F 11 A XK M O li TIME It ,
Editor and J'roprletor,
The Beoomfield Times'
J.s 1'ublished Weekly,
At New lilooinfield, Pcim'n.
ItY
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A BREACH OF PROMISE.
BY A ItETlKED ATTOltNEY.
6 TS IT POSSIBLE ! Roso Leavitt ?"
r
exclaimed I, as I saw a lady whom
I recognized as ono of the beautiful heir
esses of Boston enter my office.
" I dare say you arc surprised ; but my
"business is of a strictly legal character ; so
you need not waste any exclamation upon
the event."
Roso Leavitt was a beauty and nn heir
ess, but she was a strango girl for all that.
Her father had died when she was about
sixteen, leaving something like a million to
bo divided between her and her two broth
ers. Charles and Ienry Leavitt were much
older than she, and both of them had long
been settled down as quiet, orderly busi
ness men. They wcro respectable in the
fullest sense of tho word, and were never
known to bo erated in tho slightest partic
ular. Roso seemed to bo cast in another entire
ly different mould from that in which they
had been formed. At school she been so
wild, that neither master nor mistress could
control her. She would have her own way
a peculiarity to which I am sorry to say,
very many young ladies are addicted.
For tho proprieties of life I mean 'for
thoso set formalities of life, which pass as
such in tho world of fashion she had sov
ereign contempt. She hated pimps, hated
dandies,' hated belles, hated pianos, music
books, French andGerman "methods ;" in
fact, she scorned strikingly disposed to live
out her existence after tho dictates of her
own fancy, or her caprices, as the reader
may choose to regard it. Sho passed into
her twenty-lirst year, without having done
anything to call tho attention of tho world
at largo to her. Her whims had only been
manifested in the schoolroom, or at the
home of her eldest brother, with whom she
resided.
Sho was now twenty-two, swid was in a
fair way to become historical, as I shall in
form the reader. Of course, Rose had a
profusion of lovers heiresses always find
tliem as plenty as snow Hakes at Christmas.
Rut Roso very summarily disposed of this
crowd, by selecting from them one who was
certainly a very superior fellow, lie was
not rich, and had not been very forward in
his attentions, until it was plain to him,
and all tho world, that sho had taken a fan
cy to him. Charles Carpenter was poor,
but ho sincorely loved tho wayward girl,
and would not havo bent at her shrine, if
ho had tot loved her.
Then Rose, after she had secured him in
her toils, as tho spider does tho fly, seem
ed a little disposed to play the coquette.
Now Charles Carpenter had not assuranco
: enough to deal with a coquettish heiress.
He was not a man of the world. Ho was
conscious of the vast difl'erence in their social
position, and when ohe began to lllrt with
anothor, bo did not resent it ; but seemed to
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY
Ncav 331oomlioll, T?n.9 lolvnsivy 8. 1870.
regard it as a change of sentiment on her
part to which sho could offer no reasonable
opposition. Calmly yielding to tho fate
which denied him tho bliss of being loved,
but let "concealment like a worm in tho
bud feed on his damask cheek."
Rose flirted. A new star had risen in
the firmament of that circle in which sho
moved in the person of a Mr. Sampson
Declc. lie had lately come from Baltimore,
was the son of a merchant prince, who
owned a fine estate on the Rappahannock
in Virginia, with two hundred negroes.
Rose flirted with him and Mr. Sampson
Decle was as constant as a needle to the
polo. Soon the flirtation assumed a more
serious aspect. The elegant gentleman was
ever by her side, and sho never failed
to smilo upon him. Pool' Carpenter gave
lip all for lost, and never intruded upon her
presence.
For about three months, Mr. Deelo had
clung to her, and then it was whispered
that he had proposed and was accepted.
Rose's brothers were in ecstacies. They
had been foarful she would throw herself
away upon a poor fellow like Carpenter ;
and both of them declared it was the most
sensiblo thing they had ever known her to
do ; inasmuch as they did not expect much
of her in the matter of matrimony.
I had heard all about these things as
matter of gopsip. I pitied poor Carpenter,
with whom I was well acquainted ; but tho
wealth, position, prospects and magnificent
expectations of Mr. Sampson Deelo could
not be gainsrtyed.
"How is Mr. Deelo?" I asked, when sho
was seated.
