person who chaise. The plan was laid between them prove your innocence; thou stain to huthat he should carry off the young lady to manity! to associate with such wretches! a place of safety, and that there he should But," continuing his examination, "you tell threaten and terrify her; but Mr. Thorn-me, Mr. Butler, that this was the hill was to come in in the mean time, as if by accident, to her rescue, and that they should fight awhile, and then he was to run off, by which Mr. Thornhill would have the better opportunity of gaining her affections himself, under the character of her defender." Sir William remembered the coat to have been frequently worn by his nephew, and all the rest the prisoner himself confirmed by a more circumstantial account, concluding that Mr. Thornhill had often declared to him that he was in love with both sisters at the same time. brought him this old gentleman's daughter?" "No, please your honor," replied the butler; "he did not bring her, for the squire himself undertook that business: but he brought the priest that pretended to marry them."-"It is but too true," cried Jenkinson, "I cannot deny it; that was the employment assigned to me; and I confess it to my confusion." "Good heavens !" exclaimed the worthy baronet; "how every new discovery of his villany alarms me! All his guilt is now too plain, and I find his present prosecution was dictated by tyranny, cowardice, and revenge; at my request, Mr. Jailer, set this young officer, now your prisoner, free, and trust to me for the consequences. I'll make it my business to set the affair in a proper light to my friend, the magistrate who has committed him. But where is the unfortunate young lady herself? let her appear to confront this wretch; I long to know by what arts he has seduced her. Entreat her to come in; where is she?" Upon this, Mr. Thornhill, with the utmost humility, entreated that two such abandoned wretches might not be admitted as evidence against him, but that his servants should be examined. "Your servants!" replied Sir William ; "wretch, call them yours no longer; but come, let us hear what those fellows have to say ; let his butler be called." When the butler was introduced, he soon perceived, by his former master's looks, that all his power was now over. "Tell me," cried Sir William, sternly, "have you ever seen your master and that fellow dressed up in his clothes in company together?". "Yes, please your honor," cried the butler, a thousand times; he was the man that always brought him his ladies.". "How!" interrupted young Mr. Thornhill, "this to my face?" "Yes," replied the butler, "or to any man's face. To tell you a truth, Master Thornhill, I never either loved you or liked you, and I don't care if I tell you now a piece of my mind."—"Now, then," cried Jenkinson, “tell his honor whether you know anything of me."-"I can't say," replied the butler, "that I know much good of you. The night that gentleman's daughter was deluded to our house, you was one of cause. Though her father made several rethem.". "So, then," cried Sir William, "I monstrances on the impropriety of her going find you have brought a very fine witness to to a prison to visit us, yet they were ineffect Ah, sir," said I, "that question stings me to the heart; I was once indeed happy in a daughter, but her miseries-" Another interruption here prevented me; for who should make her appearance but Miss Arabella Wilmot, who was the next day to have been married to Mr. Thornhill. Nothing could equal her surprise at seeing Sir William and his nephew here before her; for her arrival was quite accidental. It happened that she and the old gentleman, her father, were passing through the town, on their way to her aunt's, who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr. Thornhill should be consummated at her house; but, stopping for refreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town. It was there, from the window, that the young lady happened to observe one of my little boys playing in the street, and instantly sending a footman to bring the child to her, she learned from him some account of our misfortunes, but was still kept ignorant of young Mr. Thornhill's being the ual; she desired the child to conduct her, which he did; and it was thus she surprised us at a juncture so unexpected. Nor can I go on without a reflection on those accidental meetings which, though they happen every day, seldom excite our surprise but upon some extraordinary occasion. To what a fortuitous concurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives! How many seeming accidents must unite before we can be clothed or fed! The peasant must be disposed to labor; the shower must fall, the wind fill the merchant's sail, or numbers must want the usual supply. We all continued silent for some moments, while my charming pupil, which was the name I generally gave this young lady, united in her looks compassion and astonishment, which gave new finishings to her beauty. "Indeed, my dear Mr. Thornhill," cried she, to the squire, who she supposed was come here to succor, and not to oppress us, "I take it a little unkindly that you should come here without me, or never inform me of the situation of a family so dear to us both; you know I should take as much pleasure in contributing to the relief of my reverend old master here, whom I shall ever esteem, as you can. But I find that, like your uncle, you take a pleasure in doing good in secret." "He find pleasure in doing good!" cried Sir William, interrupting her; "no, my dear, his pleasures are as base as he is. You see in him, madam, as complete a villain as ever disgraced humanity. A wretch who, after having deluded this poor man's daughter, after plotting against the innocence of her sister, has thrown the father into prison, and the eldest son into fetters because he had the courage to