American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-07-18

Then our path for time shall be strew'd
With the sweet leaves of long -Wither'd roses.
From the Knickerbocker for ,Iuly.l
MODERN "MARRI AGE OF CONVENIENCE 4"
An Eastern correspondent, in gossipping
ePistIe to the editor, gives us this little episode
in his personal history. 1t is quite too graphic
and fclcitous to be lost to the public. We
therefore take liberty with our friend, which
we have taken before, (and with mpunity,) in
presenting the annexed passage to our readers
trusting to his kindness TO excuse or pardon our
temerity. The writer has been abiding to the
charming poem in the knickerbocker for May
from the pen of Albert Pike, Esq, which he
warmly commends as 'portruying feelings, how
sweet, how common i'll the history Of all but
to him existing only in the past:
Gin truth, my dear Sir, although am of
very amorous nature, and have been more or
less of a beau to u great many of the fair Sect
from the Gterateuse 'darkly, deeply, beautifully
blue, to the simpering Miss, innocent alike of
grammar and sense, have never experienced
the emotion of love in its genuine presence and
overmasterlng power. Something, whether ac-
cident or fate, has always stopped me when
midway on the road to rapture or to ruin. |
have never met, at least, have never intimately
known, any lady whom could love with full
and perfect love. In my striplinghood | fritz
tered away great deal of affection very super
huously on chance-comers; and in my adult or
adulterated state | have always been too ex-
acting. My love of freedom has always cooled
my longings for connubial bliss. In all my
'love passages therefore, whether the smitten,
or, as | sometimes vanly thought, the smiter, |
never was near the matrimonial ENHANCEMENT
but once when | had become very intimate
,tifh MT md hont, tif,,1 la1,y md
led on by tempting opportunities, ntjmated a
good deal more than | intended. | did not
fully love her, for two reasons; one, that she did
not seem to have independence of mind enough
to scorn the worlds opinion and be content to
die an 'old maid rather than marry one whom
she could not truly love; the second, that al
though an accomplished musicienne and dancer,
and very well read i'll poetic and novelistic
learning, she yet had not large expanded
mind, and moreover occasionally broke Muir
rays COMMUNICATIVE me the 'unpardon-
able sin and for which would apply for d.
vorce from Queen Cleopatra. However, being
great talker with rats of nonsense, reams
of poetry, and rivers of sentiment at my
tongue'send, | succeeded almost unintentionally
on four or five moonlight evenings, ('the de-
wills in the moon for mischief says Byron,) in
drawing fully forth the unoccupied affections of
her virgin heart. Here was pretty 6x!' She
was charming girl to be with on endearing
terms, yet my love was of the quasi dubious
sort. | had said more than intended and OBJ
tanned a counter sign sooner than | wished
| could not retreat, and dreaded to proceed
But | did the honorable, proposed, and was
accepted. Then there were tender meetings:
my tenderness, however, diminished as hers
increased, and / was compelled to make up for
tha. Mt oic phgtn htv 49, Oh
Then came the presentation of my 'promissory
note to the father; but the old fellow refused
to endorse He was thorough skin-hlnt,
who believed in no Bible but his ledger, and
worshipped no Cop but his gold He conGid-
cred me thriltless, unproductive youth, pref
ty fair with the tongue and pen, but not likely
to raise potatoes, or make the pot boil
"This rejection by the old cent. per cent
mortified my PRIDE but dispersed partially my
embarrassment considered it, however, my
duty to the young lady to make all sorts Of
fervent propositions, except that of running
away, which | never mentioned for fear she
would accept it. After about eighteen months
of this siege, half sham, half earnest, heard
that an old fellow, a widower, with two hun
dred thousand dollars, three children, and
weighing two hundred and fifty pounds in the
dog days, was storming the fortress. The ell
treaties and threats of her father brought about
a captulation. On going to see her again,
drew from her the fact of the engagement.
became furiously angry; she was reserved,
calm, and proud. After about an hour, my
modification subsidng, pited the victim. |
asked for some music. She played two or
three airs on the piano; ooh! give me back my
heart again, and later song, which forget,
but even more exquisite and deeply moving.
rose to take my leave. She extended her hand,
and then withdrew it. She asked me to sit
down. She wanted so much to tell me some
thing | sat down. She turned away her
face, and said nothing for long time. was
inexpIessibly moved. At last she said, with
steadiast face but trembling tones, Il can't say
it We'd better part She came toward
me, holding out her hand. ! kissed it, still sit
ting; when, as itby a sudden and uncontrola-
BILE impulse, she threw herself IN my lap, her
arms round my neck, and her face Oh my shout
der. She spoke not, wept not. But WAS an
nelved, unnamed, | cried like Il child. A
thousand feelings rushed upon me, melting,
overwhelming. Compassion for her distress