, 1877-01-26

uf appearing in person. Thornhill sent
four domestlcs 90 seize him. One he
wounded, hut the others captured my
poor son as n challenger his life was
forfeited!
But LET MS be inhexible. and fortune
will at last change in our favor. The
next event was the return Of Sophia. who
had been rescued 10y our old friend, Mr..
Burchell. He received my apologies in
the kindest way, and Sophia explained
that he hal heard her cries, and disarm-
ell the rufiian who had seized her, but
who managed 10 make his escape.
Mr.. Burchell. 4" cried 1, las you have
delivered my girl. if you can stoop to an
alliance with u family so poor as mine,
take her. obtain her consent, and you
have mine"
Without the least reply he ordered
1 dinner, a dozen of wine, and some cor
dials for me, asserting that, though in a
prison, he never felt more disposed to be
merry
At my request Mr.. Jenkison and nv
son were now admitted. George regard
ed Mr.. Burchell with astonishment, and
stood fixed at respectful distance. Per-
celving himself known, our guest, as
suming all his native dignity, desired my
son to come forward. After pronoun-
cling severely on the sin of dueling, he
admitted such palliation of poor Georges
fau6 as induced him to forgive it.
g If there be injury" said he, ''there
shall be redress and this may say
without boasting, that none have taxed
the injustice of Sir William Thornhill."
We now found that our harmless,
amusing companion, poor Mr.. Burchell,
was in reality the uncle of our offending
landlord, and man of large fortune and
great interest, to whom senates listened
with applause. My poor wife and Sophia
were overwhelmed, but Sir William smil-
ingly reassured them, and at his request,
Jenkinson. who had furnished aclue to
the abdnctor of Sophia, was sent with
two men to apprehend the rascal.
Before we had we'll dined, a message
was brought from Squire Thornhill, de-
string permission to appear and vindi-
cate his innocence, with which raquest
the baronet complied. Being introduced,
he gave so smooth version of his con-
duct as quite cleared him, if it could be
believed. But at the sudden appearance
of JeDkinson, with the ruffian who had
carried off Sophia, he turned pale, and
it presently came out that he himself had
instigated the abduction with the basest-
designs.
HeavensI cried Sir William, "what
a viperp
The unexpected arrival of Miss Ara
bella Wilmot surprised us next, and it
speedily appeared that the squire, to
win her hand, had persuaded her that
George was married and gone to Amer
lea. The revelation of his baseness re-
vived her passion for my son, who was
now released, at Sir Williams request,
and presently appeared in his regimen
tails, whereupon she lost no time in
blushingly letting him know that, if she
could not be his, she would never be
another's.
The squire now showed himself the
hardy villain, and, laying aside shame,
insultingly declared that Miss Wilmot's
fortune was safely made over to him, and
he cared not who won the lady herself.
This was too true j.; but neither George
nor Arnbella needed If in the least.
'' Let him enjoy our fortune" cried !
she, " now can be happy even in indi-
gence."
"And l." cried the squire, with ma
licious grin, shall be very happy with |
what you despise."
Hold" cried Jenkinson "can the
squire have this lady's fortune if he be
married to another2"
Undoubtedly he cannot" replied the |
baronet.
"Well," said Jenkinson, "he is mar
ried already and, if the company res
train their curiosity few minutes, they
shall see his wife,
So saying. he darted of, and presently
returned with-Olivial
Squire" he cried, "this is your law
full wife, and here is the license You |
commissioned me to get false license
and false priest, to deceive this young |
lady, but got true license and true
priest.
A burst Of pleasure now seemed to fill |
the whole apartment. Mr.. Thornhills |
assurance forsook him, he fell on his
knees before his uncle, and implored
compassion. Sir William promised him
a bare competence to support the wants
of life, and ordered him to be gone.
All now hastened to salute Olivia,
whose death Jenkinson and mywife had
thought it necessary to persuade me of,
to procure my submission TO the squire.
Sophia did moi. seem perfectly satisfied,
but Sir William soon relieved her doubts
by claiming her as his own "loveliest,
most sensible of girls"
The next day there was joyful dou-
BILE wedding, seasoned with the good
news Of the recovery of my fortune
from my merchant In town, who had
been arrested atAntwerp. ALI my cares
we're now over; it tonly remained that my
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