Smyrna times., 1873-03-19
A Wife for an Hour.

To Chester, in Pennsylvania there came,
during the last Christmas holidays, young
man, giving the name Whalley, and asserting
that he had been sea captain. Sturdy of
form, brOnzed in complexion, and with a GER
tain air of better days about him, the stranger
was not discredited in his further assertion
that he was the son OF planter OF Cecil CO..
Md, who had been impoverished by the
Southern war, and that an unfortunate nauti
cal venture OF his own as commander OF
sloOp which was burned at sea had reduced
him to poverty compelling the humblest way
of living. Attracted by chance to Chester, he
was pleased with the appearance of place and
people, and trusted that his frank readiness to
accept any honest employment would render
it possible for him to earn a livelihood there.
| If his expectations i'll this last matter were
only moderately answered, he was at least not
altogether rejected, for the prOpretors of a
machine shop engaged his services in small
position, for a salary which was to increase
with his proficiency. Thus beginning his ca
reer in mechanics, the captain was not averse
to the social consideration gained by report OF
his more pretentlOus past and III a few weeks
found himself modest lion in the parlors OF
several highly respectable families. A majority
of young ladies were discretely cautious in re-
, ceiving his cOurtesies to be sure !; but Miss
Taylor, whose parents We're of the local arlS
COCTdCy1 was ulUTc uedIly III ItCORHILluB ului al
once as OF eligible caste, and was presently in
volved thereby in relation of sentiment bJ
which young hearts are easily led to think
themselves wiser than old heads. Her family
however, did not partake of this affinity, and
} by too hasty development of opposition pre-
cipitated the very crisis they designed avertlng
s Thinking herself prosecuted and the high borI
machinst cruelty miSjudged, and of course re
/ solved to take part in new Southern rebellion
zlA i al % Il
h changed notes by stealth, and gradually arrives
e at the climax usual in such affairs. From a
!. evening entertainment last week at which bot
e had been guests they repaired to an adlacen
g parsonage, and from thence, rs man and wife
l. took their way audaclouSy to the bride
g stately home. 1t was the paternal Taylor win
r. answered the door bell, aud upon perceivin
d who his daughters escort was and being aC
a dressed by that gentleman as father" he rt
l. tired frantcally up stairs to call Mrs. Taylor
,r the field. In the ensuing excited cOnsultatio
l. of all parties in the parlOr, the bridegroom W;
,r sternly summoned to give an exact rehearsal
m his past history and future expectations, an
m show how he intended supporting himself an
rt wife in the future. His style of response mad
4. it evident that he counted upon material he
a. from his father-in-law and this practical vie
in of the event not only excited the wrath
10 the old people, but also aroused the suddt
ld contempt of the bride herself. Whether rea
er izing at last her own imprudence, or beholdir
h. her lover in a new light, the young lady bur
NV into a passion of tears and fairly asked h
or father to save her from her husband. III
is scene ended in the captains enforced accel
he ance of lonely quarters for the remainder
ed the night and polite dismissal from the premis
&c. next morning; but correspondent of the S
ON Louis Republican reports that he is determi
ed to have the wife he has married, and "
probably appeal to the law for vindcaton
the claim.