"Ho is a knave 1" replied she smartly.
I was utterly astonished at tho cbulition
of feeling.
" Read that letter, Mr. Docket, and let
it explain my business in a lawyer's office."
I took tho document. It was from Mr.
Sampson Decile. From it I learned for tho
first time, that tho engagement between
the parties had boen broken up. It appear
ed that she had formally dismissed him.
Tho letter was a strictly business document.
If he had writtten any thing more delicate ;
had he remonstrated as a lover against his
banishment, ho had done so iKiforo this was
penned. In this ho laid aside the character
of tho lover, and assumed that of business,
looking out sharply for his material inter
ests. Tho substance of it was that the wri
ter would prosecute her for a breach of
promise, if she refused to marry him.
"What shall I do, Mr. Docket?" sho
asked, trying to laugh, but I could observe
the trepidation that filled her mind.
"Really, Rose, this is bad business.
Why did you banish him ? I can conceive
what a terrible misfortune it must be, to bo
exiled from your presence"
" I banished him because he is a knave.
I can prove that ho is a gambler a profes
sional gamester."
" That will not bo sufficient."
' I feared not, but ono thing is certain,
I will never speak to him again, let tho
consequences be what they may."
" Havo there been any letters?"
"Yes, hohas everything in black and
white."
"Bad, bad, Rose."
" I know that or I should not havo camo
to you with such an affair."
I questioned her closely as to all tho par
ticulars of the affair. Mr.- Sampson Deelo
could have no better case, as it looked as if
everything had been done by design ; and be
fore the interview was finished,! was satisfied
that he was a scoundrel, that all ho want
ed was my fair client's fortune.- But Rose
was completely in his power.
For two or three days I fretted over the
case, and then decided to go to Baltimore
myself. Enjoining upon Rose tho strictest
secrecy in regard to my movomonts, I do-
parted. It would take too much spaco to
rclato the incidents of my search -' in Balti
more ; besides it would spoil the' story ;
therefore I withhold them.
On my return, I hastened to Rose aud
desired her to send for Mr. Deele. He
came and impudently stated the grounds
of his claim to tho hand of his heiress.
"How much will buy you off, Mr.
Deelo ?" I asked with all appearance of
deep anxiety.
" Well, sir, I do not wish to prosecute
tho lady. If sho has ceased to love mo, it
is not my fault ; but it is not right that
I should bo a sufferer by her change of sen
timents. She is worth, I am told, some
three hundred thousand dollars. I will not
be hard with her. Give mo ono sixth of
her fortune, and I will return the letters'"
" No sir ; wo will not do that."
"Very well," said he, and coolly roso to
depart.
" Ono word more ; do you think your
claim upon that lady is good?"
"Undoubtedly."
" Wait a moment, then, and I will con
vince you to tho contrary."
I opened tho door of an adjoining room,
and Roso conducted a lady who had come
with me from Baltimore, into the apart
ment. " This lady will be an excellent witness
for tho defence," I remarked.
" Thunder 1" shouted he, as ho seized
his hat and rushed from the house.
Roso threw herself on the sofa and laugh
ed till I thought sho would go into hyster
ics the crazy girl.
In a word, tho stango lady was Mrs.
Sampson Deelo, wife of the aspirant for
Rose's hand and fortune, whom tho wretch
had deserted several years before. So much
for my visit to Baltimore. Roso rewarded
Mrs. D. for her trouble, and it was a profit
able journey to her. About a year after
Charles Carpenter was made happy by re
ceiving tho hand of Rose, and, I am pleased
to add, sho has mado a very steady wife.
A Dutch Justice.
A PLEASANT country village in Ohio,
some years since possessed that which
is often denied to places of more conse
quence a court which really dispensed jus
tice. Its chief was a Justice of tho Peace,
whose good common sense and honesty of
purpose counterbalanced his want of legal
lore ; and in conscquonce of its straightfor
ward decisions the " Dutch Court," as it
was popularly called, became a great terror
to evil doers.
Once upon a time a case was brought be
fore his Honor arising out of an infraction
of the " liquor law" of tho State, which
then provided for the punishment by fine
of any individual who sold intoxicating
beverages to persons under sixteen years
of age, or by a less qauntity than a quart.
