South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-05-29
A Hurried Courtship.

u
denly there came a blow that scattered nv
prosperity to the winds, and forced me TO
employ ms labor aud wits in the general
struggle of gainirg living. The blow
came in the shape of the failure of large
firm IN which my capital was invested.
After securing clerkship in the house
OF creditor of our late firm, nv first care
was to look up less expensive boarding
house than the fashionable one in which
was living. | inserted an advertisement in
several widely circulated city papers, asking
for reasonable board in strictly private
family, and Of course received a multitude
OF answers by next post Dat of this mot
ly lnstaliment of epistles, there was but
one %hich pleased me, and that 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 entirely
private, having no borders, whatever.
was much pleased with the fair, delicate
hand writing, and an idea took possession
OF me that GRACE was young aud fasci-
natiug widow, l was not disappointed when
| reached the house and by ringing 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 v i,h her before
could cross the threshold.
enjoyed very pleasant chat with Mrs
KINGSLEY. During the conversation she
Informed me that her late husband had been
in fair way Of business, and at bis death.
which occurred year previous, had left
her 10 pretty comfortable circumstances.
They had but one Child ; aud ,hi. item of
morality was graciously permitted 10 look
upon, it lly peacefully slumbering in its
cradle also learned that the lady was
living in the house quite alone, aud desired
male boardcr more as means Of protec-
ton than as a source of revenue. Ia con-
c!usion the lsudlady looked so pretty, (she
was quite young,rot more than two or three
and twenty md the board so moderate, her
comPanionship so Inviting, and she seemed
to trust In me, and looked upon me so f.,
vorably that [ woull have been heather,
dead TO all charms and inducements Of The
sex, IT had not engaged b)ari on the spot.
The next day l bad my trunk removed
to my new boarding place, and permanent
~ established myself there. Before leav
ing my former boarding house, a letter was
handed ne by the posiman, but did not
find time to examine it until was comfort.
ably ensconecd in the parlor Of Mrs.
kTNGsLEY's cosy house.
Opening the Letter, I discovered il TO be
from wealthy uncle Of mine, residing in
Vermont, who regularly sent me letter
once year, but whom | had never seen
Ills cplsiles were always short and to the
point, generally consisting of an account of
the weather in his locality, and some rood
advice to me to take care of nv money. ne
| might be burdened with some Of il before
| was much older. | was always yery RI d
to get this advice from him, as regarded
1t "a an intimatOn that was to inherit his
wealth on his deceasc.
One day, however, about year previous.
received letter from him which contain.
ed another topic besides those have men,
'ioned. My uncle made some pressing in
quirios respecting my matrimonial pros
? CTS, and stated that If ! was not already
married that should Immediately enter in
to The welded state, and let hin know Of IT,.
or he would never be an uncle of nine.
Now, az my uncle lived in Vermont, and
in PbIladClphia, aud | never anticipated
The old gentleman would psy me a visit and
discover the fllschood, | wrote and inform
ed him that l was not only married but The
father OF a bouncing baby This intelli-
gotce 20 pleased my uncle that he sent o
go!d goblet and q silver pap spoon, to be
presented to my child a,Grst sat down and
wrote a very romantic letter TO nv uncle.
thanking him for the presents, and then
visited the nearest jewelry store and turned
both the goblet add spoon into cash, Which
] pockeied.
bad received no further letters from my
uncle then until The one which read il
Mrs kINd LEY 5 parlcr The postscript
not only Es'onishcd but frightened me II
read ns I'll ows:
J. ST. have never visited Philadelphia,
80 ] have decided TO do so at once, and Re,
look at you and your wife and child
You may expect me about the 10Th Of tho
month.
Good gracious Ny uncle is coming .c
vi-it me- exclaimed 'Ynd it is past the
lOih Of tho month now don't know o
what moment ho may pop in. What ON
| 10 do Tor a wife and child 2
At that moment tbore cime a ttrfibl,
pull at tho door bell, as il the man VIII,
pulled II imagined that he owned the house
and could make ns much noise as be pleas
cd. \ sickeniug sensation took possession
Of ne, Tor | bad a miseiving thatit was roy
uncle. Now, as good fortune would have
it, Mrs. KINGSLEY had gone out to a neigh.
boring store for few moments,aDd request.
cd me to have on eye on her child Will.
she was gone, 50 it wouldn't fall out Of ,ht
cradle and hurt itself As / glanced Al IA,