A SAD CASE.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 237, 28 March 1885, Page 3

A SAD CASE.

The sensational novel writer of a few years back was much given to working his fiction to the point of an alliance between his heroine and some old plutocrat ' with little else left to him m life but his money and sensuality. One of the favourite modes of compellingMay to ally herself with December was to place her father under monetary obligation to the old reprobate, who, for the gratification of a passing fancy, was willing to destroy the happiness of a good, charming, and virtuous girl. The selfish father and often the equally selfish mother are drawn as urging the match upon the unfortunate girl. When all other means have been tried and failed, the truth is at last told her, and she yields. The sins of the father are in such a ca&o truly visited upon his child. The novelist's picture is a bad ono, but some facts in reference to a case in a Northern township put it quite in the shade. A storekeeper, reputed wealthy, endorsed a bill for one of the settlers, who was unable to meet it at maturity, and his future appeared to be in the hands of the store-keeper. The wily old reprobate got the car of the daughter, a girl of 14, and told her that unless she consented to his improper proposal? he would ruin her parents. He gained his ends ; • and we are informed that he sends his wife and children away for an excursion every Sunday, when his unfortunate victim sneaks into his store by the back way. What are the neighbours doing that they do not hunt the old villain out of the district.