ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 148, 21 January 1868, Page 3

ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE

(From the Queensland Guardian.) We have recently been made acquainted with one of those romantic circumstances ■which throw in the shade the most thrilling inventions of the sensation novelist, and give fresh force to the trite remark, that nothing is so strange as real life. It appears that some years since, the son and heir of a Scotch baronet of ancient lineage, owning one of the oldest and finest castles in the county in which he resides, committed some youthful indiscretion,and in order to avoid the consequences forsook his home and emigrated to Queensland, being then about lfi years of age. For some years he travelled through the northern portions of the colony, now a hut-keeper, and then a digger, •and after undergoing the usual ups "nd downs of the bush, he finally cb ain ?« a situation as a bullock-driver in one of the cedar districts. He was now grown into a fi.ie handsome fellow, standing six feet four in his stockings, and to all intents and purposes a bushman. After being for some time in his situation, without anyone having the most distant idea that he was anything other than he appeared to be, in company withhis mate he paid a visit to Brisbane, in -colonial parlance to " knock down his cheque." While in town and laboring under the influence of something stronger than ■quart-pot tea, these two worthies entered into a compact that either should forfeit five pounds to his companion if he failed to marry before leaving town. They agreed further that the next day should be the one on which the double event shoidd come off. Each had the happiness of being on a certain intimacy with a young lady, who had aided in the reduction of his cheque. The name of the lady, the hour of the performance, and the church at which it was to come off were all settled on. The hero of our tale, who will call Donald Elphinstone, arranged that the bridal party should consist of the bride's father and mother and the happy couple, and that after the ceremony was completed they should join the other parties in " making a time of it." At the church, however, they were not met by the other contracting party ; he, it subsequently appeared, having woke up in the morning with a tolerably clear head, and, having some singular aversion to the matrimonial knot had determined to beat a hasty retreat. No sooner decided on than put in execution, his horse was saddled, his bill paid, and when our friend Donald reached the church porch, his faithless friend was over the hills and far away, rejoicing in his state of single blessedness. Poor Donald, after waiting fruitlessly for a length of time, —the appointed time was 10 o'clock, —began to smell & rat, and gave evidence of a desire to follow the example of his friend. But alas ! he was under the eye of the would-be mother-in-law, and retreat was impossible. A fine strapping son-in-law of his inches was not to be picked up every day, and well knowing that it is good policy to dispose of perishable articles as quickly as possible, the worthy parents determined the affair should be concluded. Muddled with drink, and unabled either to get off to look for his friend or to procrastinate beyond legal hours, the poor fellow had to succumb, and the clergyman soon pronounced them man and wife. Our hero returned to his ituition, accompanied by the wife hi had so singularly obtained. It soon appeared that she was not everything which might be wished in a helpmate. In short, her conduct became at length so depraved, that bush decency wes shocked —and that is saying a great deal —and his employers, unable longer to endure the scandal, paid him off. He made hi 3 way to Brisbane, and with his wife became chargeable on her parents. For a length of time he had a low and miserable existence, until one day, when engaged in prepai'ing clay for making bricks, with no shoes on his feet, a remnant of a hat on his head, and just sufficient clothing to secure him from arrest, he was tapped on the shoulder by a merchant of the city, and asked if his name was not Donald Elphinstone. He denied the fact; but on its being repeated, with the further assertion that, if, so his proper title was Sir Donald Elphinstone, he admittod it was so. The merchant immediately took him to his residence, and informed him of the death of his father, and ho further stated that considerable pains had been taken to discover his whereabouts, and placed ,£IOO in his share for the purpose of paying his debts

and procuring him an outfit. Another JSIOO was advanced for his pa sage by the overland mail, and he at once aet about preparing for hi i departure. It was determinid to keep the secret of his altered prospects from his wife, as he at once concluded on giving her the slip and lea ring her behind. Unfortunately for him, it happened that a female who resided next dour to hiswifo'3 parents, aud who was well acquainted w.'th person, saw him at the merchant's residence. She iniVrm d hei neighbors of the circumstance and fcuoy endeavored to find out the meaning of the strange affair ; so well did they manage that some inkling of the true state of the case was obtained. He still kept friendly relations with his wife and her family, and on the day he was to start, told her ho was going to look for a situation, having represented to her that he had received a remittance from home. He wa3 escorted to the steamer by some of our principal citizens, who had bsen made acquainted with his history, and congratulated himself on getting out of a mess ao nicely. No sooaer, however, had he left, than his wife's friends despatched her by the nest boat to Sydney, where she overtook, and upbraided hiin tor dos or ting her. The consequence was a negotiation had to be entered into. He offered her a considerable sum to remain behind, we believe,£3oo per year, which she appeared willing to accept