The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-24

NlSlt-ILtif I>iullltN tii't 1hi'o Se'A otttA'
Wilhelmina Skeggs!-and though MIR
Burchcll turned his back, and crie(
" Fudge" at the end of each sentence
,vc were vastly pleased with their higl
lie conversation; and my wife struck NJ
a notable plan Of sending our two daugh
tcrs to town as their companions, at stip
ends of thirty pounds and twenty-five
guineas year. This they very conde'
scendingly approved, only requiring, as
a mere form, Mr.. Thornhills recon-.
menlation. This he readily gave, and
the expedition to town was speedily re-
solved upon, though Mr.. Burchell very
presumptuously sought to dissuade us
from it.
As we were now rising III the world
we determined to sell our old colt, which
had no tail, and buy better one. My
son Moses went to the fair with him, in q
wuistcoat of gosling green, fell into the
hands of a prowling sharper, and brought
hack only gross Of green spectacles
Then I took our other horse, old Black
berry, and sold him myself to a most
venerable appearing gentleman, who
gave me an order on neighbor Flam-
borough, for five pounds. But when
nv honest neighbor saw the name
"Ephraim Jenkinson he exclaimed :
1.-The greatest rascal under heaven
This is the very same rogue that sold
the'spcctacles p
Iwent home detected, but found my
wife and girls in tears over greater dis
appointment, for the two fine ladies, hav-
ing heard reports of us from some ma
icious person, had set out for London,
leaving lis to wonder who could have as
persed our characters thus basely. BY
chance,- however, Mr.. Burchell was de-
tected in the vilainy of having sent a
warning letter to the ladies at Thornhill
Castle, and, when reproached, he showed
such cffrontery that 1 could scarcely gov
ern my passion.
Ungrateful wretch !" I cried, "be-
gone and no longer pollute my dwelling
with thy baseness y
He smiled and departed with the ut
most composure, leaving us astonished
and enraged at his assurance.
Squire Thornhill continued his atten-
tions, bu all my wife's art could not
bring him to q proposal. At last it was
resolved that Olivia should marry, at the
end of a month, Farmer Williams (who
WIS in easy circumstances, prudent, sim
cere and openly devoted to herr, pro-
v;ded the squire did not meantime de-
clare his intentions. Instead, however,
he discontinued his visits and Olivia
seemed contented with the change in her
fate. Four days before her intended
nuptials, little Dick came running in,
crying:
"Oh, papa, she is gone-sister Livy
is gone from us forever -
"Gone, child"
"Yes-with two gentlemen in post
chaise-and one kissed her-and she
cried-but he persuaded her-and she
said "Oh, what will my poor papa do
when he knows 1 am undone ~
"Now then," cried I, "my children,
20 and be miserable, for we shall never
enjoy one hour more. And, oh, may
Heavens everlasting furylght upon him
and his Thus to rob me of my child ~
"She's an ungrateful creature" said
my wife, weeping, to use US thus"
"Do not talk hardly said I; "she
shall be welcome to this heart, though
stained with vices, if find but repent
ance"
Ny suspicious fell entirely upon our
young landlord, but, when I insisted on
seeing him, he met me with an open
face and seemed amazed at the elope-
ment, protesting on his honor that he
was quitea stranger to it. This denial
and some other circumstances SOON con-
vinced me that the real culprit was no
other than Mr.. Burchcll followed
some clcws to his flight with my poor
daughter, but in vain. Returning sadly
homeward, I fell in with a very we'll
.lressed gentleman who invited me to sup
with him, and talked politics at great
rate; but he proved to be only the but
Ter, and the sudden arrival of his master
aud mistress put me in great confusion.
J2st then, who should enter but Miss
Arabella Wilmot, who was formerly en-
gagged to be married to my son George.
She recognized me with JOY, and, on
hearing my name, the old gentleman
,ud lady, her uncle and aunt, insisted
IN my staying for some days.
The next evening VIC went to see some
strolling players act in barn. When
the chief performer appeared and per-
ceived Miss Wilmot and me, he stood
speechless. 1t was my unfortunate
George He burst into tears and re-
tired. conducted Miss Wilmot home,
and we soon had my son with us; all his
travels had brought him no more for
tune than stick and wallet; but [
fancied that I could discern that Miss
Wilmot still looked on him with favor
able eye. Nor was this preference
abuted by the arrival of Mr.. Thornhill,
who, I learned, had already made her
some overturas. He seemed surprised at
seeing me, but was very. friendly, and
procured for George an ensign's comm:s-
sion in one of the regiments going to the
West Indies.
Giving my son all [ had-my blessing
I took leave of the good family that
had entertained me SO long, and set out
for home. Putting up for the night at a
little public house, 1 chanced to overhear
the landlady berating some one in the
room above.
"Out say" she cried; "what, you
trumpcry, to come and take up an honest
house without cross or coin to bless your
self with. Come along, 1 say
"Oh, madam cried the stranger,
"pity me for one night, and death will
soon 10 the rest ~
knew the voice of my poor Olivia,
flew to her rescue, and caught her in my
arms.
Welcome, my dearest, lost one, to
your poor old fathers bosom !"
Goa, You can't forgive me know
you cannot!
eyes, my child, I do. But it sur
prises me how person of Mr.. Burchells
seeming honor could be guilty of such
baseness."
Papa, you labor under strange mis-
take. Mr.. Burchcll always admonished
me against Mr.. Thornhill, who -
"NIr. Thornhill! Can it be ?"
Yes, sir, it was Mr.. Thornhill who
employed the two ladies, as he called
them. WHO were, in fact, abandoned
women, to decoy us up to town. They
would have succeeded, but for Mr..
Burchell's letter, and / am convinced he
was ever our sincerest friend.
"You amaze me ! My first suspicious
of Mr.. Thornhlls baseness were too well
grounded"
"Alas, papa, you are by:t little nc
quainted with his villainics; he has been
married already to six or eight wives