BREACH OF PROMISE.

Evening Post, Issue 19, 1 March 1865, Page 3

BREACH OF PROMISE.

Mr. Joseph Lyle, the son and heir of a Cornwall tin miner, was an under-graduate at Cambridge in 1860, where he met with a very pretty and very good girl named Emily Coulden, the daughter of a herald painter, and only nineteen years old. As a matter of course they loved each other at first sight — felt that they were made for each other, and vowed that they would have each other, come weal or come woe. Joseph was a young gentleman of great expectations, and having also a cruel uncle, like the ba'es in the wood, he determined to keep his love story a secret until the uncle died, or something else turned up to win for him the " glorious privilege of being independent." In due time he took his degree at the University, and set off to London in search of a profession. He thought upon the law, the Church, and the army, and, after deep meditation, he fixed upon the law, and entered one of the Inns ot Court in January, 1861. Then commenced a lengthened and loving correspondence between London and Cambridge, or, in other words, between the herald painter's daughter and the tin miner's son. He called her his " little wine," his " own Petsie," his " darling Tiddy;" her sister was christened "little Kaliel" Writing on the afternoon of Feb. 6tb, he declares he ia very dull because of her absence, and because he had not seen her likeness since 10 o'clock that morning ; and in another epistle he Ba}'s that love was driving all the law clean out of his head. Then the correspondence slackened a little from some unknown cause, and Joseph took a run to Scotland, where we find him writing a love-note from on board the Dolphin in Loch Fyne. He returned to London, saw his " Petsie," and became more enamoured of her charms than ever ; but the uncle still being in the way, a secret marriage was proposed by our hero, but Emily would not hear of this project, at least for the time. Joseph the<i proposed to emigrate to British Columbia for the purpose of becoming a sheep farmer or something of the kind, and when everything was in proper order he was either to come or send for nis love. Miss Coulden did not like British Columbia, but she suggested New Zealand, and the latter colony was accordingly fixed upoa as their ultimate home. We find the young lover after this becoming thoroughly practical in his conversation and correspondence. He talks about rearing live stock, building houses, &c. ; and while the fit in on him he writes to his own " Petsie" in the following manner : — " You may as well turn your attention to making pies and frying beef stakes. I believe that at present I should beat your head off at cooking! Can you boil eggs? With love, ever yours, &c, &c." It may be proper to mention here that the young lady's mother made two different attempts to get the engagement broken up, but Joseph would not give his consent ; so he sailed at length for New Zealand, under a promise to make Emily his wife before 1863 had passed away. He wrote two or three letters while on the passage, and sent them to England by homeward bound ships ; and he did something more than this. He met with a young woman on board the same ship, also going to New Zealand, and Mr. Joseph Lyle, forgetting all about " the girl he left behind him," courted his new acquaintance, and when the vessel arrived at Otago the couple were married right off. Then the uncle died, leaving his nephew two or three landed estates in reversion, with a good deal of ready money besides ; and, on hearing of tbis windfall, Joseph once more made his appearance in Cornwall. He waa duly put in possession of a farm, a legacy, and a large amount of stock; and there also came a claim for damages from Miss Coulden, the girl he had so shabbily used. The case was tried before Lord Chief Justice Erie and a special jury on Friday last, and was ultimately settled by the defendant offering to pay .£IOOO in name of damages, which was accepted by the counsel for the young lady; and so ends the affecting history of " Petsie " and her loving " Kahe." — Glasgow Herald.