A Successful Swindle.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 714, 13 January 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

A Successful Swindle.

Mine is a case that should appear m the police reports rather than m the pages of this publication. My money has been obtained irom me under false pretences ; my feelings have been most cruelly lacerated, and assault and battery committed on my heart. Is there, m this free and enlightened country, no redress for wrongs like these P I ask 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, m the hope that my fate may prove a warning to other young bachelors, and lead them to beware of bazaars ahd of young ladies behind a counter. I am a young man of good family, with j a handsome allowance, and first-rate expectations. I suppose I should be called a catch by match-making mammas and their daughters. I am a captain m a crack regiment, my height is six feet, and my whiskers are unexceptionable. Altogether, tillmisfortune overtook me, I was as pleasant, good-looking a young fellow as ever flirted through a waltz, or made love at a picnic. One morning last July, while lounging m. my quarters at Dover, and doing nothing m particular, I received the following pink note ; 88' Dear Captain Branthwayte— We have all been very busy here getting up a fancy-

church at (Jiay-ouin-Kj-..^ Augustus Needall has kindly consentea to undertake the responsible duties of the incumbent, but his principles will not allow him to enter on his new and arduous sphere until the endowment fund is completed. The dear man says so wisely and feelingly : How aan 1 administer to the wants of a numerous and (^starving flock, when bo many of the bare necessaries of life are wanting to myself V So we want about L.2000 more to make lip a nice little income, and , build him a commodious parsonage, and then we shall do charmingly. His excellent wife* is aiding us, heart and soul ; and you, I am ; sure, will likewise contribute your mite, and: bring over some of your brother-officers to do the same. The day is fixed for next Thursday. Bring your friends to lunch at my! - house, and do not fail me.— Yours, sincerely,' Cecilia. Pryor. : PliUckwbll, Saturday. 'P.S.— There will be a ball m the evening at the Assembly Rooms, for the same object. Tickets L.l, ls. How many will you have ?' -Now, I knew Mrs Pryor for a busy, meddlesome person, but I also knew that pretty girls were, generally to be met at her house ; besides, old Pryor had a bin of still champagne m his cellar that was by no means to be despised. So I wrote off forthwith, promising to bring ; over half-a-dozen friends, for whom tickets might be secured. Thursday being fine, we set off in' high spirits, and reached Pluck well m time for a good lunch at Mrs Pryor's, after which we started for the scene of action. We soon reached the large field m which the tents were pitched— entrance 2s. 6d„ which we paid cheerfully, it being the first demand. In the field we found the usual wheel of 'for tune, gipsy's tent, refreshments -stall, and one large marquee with gaily dressed couaters, and a cluster of still more, gaily dressed and blooming girls behind them. Crowds of people moved about the field, looking as miserable as English folks always do on festive occasions. Suddenly one of my companions exclaimed : ' Hollo I Branthwayte, look at that little creature there standing on the chair.' I looked round, of course, little thinking what would be the consequence, and my gaze was spell- bound by the sweetest little fairy eyes ever looked upon. There she stood on a chair, before* a little looking-glass, trying on a pink hood, which she was endeavouring to persuade some idiot to buy. Never before had I seen such charming unconsciousness, such naivete, such grace ! I don't know what she had on ; it was something white, and cloudy, and angelic. But much clothing seemed superfluous m her case, for clouds of golden curls fell showering to her tiny waist, and were brushed back from the sweetest, gentlest and withal most piquant face m the world. (I am aware that I am using 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 1 He said it would be of no use to him. Fool 1 . 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 Screwkerhas been doubting whether he would give me fifteen shillings for it. 1 hope you don't want any charge ?' ' Change !' I gasped ; ' never.' ' Then come to our stall,' she Baid, jumping daintily down from her elevated post, ' and I will find some of my very own work for you.' I, of course,* followed.her to a large stall, where three other charming girls and a handsome mamma presided ; and of course I gave a fabulous price for a cigar-case, which she said she had worked. (I don't believe she had, for it was hideous.) Of course, too, I had to buy something quite useless of all the three sisters, and to put into all the raffles, winning at last a large wax-doll, several sizes bigger than a child of six months. As this last acquisition embarrassed me a good deal, I gave it back to her, and afterwards saw her sell it over again for a considerable sum to a good-natured old gentleman. ' You make a capital shopwoman,' I said. ' Ah, yes,j|l have some tolerable dodges. I did a good business before you came, m faded sixpenny bouquets, which I sold for five shillings. They were so worthless that a good many people gave them back to me, and I sold them over again. I sold one nine times, and made forty-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 on a tender reproach : ' And n othing whispered to you to keep a bouquet for me ?' ' No, indeed ; but I can get you a rosebud, a beauty, if you like ;' and off she danced, waving me back, when I would have followed; and beckoning to an elderly grave-looking p&rson, who stood by the stall, and who was to all appearance the father of the charming quartett. She soon came running back breathless, her hands full of lovely rosebuds. On the way she attacked, that stingy Mr. Screwker who would not buy the hood, and whom she now tried tojtempt with a halt-opened . Gloire de Dijon. How much do you want for it ? saidhe. ' Whatever you please,' was the demure reply. He pulled out a handful of silver, and was, I suspect, looking for sixpence, when m a moment she punced on the whole handful, with an 'Oh l^thank you; you are too generous,' and swept it into her pocket. The fellow's dismay was declicious to behold ; but he could only submit, for she was off again directly, and distributing her floral .favours right and left, till, when she reached me, there was only one left. • Now, what will you give me for this ?' ' Anything, everything, all the money I havo left,' I cried, thrusting my hands into my pockets. But alas ! they were empty ; nor could all my searching bring to light more than one miserable fourpenny piece. Imagine my dismay. 'My dear girl,' l stammered, 'you see this is all I have left.' ' Oh, you surely can't intend to be so mean ? when I ran ali the way up the garden to fetch them, and pricked my fingerj and made it bleed ;' and she held out a little" white punctured forefinger, to verify her words. * You have your watch,' she added, 'and you can redeem it tomorrow. I own I felt rather staggered at this. My watch was a valuable family relic, set with brilliants, and on the safety of which depended the favour of an at,ed 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 m one outstretched hand, and received the rosebud from the other. 'Wear it to-night, and I will dance with you.' she whispered, as our eyes met for a moment.

