A RESOLUTE YOUNG WOMAN

Dunstan Times, Issue 1201, 6 March 1885, Page 3

A RESOLUTE YOUNG WOMAN

A curious courtship with an abrupt termination recently took place in B istol. A tradesman in that city wishing to marry, inserted an advertisement for a housekeeper, with a view of ultimately marrying the person taking the situation. The advertisement was read by a nursemaid in the service of an aristocratic family a few miles out in the country. The girl, although occupying a huble position, was well educated, with good connection and of prepossessing appearance and lady-like manners. The young woman consumed the cook, and having received the sago advice of that important personage, replied to the advertisement, and substquentlv a long correspondence took place between the nursemaid and the Bristol man. Poo to* graphs were also exchanged. At length the damsel wished to bring matters to a climax, and it was' agreed upon that she should proceed to Bi istol, where they were to marry on the following day. She made all her preparations, and after the banns had been duly published she proceeded on her journey, reaching Bristol late at night. The expectant bridegroom, together with two friends was at the station to meet her, but judge of his surprise when the young lady, after carefully surveying him from top to toe. curtly remarked that she really could not think of marrying a man like him. This sudden determination may easily be accounted for by the fact that while the young lady is only just over twenty years, the tradesman has the appearance of being between forty and fifty. Nothing daunted by the young lady’s candid avowal, however, the tradesman pressed her to proceed to his residence and consider the matter, and as his intentions were evidently strickly honorable, she consented. She was comfortably provided for, but the next moraing found her as firm in her resolve as ever. Further persuasion induced her to proceed with him to the place of | worship where he had arranged for tha marriage to take place and she even allowed herself to be led to the altar. The marriage ceremony was commenced and all went well until the clergyman asked the usual question, when quite a commotion was caused among those assembled in td(e building by the young lady promptly ’aiifawering “ Most decidedly no.” The tradesman appealed to her to answer in the -.affirmative, and the clergyman did all be', could to prevent further unpleasantness', but ill to ho purpose. The . strange courtship thus came to an abrupt termination, and-the resolute young lady, bidding farewell to thetradesman and his friends, took the train.-back to her Kentish-home. , ...