face his betrayer! And give me leave, madam, now to congratulate you upon an escape from the embraces of such a monster." "O goodness!" cried the lovely girl; "how have I been deceived! Mr. Thornhill informed me, for certain, that this gentleman's eldest son, Captain Primrose, was gone off to America with his new-married lady." "My sweetest miss," cried my wife, "he has told you nothing but falsehoods. My son George never left the kingdom, nor ever was married. Though you have forsaken him, he has always loved you too well to think of anybody else; and I have heard him say he would die a bachelor for your sake." She then proceeded to expatiate upon the sincerity of her son's passion; she set his duel with Mr. Thornhill in a proper light; thence she made a rapid digression to the squire's debaucheries, his pretended marriages, and ended with a most insulting picture of his cowardice. "Good heavens!" cried Miss Wilmot; "how very near have I been to the brink of ruin: but how great is my pleasure to have escaped it! Ten thousand falsehoods has this gentleman told me! He had at last art enough to persuade me that my promise to the only man I esteemed was no longer binding, since he had been unfaithful. By his falsehoods I was taught to detest one equally brave and generous." But by this time my son was freed from the encumbrances of justice, as the person supposed to be wounded was detected to be an impostor. Mr. Jenkinson, also, who had acted as his valet-de-chambre, had dressed up his hair, and furnished him with whatever was necessary to make a genteel appearance. He now therefore entered, handsomely dressed in his regimentals, and, without vanity. (for Į am above it), he appeared as handsome a fellow as ever wore a military dress. As he entered, he made Miss Wilmot a modest and distant bow, for he was not as yet acquainted with the change which the eloquence of his mother had wrought in his favor. But no decorums could restrain the impatience of his blushing mistress to be forgiven. Her tears, her looks, all contributed to discover the real sensations of her heart for having forgotten her former promise, and having suffered herself to be deluded by an impostor. My son appeared amazed at her condescension, and could scarcely believe it real. "Sure, madam,” cried he, "this is but delusion! I can never have merited this! To be blessed thus is to be too happy!"- No, sir," replied she, “I have been deceived, basely deceived; else nothing could have ever made me unjust to my promise. You know my friendship, you have long known it; but forget what I have done, and as you once had my warmest vows of constancy, you shall now have them repeated; and be assured that if your Arabella cannot be yours, she shall never be another's." - "And no other's you shall be," -- cried Sir William, "if I have any influence wood. He sat, therefore, for some minutes, with your father." This hint was sufficient for my son Moses, who immediately flew to the inn where the old gentleman was, to inform him of every circumstance that had happened. But in the mean time the squire, perceiving that he was on every side undone, now finding that no hopes were left from flattery or dissimulation, concluded that his wisest way would be to turn and face his pursuers. Thus laying aside all shame, he appeared the open and hardy villain. “I find, then,” cried he, "that I am to expect no justice here; but I am resolved it shall be done me. You shall know, sir," turning to Sir William, "I am no longer a poor dependant upon your favors. I scorn them. Nothing can keep Miss Wilmot's fortune from me, which, I thank her father's assiduity, is pretty large. The articles, and a bond for her fortune, are signed and safe in my possession. It was her fortune, not her person, that induced me to wish for this match; and possessed of the one, let who will take the other." This was an alarming blow; Sir William was sensible of the justness of his claims, for he had been instrumental in drawing up the marriage articles himself. Miss Wilmot, therefore, perceiving that her fortune was irretrievably lost, turning to my son, she asked if the loss of fortune could lessen her value to him. "Though fortune," said she, "is out of my power, at least I have my hand to give." 66 employed in the most mortifying speculations, till Sir William attempted to lessen his anxiety. "I must confess, sir," cried he, "that your present disappointment does not entirely displease me. Your immoderate passion for wealth is now justly punished. But though the young lady cannot be rich, she has still a competence sufficient to give content. Here you see an honest young soldier, who is willing to take her without fortune; they have long loved each other, and, for the friendship I bear his father, my interest shall not be wanting in his promotion. Leave, then, that ambition which disappoints you, and for once admit that happiness which courts your acceptance.” "Sir William," replied the old gentleman, "be assured I never yet forced her inclination, nor will I now. If she still continues to love this young gentleman, let her have him with all my heart. There is still, thank Heaven, some fortune left, and your promise will make it something more. Only let my old friend here," meaning me, “give me a promise of settling six thousand pounds upon my girl, if ever he should come to his fortune, and I am ready this night to be the first to join them together." As it now remained with me to make the young couple happy, I readily gave a promise of making the settlement he required; which, to one who had such little expectations as I, was no great favor. We had now, therefore, the satisfaction of seeing them fly into each other's arms in a transport. "After all my misfortunes," cried my son George, "to be thus rewarded! Sure this is more than I could ever have presumed to hope for. Το "And