The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-22

then a girl of thirteen, with sparkling
eyes and rosy face. She wss prettier
than any picture, full of frolic "a kit
ten, and just as unconscious and limo
cent. After tea we were accustomed to
have gay times at croquet, and we call
ed each other by our given names. She
was Bessie to me and always called me
George. Before my three years were
out we were like brother and sister, de-
voted to each other and yet neither
thinking that it was love. The mother
seemed delighted with our acquaintance
and never objected to our correspond
ence when l went to college. At the
end of my course, she was 20 and l %;
we were then formally engaged, the
mother appearing to be very happy over
it. AT that time l went into law
office in Boston and attended lectures.
She went to Ia dies seminary as teach
er of French and music.
There she became acquainted with a
young doctor from the South, brilliant
fellow, who conceived great admlra-
ton for her, and yet who had sense
enough not to annoy her with any mark
ed attentions. felt no special concern,
for did not think she could go any
where without finding admirers. ~
After about two years at the law, /
had the misfortune to take violent
cold, which so affected my health that
our family physician advised a sea voy-
age, which 1 took in one of fathers
vessels. He was in the mercantile BUSH
ness, and had some interest in foreign
trade. We were wrecked off the coast
of Madagascar and was reported
drowned. AS it happened, however, l
foated on a plank for several hours,
drifting toward the shore. and waspick-
ed up by the natives and held long
time as a captive. l was allowed to
teach the children English and hear
them read, but not to leave for any
excursion away. l suppose they had
hopes of some time gaining large ram
som for my release. When at length l
managed to escape and got aboard a
British vessel, wrote to Bessie a full
account of the disaster and captivity,
but the letter never reached her. The
young doctor was at that time accus-
toned to carry the letters up to the
seminary, and have never been able
to free my mind of the suspicion that
he allowed that one to remain in his
pocket or find its way into the fire. he
knew that Bessie believed me dead, and
he was improving his opportunity to
make favorable impression upon her
heart. And in this project he bad the
mothers active cooperation.
Meanwhile, owing partly to the wreck
ing of the vessel and partly to an abuse
of trust ON the part Of business part
ner, my father became involved and was
wrecked in fortune. At that time Bes-
sizes mother thought it very fortunate,
to say the least, that she had rich suit
or, for the doctor was reputed to be very
wealthy.
When / returned l found that my
prospects of an inheritance were gone,
and that Bessie's mother entertained
other views for her future. She was
thoroughly surprised to see me, but act
ed as though it would have been as well
if had never come back. Not so with
Bessie, who had been almost heart brok-
en- and had suffered severely in health
by reason of her loss. She had not IA
vored the DOCTORS suit and was over
joyed at my safe return.
then engaged in the practice of Law
in the hope of getting start in life be
fore being married. And Bessie and
hoped also that her mother would agaiI
favor us with her approval if time wer'
given her disappointment to heal. Blu
in that we were mistaken. She woult
not hear to our being married, nor fayo
any preparations for it, and the longe
we waited the more dead set against
she appeared.
In this state of affairs an old uncl
. of Bessie's put in suggestion. Sal
he to me the night before the Fourth:
"You take my horse and go over
Z Amesbury and get married there. Let
r see--l'll let my driver carry You owe
= Then he can drive back the horse, a
, you can go on a wedding journey, a
= by the time yeu come back sis will 6
= over her craze, an you'll be all right
- l said would do it if Bessie was W
/, Ling. / had a certificate which hi
= procured the September before. thin
60 ing then if showed the mother the
IN gal document declaring our intention
NO she would relent and consent to G
y marriage. 1t proved of no avail, a
:, Bessie concluded we would wait a lit
air longer. But having waited almost
'at year without seeing any change in
air. situation, she took very kindly to
cd uncle's suggestion, and you know
.ch result.
rds "Yes," said 1, 81 know what h
vas pened the Fourth o'July morning;
all what was the result of that?n
ith "Oh, everything beautiful. We
,nI a delightful wedding trip, safe retu
, and a good time making up v
,lar mother, who received us as cordial,
as any one could reasonably exp
And we've had five years of life in
Oh pleasant home as you'd care to v
lit By the way, parson, we'd like TO /
ned you visit us. Bessie would make
pleasant for you as you did for us tina
hghtful morning. | should like to |
ioi you see our George, who Will be
at next Fourth o. July, and little j
ling who is as pretty little birdie as
her mother was. She was veal
:, he last May. Come and see us; you,
=, 90 right welcome"
u 9 1 assured him that it would give
hllu % rnnch nlaa snra 10 do 50 ag il had