Upon one of these grand occasions when a
"general muster" of the militia gave de
light to numerous officers in gay uniforms,
and to large masses of the good peoplo of
tho country, an unlucky wight sought, to
avail himself of tho "glorious" opportuni
ty to turn an honest penny. Providing
himself with a small lot ofgingor cakes and
a disproportionately largo stock of "light
ning whiskey," ho located upon an clligi
blo sito near tho field. Knowing the penal
ty of the law against his little enterprise,
tho vendor of " the ardent" hit upon the
happy expedient, to evado its provisions, of
selling to his customers a ginger cake, and
then throwing a drink into the bargain.
Justico was not so blind as to fail to no
tice "this artful dodge," and tho next day
found tho delinquent citizen in tho very
jaws of tho " Dutch Court." The testimo
ny whs short and conclusive, to tho effect
that he had sold a boy a cake, and then had
given him a " horn ;" and tho defendant's
lawyer put in tho defense that his client
sold, on tho occasion under consideration,
not liquor, but ginger-cakes, well knowing
at tho same tiino, that salt wouldn't save
him. As he anticipated, the Court pro
nounced a verdict of guilty, but to tho sur
prise of tho defense, put the lino at fifteen
dollars, instead of tho legal penalty of five.
'May it please the Court," interposed
defendant's counsel, "is there not some
mistake in this sentence ?" The statutes
provide for a fino of but fivo dollar for
NEWSPAPER.
each offense. Thero is but ono ofl'snsc.
proven, and wo aro ready tpay that line,
but wo hold it as contrary to'the plain read
ing of tho law to make the punaly fifteen
dollars."
"There is no mistake at all," replied
the Court. "Tho law say flvo dollars
for each offence. Now I fines this
man fivo dollars, in tho first place, for sell
ing less than a quart of vishkyr I fines
him in tho second place, five dollars for sell
ing vishky to a boy ; and I fines him, in
tho third place, five dollars for tryiog to
schrcen himself behind a ginger cako I'r
The find was paid, and no appeal taken.
Some Setting.
Old Farmer Gruff was ono mormng tug
ging away with all his might and mafnr at
a barrel of apples, which ho was endeavor
ing to get up tho cellar stairs, and bawling
at the top of his lungs for ono of his boys
to lend a helping hand, but in vain.
When ho had, after an infinite amount of
sweating and puffing, accomplished the
task, and just when they were not needed,
of course, "tho boys" made their appear
ance. "Where have you been, and what havo
you been about, I'd like to know, that you
could not hear mo call?" inquired tho fath
er, in an angry tone, addressing tho eldest.
"Out in tho shop, settin' tho saw," replied
tho youth.
"And you, Dick?"
"Out in tho bain, settin' tho hen."
"Aud you, sir?"
"Up in granny's room, settin' the clock."
"And you, young man?"
"Up in tho garret, settin' the trap."
" And now, master Fred, where were you,
and what were you settin ?" asked tho old
farmer of his youngest progeny. Tho as
perity of his temper somewhat softened by
this amusing category of answers. Come
let's hear."
"On tho door-step, settin' still" replied
tho young hopeful, seriously.
"A remarkable set, I must confess," add
ed tho amused sire, dispersing tho grinning
group with a wave of the hand. '
The Dutchman and his Pony.')
"Chon, you reclemempcr dat liddlo
plack bony I pyed mit tho bodlar next
vcek?"
"Yah vat of him?"
"Notings,only I gits sheatod burdy pad.'
"So?"
"Yah. You see in de vurst blaco he ish
print mith bote legs, unt ferry lamo mit
von eye. Den von you gits on him to rito
ho rares up pehiut unt kicks up peforo so
vursoas.a, chachmulo. I dinks I dako
him a liddlo rito yestertay, unt so sooner
I gits straddlo his pack ho gonsmenco dat
vay, shust so like a a vakin peam on a po
atsteam , unt ven ho gits tone, I vas so
mixed up mit eferydinks, I vints mcnozclf
zittin arouiit paekvards, mit his dail in
mine hants vor do pridlo."
" Veil, vot you going to do mit him?"
" Oh, I vixed him pettor as chain up. I
hitch him in to cart mit his dail vero his
heat ought to po ; den I gifo him apout so a
tozen cuts mit a hitecow ; ho starts to go,
put so soon he sees to cart peforo him ho
makes paekwards. Burdy soon ho stum
bles pehint, unt sits town on his hauches,
unt looks liko ho veel burty shamped mit
himself. Den I dakes him out, hitch him
do rito vay, tint . ho goes rito of shust so
goot as anypody's bony." .
