The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-04-10
A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
BY HARRIET IRVING.

upright anu COubcleuIlODS ulau, anu mas
been from his youth up. He was En-
glish by birth, born and reared in Dor
setshire, and there betrothed to Miss
Sophie Croker. Being betrothed, these
two naturally looked forward to mar
riage, but Albert's affairs did not prosper
to the extent of their mutual fond an
ticipations, and the young man became
an exile from his native land, Fastening
to the United States in the hope of
bettering his fortune.
His is not an unparalleled story. He
struggled on. The one year which was
to have settled his prospects swelled into
two, three, ten, fifteen at length, before
he felt that he was justified in taking
his amiable Sophie from a compare
lively luxurious home to share his
humble one, and even yet he was
scarcely satisfied, for each lengthening
year had added to the obligation to do
the thing he had to do in proper style.
he was man like unto other men,
and time had obliterated from his mem-
ory the charms that he had once adored.
Even those discreet little letters, of
which be received three or four yearly,
had ceased to awaken the emotions of
long ago. He had seen other faces that
pleased his fancy, and met women whom
he would have liked to marry, and who
showed no aversion to him. yet it never
occurred to this virtuous man to loose
himself from the unsubstantial bonds
which bound him to the faithful soul
across the water.
1t must be admitted that his heart
failed him as he wrote the tender words
which summoned his Sophie across the
raging pillows for his sake. Such was
the arrangement that had been agreed
upon some fifteen odd years before. Mr..
Pendergrast did not consider himself a
connoisseur of female beauty. He
would have thought IL audacious to
criticise the sex in any manner; but
there was one thing which was distaste-
full to him when an attribute of crea-
lures feminine, and that thing was lean
ness; and Miss Maria Croker, a cousin
of Sophie's, and friend of both parties,
had written some years before that
+" dear Sophie" was "really scraggy,"
and that she had sadly changed, poor
thing" "But, then," said Albert,
walking dejectedly up to his mirror,
1" Pm very portly-absolutely fat, in
fact-and, if I remember rightly, she
disliked a fat man as. much as do a
lean woman, 80 we are both in for it.
Heaven help usl'
After reasonable lapse of time, his
answer came from Dorsetshire. Sophie's
father was contemplating removal to
America. The whole family would ac-
company him, as we'll as his brother and
family, and some other friends. They
would inform him of their arrival, and
Sophie could then be married from her
parents new home. Albert Pendergrast
smiled-not rapturously, perhaps, but
pleasantly. 1t. would be agreeable, he
decided, to meet all these persons, and
a bevy of Sophie's brothers and sisters
and cousins, boys'and girls of all ages
some of them no longer boys and girls.
His next proceeding was to exchange
his lodgings for more commodious
quarters. where it would be possible tc
entertain Sophie's male relations if oc
casion required, and to write, sending
his new address, and appropriate answer
to the good tidings received.
Then Albert's fancy began to warm
Good, little, faithful Sophie He sup
posed the might have. married almos
any one, and she had lived a stupic
single life all these years, only for him
OF course she was not his rosy checked
blue-eyed, dimpled, plump little CIR
any more, but it would be comfortably
to have home and a wife at the hea,
of it. They might be contented.
Several months had elapsed, and n
message had yet arrived announcing tn
departure from England or arrival i
America of the expected family, whe
Albert, having returned early from hi
place OF business to his lodging, and i
the act of refreshing himself with ablu
tions, was informed that lady awaite
him in the room below, and that he
name was Miss Croker"
"Mrs., of course" he muttered 1
himself; and then of the girl who ha
brought the message he asked, "a lad
-aloneW
eyes, SIR"
T "What-is-she-lik ~
{ "Kinder bony and hollow-eyed, 81
: and oldish, should say"
? Sophie's mother was 80 much /
5 knew.
: "Tell her I'll be down in minute
s Mr. Pendergrast's minute bore Il
+ same relation to his delay as his i
|, tended year had had to the postpon
n ment of his engagement; but aft
q some perturbed reflections and mu,
d anxious consideration of neckties al
i. other small matters, he took hiscoura,
"a in his hands and walked down stail
n beaming with forced delight.
e On horse-hair sofa, in the stifest
i, attitudes, sat lady. Mr.. Pendergrs
n ayerted his eyes as he took a seat besi
s. her, that he might not appear to
viewing her critically.
r My dear girlr' he said, with
'. much efusion as he conld muster
that is-my dear young lady. HI