i
norance on the subject, so | answered at pa
hazard, that it was alloy.
I'm sorry it's boy said my uncle; "the
are too many boys in the family. Now if X
had only produced pretty blue eyed girl
would have been more sensible
assured my uncle am sorry the gend
did not suit, but hoped in the future his wish'
would be gratffed.
So far had succeeded in deceving my uncl
but the worst feared was that when Mr.
Kingsley returned she might object to ii
claiming ownership in her c.ild.
Besides, 10 carry out my DECEPTION must fir
wife as well as an infant, and Mrs. KlngslC
was the only one could conveniently claim
The only difficulty was 10 get her to consent
the deception, and this might be done, if
could secure private conversation with her b
tore introduced her to my uncle.
watched my opportunity, and gained an i
terview with her before she entered the pa
ior.
told her, in few brief hurried words, d
extent OF my difficulty, and how l hadstak
the liberty of acting as papa for her little one.
then told her | must find wife somewhel
and begged her to allow me to Introduce her
my uncle in that capacity.
She laughed heartily at the suggestion, Sc
she could comprehend my difficulty, and &C
sented TO my proposal, but warned me Iogui'
~ not to presume upon the occurrence.