A SUCCESSFUL SWINDLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 586, 21 February 1863, Page 7

A SUCCESSFUL SWINDLE.

FROM CIIAMBKRS' JOUMfAI.

Mine is a case that should appear in the police reports rather than in the pages of this publication. My money has been obtained from me under f.il-.e pretences ; my feelings have been most cruelly licerated, and assault md battery committed on my heart. Is there, in this free and enlightened country, no redress for wrongs like these 1 1 nsk this repeatedly and am as repeatedly assured there is none. All I can do, therefore, is to write a clear statement of the circumstances under which I suffer, in the hope that my fate may prove a warning to other young bachelors, and lead them to bewure of bazaars and of young ladies behind a counter.

I am a young man of good family, with a handsome allowance, and first-rate expectations. I suppose I should be called a catch by "niatch-innking mammas and their daughters. lam a captain in a crack regiment, my height is six feet, nnd my whiskers are unexceptionable. Altogether, till misfortune overtook me, I was as pleasant, good-looking a young fellow as ever flirted through a waltz, or made love at a pic-nic.

One morning lost July, while lounging in roy quarters at Dover, and doing nothing in particular, I received the following pink note :— " Dear Captain Branthwayte,— We have all been very busy here getting up a fancy lair in aid of the endowment fund of a new church at ClayounvStickle.

The Rev. Agustus Needall has kindly consented to undertake the responsible duties of the inrumbent, but his principles will not allow him to eater on his new and arduous sphere until the endowment fund jb completed. Th« dear man says so wisely and feelingly, "How can I administer to thewanteofa numerous and serving flock, when so many of the bare necessaries of life are wanting by myse.'f ? " So we want about £2,000 more to make up n nice little income, and build him a commodious parsonage, and then we shall do charmingly. His excellent' wile is aiding us, heart and soul ; and you, Inm sure will likewise contribute your mite, and bring over some ot your brother officers to do the same. The flay i« fixed for next Thursday. Bring your friends to lunch at my house, and do not fail me. Yours, sincerply, Ckcilia" Prtor.

Pluckwell, Saturday.

" P.S. -Ihere will be a ball in the evening nt the Assembly Rooms, for the same object. Tickets, £1 Is. How many will you have? " Now, I knew Mrs. Pryor for a busy, meddlesome person, I also knew that pretty girl? w r re generally to be met at her house ; besides, old Prior had a bin of still ch.impagne in his cellar that was by no means to be despised. So I wrote off forth with) promising to bring over half-a-dozen friends, for whom tickets might be secured. Thuisday being fine, we set off in high spirits, and reached Pluckwell in time for a good lunch at Mra. Pryor's, after which we started for the scene of action.

We soon reached the large field in which the tents were pitched— entrance, 2*. Gd. , which we paid cheer tully it bein X the first demand. In the field, we touud the usu>d field of fortune, gipsy's tent, refresh-ment-stall, and one large maiquee with gnily dressed counters, and still more gaily dressed girls behind them. Crowds of pcop'e moved about the field, lookiug as miserable as English folks always do on festive occasions. Suddenly one ot my companions exclaimed : Hollo ! Branthwayte, look at the little creature there Btandiag on a chair." I looked round, of course, little thinking what would be the consequence and my gaze was spell-bound by the sweetest little fany eyes every looked up. There she stood upon a ohnir, before a little looking-glass, trying on a pink hood, which she was endeavoring to persuade some idiot to buy. Never before had I seen such charming unconsciousne=9, such naivete, such «race ! I don't know what she bad on ; it was something white and cloudy and angelic. But much clothing 3eemed superfluous inherca«e, for clouds of golden curls fell showerinc to her tiny waist, and were brushed back from the sweetest, gentlest, and withall moat piquant face in the world. (I am aware that lam u-ing a great many adjectives, but really the occasion demands them.) My first feeling on seeing her was, that I had never truly loved till then ; my second, an almost irresistible inclination to knock down that drivelling maniac who was actually hesitating about buying the hood. He said it would be of no use to him. Fool. In a moment I was beside the chair, and speechless with emotion, I tendered a sovereign for the precious article.

