The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-09-09
Marryingthe WrOngGirl
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

= groom nlmSelI. anu, sluply niu-
II, ing my hero behind the patro-
csyS1 nymic of the national sire of us
Gx3 all, / will give it as he told it.
Samuel was handsome young man
(he didn't tell me that. thought and
came of excellent family; and, though
he could not be said to have brilliant
expections, yet his wide circle of friend
ship was of such character as would
warrant a reasonable success III life
with slight effort on his part. He was
employed by mighty magnate of the
nation as private secretary, and in this
capacity he spent several winters in
Washington. We will not say whether
our magnate was a cabinet minister or
senator. He was not president, nor
do we think he was president; but
he was very big man, with an infln-
ence of exceeding ponderosity. His
smile was as the genial, fructifying sun
shine, and his frown as the nipping
frost or the cloud of \ coming tempest.
Our magnate had daughter, young,
beautiful and impossible. She was
called by her father more than once to
help Samuel in transcribing his skele-
ton notes-fOr she had been used to his
chirography ever since early childhood,
and could decipher readily its mon
strOus monstrosities OF pen-scratching.
Whether the fair Lady Dorcasina ever
loved Samuel or not we cannot say
we only know that she counted him
among her captives, and seemed to en-
joy his companlonship; and, certainly,
of all her admirers there was not anoth-
er so handsome, and not the more intel
ligent. The lady had allowed him to
kiss her hand, and to roll up his eyes
and sigh while holding that hand. Cen
you wonder that Samuel became bold
and confident? Only one thing gave
him deep concern: Tho disposition of
the father. That father was wealthy
and proud, and was known to be very
quietly courting the heir to a grand en-
tailed estate on the other side of the big
water, with a sounding title thereto at
tached. Should his daughter ever
marry that man, she would wear coro-
net.
At length Samuel resolved to speak.
Selling what he believed to be a favor
able opportunity, he went down upon
his knees at Dorcasina's feet, and with
clasped and npraised hands, had just be-
gun to pour forth his notes of love and
devotion, when, suddedly, the door was
thrown wide open, and pdter-t -tdmiLtds
stood before theml
For single instant Samuel's heart
was in his mouth. Like as the vivid
flash streams through the
clouds, flashed thoughts of loss of place,
ruin and disgrace through Samuel's
mind for the face of the magnate was
BLACK as starless night But he was a
youth of wit and resources. A way out
from the horrible pit opened before him,
and he took it. He arose, and turned
towards his august master, and put
forth his hands.
"Honored sir, will you intercede for
me? l have tried to persuade her lady
ship, your daughter, to give her weigh
ty influence towards melting the Obdur-
ate heart of her fair maid, and some
times Ompanion-Matilda. L blush not
to own that love the damsel well and
truly, and / know that her long time
association in your family insures her
of any mans faith and de-
votion."
elbow 2'' demanded tho magnate. ''Ig
it Matilda Wimple.'
eyes, sir.''
"And you want her for your wife f"
eyes, SIR"
"Then, by the merry piper, you shall
have her. Send Matilda Wimple
hither!''
The girl came-a pretty, rosy, dim
pied, blue-eyed, sunny-haired, sweet
faced maiden of eighteen or twenty
years, plump, healthful and strong.
"Matilda,' said his high mightiness,
with a look of majestic grace and digIli-
ty, "what objections have you to Mr..
Samuel ?''
COLLECTIONS, sir? stammered the
girl, looking first upon the face of her
and then upon the others.
81 said objections, Matilda. What
reason is there, if any, why you should
not accept him for a husband? ?"
Matilda comprehended the whole sit
uation in that moment. She courtesied
to the magnate in a manner most
charming; blushed till her face was like
deep carnation pink; and in modest,
sweetly musical tone, responded:
81 know of no reason at all, sir,-only
-only-this: He has not asked me-"
Perhaps the great man suspected the
truth. 1t is more than likely that he
did. But he gave no hint thereof.
'sHa, ha, the boy is bashful. He had
courage enough to appeal to your mis-
tress and to me. So, Matilda, he now
asks for your hand and, by the merry
piper he shall have i'll The thing
shall be finished at once. I'll have no
triding or coquetting on my premises.
Go and get your certificate, sir, and
come back here as speedily as possible.
Let there be no delay, foE l shall wait.
l will see the bride well provided, and
l will furnish the clergyman. Cop
We will not attempt describe Samu-
els feelings at that moment, because he
could not have described them himself;
but, suffice it to say,-One suitor was
removed from the fair Dorsicana's
train. Samuel and Matilda were mar
ried offhand, the magnate giving to the
blushing damsel a check for ten thous-
and dollars when she had become wife.
That was almost a score of years ago.
| saw Samuel ut Christmas time, last
past, in the midst OF his family, and l
can only say, in closing, that he blesses,
from the very bottom of his heart, the
hour and the moment in which the mag
nate found him at the feet of his daugh-
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