Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-09-17
The Widow of Five Husbands.
Translated for the Boston Atlas from the Paris
..Siecle" of the 26th ut

Of her fifth husband. This remark able
chance, this uncommon series of widow
hoods. is the more extraordinary, that the
lady in question has not reached her 25ih
year. The history of her several mar
in its particulars. that we should hardly
dare to relate them. if the world had not
already given credit to them. The saloons
Of the English, almost the only ones to
remain open in this season of general
deser,ion, dispute for the honor Of this
young widow, and from them we derive
the following narrative of her conjugal
adventures.
Mrs -" - was not quite sixteen years
old when she contracted her first marriage
at Grelna Green. This matrimonial To-
cali,y is sufficient evidence that il was
purely sentimental union. Two rivals
disputed for her young affections; one was
favored by her family The other by herself
The latter, Of course, was the successful
one. In order to set aside all obstacles.
our two young people had recourse 10 an
elopement and PM in requisiton the
| famous black smith, who unites enamored
| English couples, at moments warning,
and without asking the consent of their
relatives. The nup,ial benedic,ion had
JUS, been pronounced. when the nnsuc-
cessful rival appeared. He had followed
The fugitives with all The speed Ms gold
could obtain from the posillon; but the
fugi,ives had whole nights start of him;
and the rival was only able to arrive jus.
soon enough to be two hours too late.
you have had useless chase, my
dear sir said the bridegroom, happy and
proud of his success, for we are already
married.
Il, may be so.' replied the other. but
| I have. at least come in time TO be re-
venged!'
In accepting this challenge. the BRIDE
groom requested that the meeting might
be postponed TO the next day. but his
jealous rival would not consen. to afford
him this grau6ca,ion. They must repair
at once to the spot, with the frs, seconds
they could meet; the duel was fought
with pistols, and the bridegroom, struck
bv ball in the forehead, fell, never 10
rise again.
So Mrs - became a widow two
hours after the celebration OF her first
marriage. This adventure made so much
talk, and led to so many scandalous ru
mors. that second marriage only would
allav them. Besides the young widow
had known so little Of the married life
that she very naturally desired to continue
the chapter from the interesting poin,
where il was so unfortunately broken Oft.
This time, in order to efface as much as
possible the consequences Of her frs, fault
for which she had been so severely pun
isbed. Mrs y n submitted to the wishe.
of her parents in the choice OF her SECOND
husband. They made for her reasona
BILE caoice, selecting a man Of mature
years. and offering every possible guar.
antee. He was an old retired merchant.
possessing large fortune, hono-ably
acquired. This was not probably III,
happiness dreamed of by soul so poeica
and SO enamored; bu, then Mrs adap,
ed herself to her new situation. and hat
not vet encountered those hollow decep
lions. and biler deceils of life, before hel
husband found it necessary to attend Il
some business which required his pres
ence on the continent. He left alone ant
in crossing the channel. the steamboat
was overtaken by tempest and dashed
), upon The rocks of the coast This ship
wreck made Mrs y widow for TIA,
second time.
In her misfortunes she naturally looked
about for consolation from others. which
is ANYTHING but difficult TO procure for
Young widow, who united to her owl
personal charms those of very consider
able fortune. Among those attentive {,
her, she favored young and show,
youth. full of grace and wit, who SCENE
10 her to unite all that would best consol
her for the loss Of her husband. AS 500
as the necessary delays were over tn
reign of the third husband commenced
under the mos, favorable auspices.
Nothing al the commencement SCENE
likely to mar the happiness of hi. union
: but soon, even while devoted 10 his wife
the husband began to display vices beneal
: his graceful exterior. Gaming was hi
$ ruling passion, and he gave himself up /
i, with so much ard0r that in a shor, tin
he had tissipated the rest of his own pa
rimony and the whole fortune OF his wife
Then, no longer able to endure his sham
and remorse. lie shot himself.
Three successive calamites would hav
deprived Mrs Of the courage to max
new conjugal trial, had not her pecuni
ary matters made il necessary TO MARI.
d again. Completely ruined by her thlr
husband, and with no inheritance 10 loo
forward to, marriage was the only re
source bv which she could escape tn
embarrassment and misery of want
There was no time to be lost, she mus
?, make the best Of her advantages, and tur
to good account her youth and her a
= fractions, to secure the best chance tn
offered Our widow. therefore, bestirre
herself; and heaven, as if to recompens
. her for her trials, sent her a husband {
the first class-a young. rich, and hand
some baronet, and quite famous on III
turf. He had no passion for cards, bu
, on the other hand, he gave himself u
:, with unrestralned ardor to horse racing
and in this exercise he made use of hi
purse and of his own person, siakin