Danbury Times

A MARRIAGE ADVENTURE.
BY JAMES HALL.

Miss Simper appeared at Saratoga in an elegant suit of sable. She was said to be in mourning for her father, an opulent broker in Baltimore recently deceased. Grief had washed away her roses and she had come to recover her appetite and re-animate her blushes. Miss Simper was of course an heiress and attracted great attention. The gentlemen called her a beauty, and talked much of her real estate, bank stock, and securities. Some of the ladies tho't her complexion too sallow, and some objected to the style of her dress. Mrs. Highflier said she had not the air of a woman of fashion; while Captain Halliard pronounced her a suspicious sail, and declared that she was a privateer in disguise. The fair stranger however walked modestly to the fountain, cast down her eyes when gazed at, and seemed unconscious of all but her own sorrows.

About this time Major Fitzconnel appeared upon the busy scene. He was a tall, handsome man of polished address and manners, who seemed to regard all around him with an air of very polite unconcern. He was announced as an officer in his Britannic Majesty's service and brother to Earl Somebody in England. It was reported that he had landed possessions in the west. He did not appear to seek society but was too well bred to repel any civilities which were offered him. The gentlemen were well pleased with his good sense his knowledge of the world and the suavity of his manners; but as he seemed to avoid the ladies, they had little opportunity of estimating his qualities

Maj. Fitzconnel and Miss Simper met at the fountain. The officer who had filled his glass at her approach presented it to the lady, who in sipping the transparent element dropped her handkerchief. The gentleman very gallantly picked up the cambric, and restored it to the fair hand of its owner—but the blushing damsel abashed by the easy attention of an elegant stranger in her confusion lost her reticule, which the soldier gracefully replaced upon her wrist, with a most respectful bow, which terminated the civilities of this meeting. The gentleman pursued his walk and the lady returned to her chamber. That Miss Simper felt duly sensible of the honor of having elicited three graceful congees from the brother of an English Earl cannot be doubted; nor can we suppose without injustice to that gentleman's taste that he saw with indifference the mantling blushes which those attentions had drawn forth; certain it is however that as they parted in opposite directions, neither of them was seen to cast "one longing lingering look behind." As I had not the privilege of intruding into either of their chambers I cannot say what fairy forms have flitted around the Major's pillow, nor whether the fair one dreamed of coats of arms, kettle drums and epaulettes In short, I am not able to inform the exquisite reader whether the parties thought of each other at all; but from the extreme difficulty of again bringing two such diffident persons into contact I am inclined to think the adventure would have ended here had not chance, which oft decides the fate of mighty monarchs, also decided theirs.

Miss Simper's health required her attendance at the fountain on the following morning at an unusually early hour, and the Major, while others were snoring, had sallied forth to enjoy the invigorating freshness of the early breeze. They met again by accident at the propitious well, and the attendant who is usually posted there to fill the glasses of individuals had not yet taken his station the Major had not only the happiness of performing that office but of replenishing the exhausted vessel until the lady had quaffed the full measure prescribed by the medical dictator of this community. I am not able to say how often they pledged each other in this salubrious beverage; but when the reader is informed that the quantum prescribed to a delicate female varies from four to eight glasses, according to the nature of her complaint and that a lady cannot decorously sip more than one mouthful without drawing her breath, it will be perceived that ample time was afforded on this occasion for a tete-a-tete. The ice being thus broken and the water duly quaffed, the gentleman proposed a promenade, to which the lady after some hesitation acceded; and when the great bell summoned them to breakfast they repaired to the table with excellent appetites, and cheeks glowing with healthful hues, produced by the exercise of the morning.

At precisely ten o'clock the lady issued forth from her chamber, adorned with new charms by the recent labor of the toilet, and strolling pensively, book in hand, to the further corner of the great piazza, commenced her studies. It happened at the same moment that the Major, fresh from his valet's hands hied himself to the cool retreat to breathe forth the melancholy musings of his soul upon the flute. Seeing the lady, he hesitated, begged pardon for his intrusion, and was about to return—but the lady assured him it was no intrusion at all and laid aside her book. He begged to know the subject of her researches, and was delighted with the tact displayed in the choice of her author: she earnestly solicited a display of his musical talents, and was enraptured with every note; and when the same impertinent bell which had curtailed their morning walk, again sounded in their ears, they were surprised to find how swiftly the time had flown, and chagrined that the common place operation of eating was so often allowed to interrupt the feast of reason and the flow of soul.

At four o'clock, the military stranger handed Miss Simper into an elegant gig and drove to the neighboring village:—where rumor soon proclaimed that the interesting pair were united in the holy bands of matrimony. For once the many tongues of fame spoke truly—and when the happy Major returned with his blushing bride all could see that the embarrassment of the lover was exchanged for the triumphant smile of the delighted bridegroom. It was hardly necessary to add that such was the salutary effect of this event, that the 'young couple,' found themselves restored instantaneously to perfect health; and on the following morning they bade adieu to Saratoga springs.

