Dalby; which, it is almost needless to say, were as instantly accepted.
His grace, knowing that the consent of the daughter would avail him but little, without possessing that of the father, had not discovered to Laura the partiality he entertained for her; but having, as he imagined, secured the main chance, made a formal declaration of his love.
Laura listened with profound attention to the impa.s.sioned a.s.surances of affection of the n.o.ble duke; and when he paused, in expectation of receiving a confirmation of his hopes, she raised her blushing eyes, wet with the tears of anguish, from the ground; and, thanking him for the honour he intended her, candidly acknowledged the pre-engagement she was under to the absent Edwin.
Charmed with her candour; and interested by her artless tale, he determined to resign his pretensions, and support the cause of the young soldier.
Laura had preserved a regular correspondence with her lover; and he was, therefore, but too well informed of the desperate situation of his suit.
He longed to fly to the arms of his mistress, but scorned to desert his post. At length, fortune gave him an opportunity of realizing his wishes, at a moment when he least expected it. The Republican army suddenly attacked, in great force, the allied troops: an obstinate battle ensued, in which Edwin particularly distinguished himself; the enemy were completely routed; and the young soldier, for the courage he displayed in the action, was sent to England with the gladsome tidings of victory. Having delivered the dispatches with which he had been charged, he hastened to the house of Mr. Dalby; and, gaining admittance, ran up stairs in the drawing room, where he discovered his n.o.ble rival with the mistress of his heart. His sudden and unexpected appearance threw the lovely Laura into some disorder; and it was with much difficulty she retained spirits sufficient to meet her lover"s fond embrace.
At this critical moment, Mr. Dalby entered the room; having from his study seen an officer cross the hall; and ascend the staircase. The words--"My dear, dear Laura! and do I once more behold thee in my arms?"
from the enraptured Edwin, caught the ears of the astonished Dalby, who stood fixed and motionless, mute, and almost discrediting the organs both of sight and hearing.
"Had I known, Sir," said his grace, who beheld with as much delight the agitation of Dalby, as the happiness of the youthful pair, "that the affections of your daughter had been placed on another object, I should not have offered the smallest violence to her inclination."
"My Lord--my Lord!" stammered out the enraged parent, "she is under no such engagement as you suppose." Then stepping up to Edwin--"And, pray, who the devil are you, Sir? Some fortune-hunter, I suppose! But you have missed your mark, young man: be pleased, therefore, to leave my house; and, if ever you venture here again, I shall find means--------"
"My dear father!" said Laura, interrupting him, "you surely forget yourself! The gentleman, whom you thus rudely threaten, is our neighbour"s son, Mr. Langley, the West-India merchant, in Lombard-street."
"Mr. Langley"s son!"
"Yes, Sir," returned Edwin; "and though not blessed with equal fortune with yourself, I have yet sufficient to support the rank of a gentleman.
I love your daughter; I long have loved her; and she has taught me to believe that she returns my affection. I ask no fortune; give me my Laura, and dispose of your wealth in whatever manner you please!"
"Very romantic, faith!--And pray, fellow, do you know who you speak so freely to?"
"O, very well, Sir!"
"That I am George Dalby, Esq. a member of the House of Commons?" Edwin bowed. "And that I have an estate free and uninc.u.mbered--look you, Sir, free and uninc.u.mbered--that netts 10,000l. a year?"
"To none of these acquisitions am I a stranger, Sir," returned Edwin.
"And you, Laura, will you so far disgrace yourself and me, to throw yourself away on a dry-salter"s son?--A fortune-hunter!--A beggar!"
"A what, Sir?" interrupted Edwin, with much warmth. "But I forget myself--you are my Laura"s father!"
"Sir," said Laura, "I confess that I entertain a partiality for Edwin.
I know his worth; and will renounce all t.i.tles, rank and distinction, wealth and pleasure, to live the partner of his life!"
"Then, by Heaven! as I know my worth. I will renounce you for ever! and, therefore, hence with your paramour!--you shall nevermore enter my doors!"
"Be it so," said the Duke; "mine are open to receive them! My house, my home, my fortune, all are theirs; they shall use them at their pleasure; they shall live in ease, in competence, and enjoy the pleasures of their loves: while mad ambition, insatiate avarice, and increasing pride, shall torture you with never-ceasing pangs, and embitter every future moment of your life!"