E3F "That's a good gun of yours, stran
ger, but Uncle Dave here has ono that
beats it." '.
"Ah ! how far will it kill a hawk, with
No. 0 shot?"
"I don't use shot or ball cither," answer
ed Unelo Dave for himsolf. ,
" Then what do you uso, Undo Davo ?"
" I shoot salt altogether' I kill the game
so far with my gun that without salt, the
game would spile before I could got it."
tTcrms: IX ADVAXCE,
One Dollar jev Year
TVo. O.
A Threo Cornered Family.
T
"HUE hitherto unsungtownof Litchfield,
Illinois, makes a strontr bid for nation
al notico in the way of a decidedly quniiifr
domestic romance. hi 1-8(15, the popula
tion of this ambitious settlement was aug
mcnted by tho arrival from some place iir
Missouri of a hoary and beaming patriarch'
named Cavolt, who brought with him to
take caro of his household,, a fine-looking;
woman of about thirty-five, in, widow's
weeds, with two interesting chiVduen. Tins
neighbors quickly mado it their most par
ticular business to becomo acquainted with
this picturesque family of stranger, aui
wcro presently informed that the lady of
the weeds was the widow of the good old
gentleman's lato son, and clung to her bu
reaved father-in-law tho more closely for
tho love she had borne tho younger Cavolt.
Upon this information, tho most exacting
social inspectors of Litchfield were moved
to great admiration of tho good-looking
widow Cav(Itr and sho and her benignant
father-in-law were admitted to full mem
bership in th most genial hospitalities of
the town.
Amongst their new friends was an hon
orable and thrifty young yeoman named
Rcniben Akers, who soon becamo the most
frequent visitor to the house, and exercised
snch a tender influence over tlio lady that
she finally gave signs of a disposition to for
get the lost Cavolt. So, when "the winds
of March were humming," Reuben led tho
widow to a second wifehood amid the con
gratulations of friends all ; the patriarchal
Cavolt's remarks and demeanor on tho
blushing occasion being effulgent with the
sunny benignity of his paternal nature.
All went joyously for eight months, tho
young bridegroom being delighted with the
docilo affection of his plump brido and
step children ; Mrs. Akers accepting hex.
second happiness in a spirit of complacency
towards all tho world, and the aged father-in-law
beaming upon tho wholo concern
liko a private sun on padded stilts. Indeed
all might havo gone on as merrily for ever,
had not last week brought to Litchfield a
brother of tho bride, who, under the relax
ing influence of the flowing bowl, allowed
a felino prisoner to emerge from her previ
ous captivity.
This cat liberated from tho bag was
equivalent to an assertion that Mr. Reuben
Akers' matrimonial investment was in the
nature of a second mortgage, tho holder of
tho first having still a lien upon the whole
property.
. "In fact, Rube," quoth the communica
tive brother, "your wife's first husband
was no other than Cavolt, and you're the
worst sold individual in the list of my most
verdant acquaintances."
Driven almost to lunacy by this playful
revelation, yet unwilling to believe that it
could be really true, poor Reuben flow to
the patriarch without a moment's loss, and
bado him explain. The benignant old
creature was at first seized with a violent
fit of a coughing, but presently regained
his equanimity sufficiently to admit tho soft
impeachment.
" It is true my son," said he, with much
effulgence, " that I was Mrs. Aker's prevf.
ous husband ; but I was growing old ; I had
but a few more years to livo ; and, not wish
ing to leave a young widow destitute in a
heartless world, I thought it better to have
her united, 'while I lived, to sonio honest
and industrious young man, who would
cherish and. support-her when I am no
moro. Bo calm, Reuben, bo calm, my son."
Reuben, however, refused to bo "calm ;"
and then and thoro abjured all right an
title iii the tri-parto alliance. Ho withdrew
at onco to other quarters in a tempest of
righteous indignation, and, on the following
day, the Cavolts, young aud old, left Litch
field with that precipitation which ever
characterizes the movements of a certain
class when n.o ono pursueth,
tW Tho coat that fits almost any one
juit now That which, keeps out the. cold.
J