"This is a very ungenteel affair!" said Mrs. Highflier. "I never heard the beat of it in my born days!" cried one young lady. "How shocking!" exclaimed another. "Egad that's a keen smart girl," said one gentleman. "She's a tickler. I warrant her!" said a second. "She's a pirate by thunder!" roared Capt. Hilliard.

In the meanwhile the new married pair were pursuing their journey by easy stage towards the city of New York. We all know "how the best charms of nature improve, when we see them reflected," and so on, and we can readily imagine how the days of Thalaba passed on by this occasion. Uninterrupted by ceremonious visits, unrestrained by the presence of third parties, surrounded by all the blandishments which give enchantment to the rural scene, it is not surprising that our lover should often digress the beaten road, and as often linger at a romantic spot, or a secluded cottage.

Several days had now elapsed. and neither party had made any disclosure on the important subject of finance. Drawing near the end of their journey, the Major thought it advisable to broach the delicate matter to his bride. It was upon a fine summer evening as they sat by a window at the inn, enjoying the beauties of an extensive landscape, that the memorable conversation occurred. They had been amusing themselves with the kind of small talk which new married folks find so vastly pleasant, as how much they love each other and how happy they intend to be, and what a fine thing it is for two fond hearts to be dissolved into one, &c. Many examples of love and murder were related—the lady told of many distressing swains who had incontinently hanged themselves for their mistresses, and the gentleman as often asseverated that none of those martyred lovers adored the object of his passion with half the fervor which he felt for his own dear, sweet, darling, precious little Anne!—At last throwing his arm over his wife's chair he said carelessly,

"Who has the management of your property my dear?"

"You have my darling," replied she.

"I have when I get it," said the husband "I meant to inquire in whose possession it was at present?"

"It is all in your possession," said the lady.

"Do not trifle with me," said the gentleman, patting her cheek—"You have made me the happy master of your person and it is time to give me the disposal of your fortune."

"My face is my fortune kind sir." said she laying her head on his shoulder.

"To be plain with you madam," said the impassioned bridegroom—"I have need of money immediately; the hired gig in which we came to this place has been returned, and I have not the means of procuring another conveyance."

"To be equally candid with you sir," replied the happy bride, "I have nothing in the world but what you see."
"Have you no real estate?" said the Major, starting on his feet.

"Not an acre."

"No bank stock?"

"None,"

"No securities, no jewels—no money?"

"Nothing of the kind."

"Are you not the daughter and heiress of a rich broker?"

"Not I, indeed."

"Who the devil are you then?"

"I am your wife sir, and the daughter of a very honest blacksmith."

"Bless me," exclaimed the Major starting back with astonishment—then covering his face with both hands, he remained for a moment absorbed in thought. Resuming his serenity, he said in a sneering tone—

"I congratulate you madam on being the wife of a beggar's like myself. I am a ruined man, and know not whence to supply my wants."

"Can you not draw upon the earl, your brother?" said the lady.

"I have not the honor of being allied to the nobility."

"Perhaps you can have resource to the pay master of your regiment?"

"I do not happen to belong to any regiment."

"And have you no land in Arkansas?"

"Not an acre."

"Pray, then sir may I take the liberty of inquiring who you are?"

"I am your husband, madam. at your service, and the only son of a famous gambler, who left me an heir to his profession."

"My father gave me a good education," said the lady.

"So did my father give me a good education," said the gentleman—"but it has not prevented me from trumping the wrong trick this time."

So saying, Major Fitzconnel bounded out of the chamber. hastened to the bar, and called the landlord. His interesting bride followed on tip-toe, and listened unobserved. The Major inquired at what hour the mail stage would pass for New York.

"About midnight," was the reply."

"Please to secure me a seat," said the Major, "and let me be waked up at the proper hour."

"Only one seat?" inquired the host.

"One seat only," was the reply.

The landlord remarked that it was customary for gentlemen who set off in the night to pay their fare in advance, upon which the Major paid for the seat.

The Major and his bride retired to separate chambers; the former was soon locked in the arms of sleep, but the latter repelled the drowsy god from her eye lids.

When she heard the stage drive up to the door of the inn she hastily rose, and having previously made up her bundle, without which a lady seldom steals a march, hastened down stairs.—Upon the way she met the landlord, who inquired if her husband was awake.

"He is not," replied the lady, "and need not be disturbed."

"The seat was taken for you then?" inquired the inn-keeper.

"Certainly"

"Oh, very well we will not disturb the gentleman—the stage is ready madam—jump in."

Mrs. Fitzconnel jumped in accordingly, and was soon on her way to New York, leaving the gallant and ungenerous Major Fitzconnel to provide another conveyance, and a new wife at his leisure.