Non-Sense; or She Loved But Left Him

Chapter the First
Aelthea Carlson was a beautiful young widow, the daughter of the famous and Rich Dr. Pym. On the way to the card party of her intimate friend, Miss Reede, who was of the most beautiful complexion, but quite susceptible to chills, Mrs. Carlson’s carriage was most unfortunately overturned. Up bounded the gallant yet clumsy Mr. Gardiner, to rescue the fair damosel from the wreckage.
“Alas! my poor, hapless muff is all besmattered with mud!” cried Mrs. Carlson, aghast.
As if to follow the example of the lovely Mrs. Carlson’s muff, Mr. Gardiner upturned suddenly and ended face downwards on the mire. A kindly spaniel lept upon him, which he, shaking off as it were merely a dried leaf of an inferior kind of tree, ignored, his large and luminous eyes being wholly captivated by the dazzling person of Mrs. Carlson. “Good morrow, fair damosel. I have not, till this day, enjoyed the pleasure of your acquaintance, nor have I yet the knowledge of your surname, nor Christian name, nor middle name, but, seeing the perfection of your style of dress, the elegant shaping of your chin, the dulcet tones of your shouting at the muff, and the bewitching brightness of your eyes, I am smitten, as by a thunderclap, with a love so overpowering that all my senses reel. In short, I must, without further delay, ask that you marry me!”
“Although I do not esteem you, nor admire your character, nor find attraction in your face or manner, yet I can honestly say that I think better of you than I have of any other man, and will gladly consent to be your wife!”