the evening. Dine did I say P and dress ? I suppose I performed those' Operations, but I have no' recollection of anything of the sort. I could only dream of the past, and hope for the future. If it had been for any one else m the world, I should have said that I was going to make a fool of myself. "But any infatuation for her, so far superior to all existing creatures, 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 m the afternoon. 1 fancied her eyes rested on the rosebud m my button-hole, and that they beamed with a soft approbation. Cheered by this tacit encouragement, I seized hold of the first steward I met, and begged him to introduce me to * that young lady,' pointing her out. I thought hi 3 face wore au amused smile as he complied with my request, but I took little heed of surrounding circumstances, so anxious was Ito catch her name. The usual formula was pronounced : ' Captain Branthwyate— 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 m a sea of bliss with an angel m my arms, keeping time to the music of the spheres. At last we landed on a out-of-the-way- sofa, when I resolved to ask her to be mine forever. I don't remember how I began ; I must have been rather unintelligible 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 if the devotion of a lifetime,' &c, she said quietly : 'I think you must mistake me for one of my sisters.' I assured her such a mistake was qutie impossible. ' Then you cannot have heard my name.' * O yes, 1 said — ' Miss Nevill. I listened particularly for your name, and heard it quite well.' *My name is Mrs Needall ; you must have seen my husband standing by my stall. The bazaar was for the endowment of our church aud to build us a vicarage. Of course I worked con amore, and took more money than any one ; and I think you were my best customer,' she added, j with a triumphant toss of her little head that completely maddened me. I rushed from the room, 'took the next train back to Dpver, and here I have been ever since; a most miserable man! I had not the heart to redeem my watch ! so that, m addition'to my other troubles, I may have incurred the lasting displeasure of my uncle, and lost the chance of some thousand, a year. All this because I was fool enough to go and be swindled at a fancy-fair. (The Worst is, that I still love her to distraction.)