The disappointed, mercenary parent, flew, with bitter imprecations, from his tormentors: the lovers retired with their n.o.ble patron; and, after having spent several days in a fruitless attempt to gain the consent of Dalby, were united in the holy bands of wedlock. Edwin has since, from his professional merit, and the interest of his grace, attained a distinguished rank in the army; and the dislike of Mr. Dalby to his daughter"s choice has decreased, in proportion as he has risen to distinction. Several interviews have taken place, through the medium of their n.o.ble friend, and it is believed that time will root from the mind of Mr. Dalby every unfavourable impression the want of fortune in his son-in-law occasioned; and that Edwin and Laura will, at last, become the heirs of his immense property.
The union of this amiable pair has been blessed with two fine boys; and this increase of family has enlarged their happiness: they still continue to receive the notice of his grace, whom they consider as the author of their felicity, and invariably distinguished him by the appellation of _The Generous Rival_.
[[Possible sources:
Caledonian Bee, 1795, "A Select Collection of Interesting Extracts from Modern Publications", story labeled "By Mr. Bacon"; _Interesting anecdotes, memoirs, allegories, essays, and poetical..., "by Mr. Addison"_ Volume 5, 1797, (originally 1794), sometimes misattributed to Joseph Addison (1672-1719).]]
_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
_THE PRISON._
(A continuation of the CRIMINAL, from page 351.)
Within the gloomy walls of a prison, far excluded from the glance of man, was immured, him that once had basked in the sunshine of prosperity, him that had been the darling pride of a doating father, and him, reader, that was the next heir to a peerage. But he had woefully broken through the laws of his country; Despair, that haggard fiend, had sent him, like the beast of prey, to obtain a.s.sistance unlawfully; and wholly guided by her dictates, he had unknowingly murdered his parent.------
----Spare your anathemas, ye advocates for monarchy, ye who think sanguinary laws are as necessary as the glittering baubles of a crown; who imagine the life of the offender is requisite to expiate his crime--and consider whether solitary imprisonment is not far more just.
Common humanity would urge you to reply in the affirmative. Then throw aside the tyranny of custom, and for once let your bosoms swell with philanthropy.
Him, who is the subject of this tale, lived in an age when no breast was actuated by these considerations, when man paid the most implicit obedience to the gilded trappings of royalty, when no such thing as civil or religious liberty existed.
No ray of light found entrance into his dismal cell: the wisdom of the contriver had situated it many yards beneath the surface of the earth.
In one corner there had originally been placed a bundle of straw, which had served the purpose of a bed to many whom fate had singled out to pay with their lives the forfeit of their crimes; but nought now remained save here and there a scattering one. On his legs were bound enormous shackles, under the weight of which a Sampson would have groaned: nor were his hands exempt from the galling fetters--and as for his body, it was nearly cased in iron.--Unhappy victim of despotic cruelty!--
In this dungeon, until he had the "_inestimable privilege of a trial by jury_," he was doomed to receive an earnest of what he was to expect.
With a soul undaunted he patiently bore it all. Now and then his wife and helpless children would call for a tear of pity, which was all he could bestow. He would reflect on the crime he had committed; and discovered to what lengths misery would lead a man--to the commission of what in his cooler moments he would spurn from him with horror.
L. B.
NEW-YORK.
_MARRIED,_
On Thursday evening the 20th ult. by the Rev. Dr. Foster, MR. FRANCIS M"DOLE, of Brunswick, (N.J.) to Miss DIANA DEAS, of Princeton.
On Sat.u.r.day evening se"nnight, by the Rev. Mr. Strebeck, Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS, to Miss SUSAN BOWDEN, both of this city.
On Sunday se"nnight, at Oyster Bay, (L.I.) by Stephen Frost, Esquire, Mr. JOHN MERRITT, formerly of Limerick, Ireland, to Miss ELIZABETH HAWXHURST, daughter to Mr. Joseph Hawxhurst, of that place.
On Monday evening se"nnight, by the Rev. Dr. Rogers, Mr. JAMES CONCKLIN, to Mrs. JANE STRATTON, both of this city.