Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 1).djvu/315

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE BLACK DWARF.
305

ments, who seemed, and indeed was probably, sincerely attached to him. He ought to have been so, at least, for he was literally loaded with benefits by him whom you are now about to see. The parents of the subject of my story died within a short space of each other. Their death postponed the marriage, for which the day had been fixed. The lady did not seem greatly to mourn this delay; perhaps that was not to have been expected, but she intimated no change of intention, when, after a decent interval, a second day was named for their union. The friend of whom I spoke was then a constant resident at the Hall. In an evil hour, at the earnest request and entreaty of this friend, they joined a general party where men of different political opinions were mingled, and where they drank deep. A quarrel ensued; the friend drew his sword with others, and was thrown down and disarmed by a more powerful antagonist. They