Hillsdale Whig Standard

A Curious Attempt at Deception.

About twelve years since, a wealthy farmer living in one of the towns of this County, took from the poor house, a young girl which they brought up as their own child, and treated her as such in every way. She is now a young lady, some 18 or 20 years of age. About two years since, on the return of the family from a short visit, she stated to them that during their absence, a young man, a pedlar, we believe had called, and on ascertaining her name and history, informed her that she was heiress to a large amount of property.

Matters went on as usual, without any new developments in regard to the windfall, until a week or two since, when the family in question were surprised by the receipt, at the hand of the driver of the stage running between this city and their residence, of a package of books, with a well written letter accompanying them, directed to the young lady in question. The letter purported to be written by a sister or cousin of this young lady, and after giving the particulars of the death of a brother and one or two cousins, stated that she, the writer, was just on the point of sailing for Europe to take possession of a large amount of property that had fallen to them; that she had sent her various sums of money at different times, mentioning the amount and date of remittance, and begging the young lady to accept of the accompanying package of books, which she forwarded by a friend to Rochester, and which should be an earnest of what would be forthcoming when, as joint heirs, they should come in possession of what was rightfully their own.

The whole story was a very plausible one, and served to confirm the truth of the assurances of the stranger, two years previous, that the young girl was indeed about to have a gold spoon thrust into her mouth. So well satisfied was the farmer of this fact, that he immediately posted off to Rochester to make further inquiries, when he learned at the post-office, what seemed a little curious, that the bundle was deposited there by one of our book-sellers, with directions to send them by the Perinton stage. The mystery began to thicken, and he forthwith repaired to the book-seller to ascertain what he knew about it. There he was informed that the books in question were purchased of him some three or four days previous, by a young lady, and that he had forwarded them according to directions. The wool was as thick over the old man's eyes as ever, but the book-seller began to see the plot in the play. He examined the letter, and told the honest farmer that if he could see the adopted daughter, he could probably unravel the mystery. She was then in the city, and had been for four or five days, and the gentleman at once brought her to the store, upon some pretext or another, when the book seller recognized her as the girl who purchased the books, and had them forwarded with the letter, directed to herself.

The farmer, heretofore regarding the girl as his own child, treating her as such, could hardly believe his own convictions. The wool dropt from his eyes, and he could see the whole plot, commenced two years before, by the artful story of the "intelligence communicated by the pedlar," which was now ripening into a full development, but the particular object aimed at, to be accomplished through this means, still remained a mystery, and does yet, so far as we have any knowledge.

Whether she wanted to make herself a romantic heroine, and raise herself above her poor-house position, or whether there was a lover in the case, whose love would assume a speaking form when its object glittered in gold, is yet to be made known. Certain it is that it was a very ingenious and artful story, worthy of the most successful novelist.— [Rochester Magnet.