that, madam,” cried her real lover, was indeed all that you ever had to give; at least, all that I ever thought worth the acceptance. And now I protest, my Arabella, by all that's happy, your want of fortune be possessed of all that's good, and after this moment increases my pleasure, as it serves to convince my sweet girl of my sincerity." such an interval of pain! my warmest wishes could never rise so high!". "Yes, my George," returned his lovely bride, "now let Mr. Wilmot now entering, he seemed not the wretch take my fortune; since you are a little pleased at the danger his daughter happy without it, so am I. O, what an exhad just escaped, and readily consented to a change have I made from the basest of men dissolution of the match. But, finding that to the dearest, best! Let him enjoy our her fortune, which was secured to Mr. Thorn- fortune; I now can be happy even in indihill by bond, would not be given up, nothing gence.". "And I promise you," cried the could exceed his disappointment. He now squire, with a malicious grin, “that I shall saw that his money must all go to enrich one be very happy with what you despise."— who had no fortune of his own. He could" Hold, hold, sir," cried Jenkinson, "there bear his being a rascal, but to want an equiv- are two words to that bargain. As for that alent to his daughter's fortune was worm-lady's fortune, sir, you shall never touch a -- single stiver of it. Pray, your honor," con- | let the other be who she will. And as for tinued he to Sir William, "can the squire you, squire, as sure as you stand there, this have this lady's fortune if he be married to young lady is your lawfully wedded wife : another?" -"How can you make such a and to convince you that I speak nothing simple demand?" replied the baronet; "un- but the truth, here is the license by which doubtedly he cannot."—"I am sorry for you were married together." So saying, he that," cried Jenkinson; "for as this gentle- put the license into the baronet's hand, who man and I have been old fellow-sporters, I read it, and found it perfect in every respect. have a friendship for him. But I must de- "And now, gentlemen," continued he, "I clare, well as I love him, that his contract is find you are surprised at all this; but a very not worth a tobacco-stopper, for he is married few words will explain the difficulty. That already."—"You lie like a rascal," returned there squire of renown, for whom I have a the squire, who seemed roused by this in- great friendship, but that's between oursult; "I never was legally married to any selves, - has often employed me in doing odd woman." — "Indeed, begging your honor's little things for him. Among the rest, he pardon," replied the other, "you were; and commissioned me to procure him a false liI hope you will show a proper return of cense and a false priest, in order to deceive friendship to your own honest Jenkinson, this young lady. But as I was very much who brings you a wife; and if the company his friend, what did I do but went and got a restrain their curiosity a few minutes, they true license and a true priest, and married shall see her." So saying, he went off with them both as fast as the cloth could make his usual celerity, and left us all unable to them? Perhaps you'll think it was generosform any probable conjecture as to his de- ity made me do all this. But no. To my sign. Ay, let him go," cried the squire, shame I confess it, my only design was to “whatever else I may have done, I defy him keep the license, and let the squire know there. I am too old now to be frightened that I could prove it upon him whenever I with squibs." thought proper, and so make him come down whenever I wanted money." A burst of pleasure now seemed to fill the whole apartment; our joy even reached the common room, where the prisoners themselves sympathized, -66 "And shook their chains In transport and rude harmony." But "I am surprised," said the baronet, "what the fellow can intend by this. Some low piece of humor, I suppose.". Perhaps, sir,” replied I, "he may have a more serious meaning. For when we reflect on the various schemes this gentleman has laid to seduce innocence, perhaps some one, more artful than the rest, has been found able to Happiness was expanded upon every face, deceive him. When we consider what num- and even Olivia's cheeks seemed flushed with bers he has ruined, how many parents now pleasure. To be thus restored to reputation, feel with anguish the infamy and the con- to friends and fortune at once, was a rapture tamination which he has brought into their sufficient to stop the progress of decay, and families, it would not surprise me if some of restore former health and vivacity. them Amazement! Do I see my lost perhaps among all there was not one who daughter? Do I hold her? It is, my life, felt sincerer pleasure than I. Still holding my happiness! I thought thee lost, my the dear loved child in my arms, I asked my Olivia, yet still I hold thee, and still thou heart if these transports were not delusion. shalt live to bless me !" The warmest trans-"How could you," cried I, turning to Jenports of the fondest lover were not greater kinson,-"how could you add to my miseries than mine, when I saw him introduce my child, and held my daughter in my arms, whose silence only spoke her raptures. "And art thou returned to me, my darling,” cried I," to be my comfort in age?"—"That she is," cried Jenkinson, "and make much of her, for she is your own honorable child, and as honest a woman as any in the whole room, by the story of her death? But it matters not; my pleasure at finding her again is more than a recompense for the pain." "As to your question,” replied Jenkinson, "that is easily answered. I thought the only probable means of freeing you from prison was by submitting to the squire, and consenting to his marriage with the other young |