The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-10-08

and a gosling green walstcoat: but.
alas, at the fair he was imposed upon
by prowling sharper, who, after
Moses had well bargained away the
colt managed to get the purchase
money from him in return for a gross
OF green spectacles in shagreen cases!
and so, as usual, unforeseen disaster
frustrated our attempts to be fine.
My daughters planned a pleasure ex.
petition to town, and this Mr.. Burcheu
so strongly disapproved of that a quar-
rel ensued between him and my wife.
and the gentleman left our house in a
ut Of anger. nor could Sophia's plead
ing looks stay him.
The town trip being still In pros
pect. my wife decreed that I 20 to the
fair myself, and sell our one remain.
ing horse. But when one w0uld-be pur-
chaser examined the animal, and de-
clared him. blind of one eye, another
observed he had a spawn, third per.
ceived he had windgaIl, fourth said
ne had the bolts, and 50 on, began tC
have most hearty contempt for the
poor beast myself, for l reflected that
the number of witnesses was a strong
presumption they were right, and st.
Gregory himself is of the same opin-
ion. However I at last sold my horse,
but had the misfortune to receive in
payment forged and worthless draft,
the same being, indeed the wicked
work Of the very man who had sold
Moses the spectacles.
Mr.. Burchell being absent from our
fireside, only Sophia missed him, for
the rest of US were greatly pleased by
the visits Of our landlord, who now
came often. 1t must be owned that
my wife laid a thousand schemes to
entrap him as husband for Olivia,
and used every art to magnify the mer-
its of her daughter. The results. how
ever, being small, my wife sought to
rouse Mr.. Thornhilrs jealousy by hint
| ing of Olivia's marriage with Farmer
Williams. most worthy, though hum
BILE neighbor. This failing to egg On
| the backward Thornhill, the wedding
| day was set for Olivia and Farmer
Williams. But four days before the
day / learned to my distraction that
my Olivia had gone off secretly in
post-chaise with a gentleman who, as
was told by an onloOker. kissed her
and said he would die for her. Well
did I know the villain who had thus
robbed me of my sweet innocent child !;
it was none other than the wicked
| Thornhill. MY wife fell to loud be-
rating of him and Olivia as well, but I
| declared my house and heart should
ever be open to the returning repen.
tant sinner. I set out to find her
but my first efforts persuaded me that
it was Mr.. Burchell, and not Squire
| Thornhill. who had seduced my dar.
| ling. This, though. was not the truth
| Twas but part of the Villains plan
After long search found my darling
| girl, in a hiding place, whittier she ha6
fed from the dreadful Thornhill who
under pretense of marriage, had ruined
her. It seems they were married by
black scoundrel, who had before mar.
ried the squire to six or eight Other
wivesl
I took my poor darling home, only
to be met with the astounding news
that my little home was utterly de.
stroyed by fire. With what cheerful
ness we might, we made shift to live
in one of our farm outbuildings, anC
endeavored to enjoy our former Sc
renity.
But this was not to be. The despic.
| able Thornhill. about to marry Miss
Wflmot-yes. the same to whom my
son. George, was once bethrothed-
made proposal that we marry my
Olivia to another yet let her still be
friend of his own. My righteous de,
nunCiation of this resulted in the
squire's threats of retribution, and this
came, in the form of demand for my
annual rent, the which was all unable
to pay. I was thereupon thrown into
debtors prison, but even here I en-
deavored to preserve my calm. and aft
err my usual meditations. and having
praised my Heavenly Corrector, slept
with the utmost tranquility.
Man frequently calls in the consoia.
lions of philosophy, which, I have
found, are amusing. but often falla
cious. In the prison. though attempt
ed much-needed reform movement,
and though I lectured and advised with
all my powers, suffered many and
various sorrows and disappointments.
I was informed of the death of my
daughter, Olivia-an untrue report,
thank Heaven! was told of the forci-
Bile abduction of Sophia. by desperate
villains.
From this danger, however, dear So
phia was rescued by Mr.. Burchel1; to
whom willingly gave my treasure for
wife. And. we then learned that
our friend Mr.. Burchell was in reality
the great Sir William 'ChornhiIl, and
my daughter would be a fine lady.
And. another joy, I learned that my
daughter. Olivia. was the lawful wife
of Squire Thornhill, his previous mar
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