" Ah ! that's capital," she said, with the sweetest look of gratitude. " Why, Mr. Screwker has been doubting whether he would give me fifteen shillings for it. I hope jou don't want any change ? " " Change ! " I gasped. •' Never," " Then come duwn to our stall," she said, jumping daintily down from her elevated post, and I will find some of my very own work for jou." J, of course, followed her to a larsre stall, whe-e three other charming girls and a handsome mamma presided ; and of course I gave a fabulous price for a eiirar-case, which she said she had worked herself. (I don't believe she had, for it was JiMeous.) Of course too, I had to buy something quite useless of all the three sisters, and to put into all tue raffles, winning at last a large wax doll, several sizes bigger than a child of six months. As this last acquisition embarrase.l me a good deal, I gave it back to her and afterwards saw her sell it over again for a considerable sum to a Kood natured old gentleman. " You make a capital shopwoman," I said. " Ah, yes, I have some tolerable dodges. I did a good business before you came in faded six-penny bouquets, which I sold for five shillings. They were so worthless tl.at a good many people gave them back to me, and I sold them again, I sold one nine times, and made fcty-five shillings by it ! " and she gave a merry little laugh "at the folly of some people," with a sly glance at me. I ventured ou a tender reproach: "And nothing whispered to you to keep a bouquet for me ] " " No, indeed ; but I can get you aro ebud, a beauty, if you 1 ke ; and off she danced, waving me back, when I would have followed ; and beckoning to an elderly grave -looking parson, who stood by the stall, and who was to all appearance the farther of the charming quartette. She soon came running back breathless, her hands full of lovely rosebuds. On the way she attacked that stingy Mr. dcrewker who wood not buy the hood, and wliom she now tried to tempt with a half-opened Uloire de Dijon. " How much do you want for it? " he asked. " Whatever you please," wa? the demure reply. He pulled out a huidful of silver, and was, I suspect, lookine for sixpence, when iv a moment she pounced on the whole handful, with an "Oh! thank you, you are too generous," and swept it into her pocket. The fellow's dismay was delicious to behold : but he could only submit, for she was offagain directly, and di-tiibuting her floral favors right and left, till, when she reached me, there was only one left. " Now, what will you give me for this .' " <k Anything, everything, all the money I hnve left," I cned, thrusting my hands into my pookets. But alas ! they were empty ; nor could all my searching bnng to light more than oue miserable fourpenny-piece. Imagine my dismay. '• lMy dear girl," I stammered, '-'you see this is all I have left."

" Oh, you surely can't intend to be so mean, when I ran all the way up the garden to fetch them, and packed my finger, and made it bleed ?" she held out a little white punctured fore-finger to verify her words. " You have your watch," she added, " and you can redeem it to-morrow."

I own I felt rather staggered at this. My watch was a valuable family relic, set with brilliants, and on the saftly of which depended the favor of an aged and gouty uncle, of crabbed disposition and enormous wealth. But the blue eyes were fixed on me, and seemed to wonder at my delay. All prudential considerations vanished. I placed the watch in one outstretched hand, and received the rosebud from the other.

" Wear it to-night, and I will dance with you," she whispered, and our eyes met for a moment. She turned away with a faint blush, aud I left the field to dine and dress for the evening. Dine, did I say 1 and dress 1 I suppose I performed those operations, but I have no 1 ecollection ot anything of the sort. I could only dream ot the past, aud hope for the future. If it had been for anyone else in the world, I should have said I was going to make a fool of myself. But my infatuation for her, so far superior to all existing creature^ could not but elevate and honor any man whom she might choose to accept. So I started for the ball at ten o'clock, fully determined to propose at once. She was late, but at last I saw her coming up the stairs, followed by her three sisters, with the mamma and the clergyman I had seen with them in the afternoon. I fancied her eyes rested on the rosebud in my button hole, and that they beamed with a soft approbation. Clieered by this tacit encouragement, 1 seized hold ot the first steward I met, and begged him to introduce me to " that young lady," pointing her out. I thought his face wore an amused smile as he complied with my request;, but I took little heed of surrounding cii-cumstmces, so anxious wa3 I to catch her name. The usual formula was pronounced. "Captain Branthwayte — Miss Nevill." Was that the name ? I could not be sure. I had no time to think about it, for the waltz began at once, and I seemed to be floating in a sea of bliss with an angel in my arms, keeping time to the music of the spheres. At last we Innded on an out-oftbe-way sofa, where I revived to ask her to be mine for ever. I don't remember how I began; I must have been rather unintelliQible at first, for she looked puzzled, and seemed trying not to smile. But when I managed to stammer out that I knew I was " quite unworthy of her, yet is the devotion of a lifetime,"' &c, she said quietly, " I think you must mistake me for one of my sisters.'' I assured her that such a mistake was quite impossiDle. " Then you cannot have heard my name "

" O yes," I said, Miss Nevill. I listened particularly for your namn, and heard it quite well." "My name is Mrs. Needall ; you must have seen my husband standing by my stall. The bizaar was for the endowment of our church, and to build us a vicarage. Of course I worked con amore, and took more money than anyone ; and I thmk you were my best customer,'" she added, with a triumphant toss of her little head that completely maddened me. I rushed from the room, took the next train back to Dover, and here I have been ever since, a miserable man ! I had not the heart to redeem my watch ;so that, in addition to my other troubles, I may have incurred the lasting displeasure of my uncle, and lost the chance of some thousands a year. All this because I was fool enough to go and be swindled at a fancy-fair.

Thr New Doa Law in France. The dog-tax is a new thing in Frauce, and people pay it very unwillingly. In consequence of the numerous claims for exemption under the clauses in favor of watchdo£3 and dogs employed by hawkers and co3termongers, the Council of State has been exercising its ingenuity to define what is a dog; within the sumptuary purview of the Irw. It has laid down the rule that all dogs that come within either of the six following descriptions must be considered as "dogs of j luxury," and pay the full tax:— l. The dog 'that runs about by himself in the streets. 2. The do? that accompanies his master when he goaa out for a promenade. , 3. The dog who is allowed to come to the fireside or run about the house from one room to another. 4. Tha dog permitted to play with the children. 5. The JJdog trained to seek Jor truffles ; and 6, The dog, who from old age or infirmity, has become useless, and in consequence, kept constantly iv the house. Some of these definitions will raise very nice questions with the tax-gatherers.,— Paris Letter, ' -