The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-19
WASHINGTON, THURSDAY DECEMBER 19,slS50

Oh, for days, or, rather, for nights past--in the
daytime have been amused, and forgetful; but
at night, as soon as get TO sleep, start from my
first sleep in n sudden and terrible panic just as
a condemned criminal might suddenly be Weakened
out of deep, sweet sleep with the sudden recol-
lection that he was shortly TO be hanged. To-
morrow is my wedding.day; yet it terrhes me as
though it was the day of my execution do not
believe Madame Roland and the heroines of the
Reign Of Terror dreaded the guillotine and the
executioner half as much as dread my marriage
and my husbandr
Gloomily as my sister spoke, or, perhaps, be-
cause she did speak so gloomily of what appeared
to me TO he only considerable exsggeration Of a
very natural feeling for the life Of me | could
not help laughing, in which, to my surprise, was
joined by Regina, who raised her head from its
resting place, and, arising from my lap, sat down
beside me.
e would be an old maid, then, il ! were you.
There is no law against it, and this is free coun-
try y said |, jocosely
81 know it is fooish--this presentimcnt'---
Presentmentw
" Yes, Jr,Ss7aini,,,t--this dark uncertain, slip
perry, cold feeling Of the precipice edge ~ she
replied gravely-her flush of mirth quite gone.
81 But this will pass away in a few days Regina.
You love Wolfgango
Yes, and treat him more! Oh listen, Fer
dinand Listen, my dear brother will open
my heart 70 you this first and last time! this
once for tomorrow, as you say, you will have.
no right to inquire into the secrets of my bosom
will have no right to communicate them to.mor-
row this would be an infringement Of my mar
riage VOW; tomorrow, my oath of allegiance
would make these condolences treachery. Listen
then do love Wolfgapg qvle as much "a am
capable of loving any one-0'moa as much as he
loves me. ! have loved him almost from the first
Of lint All
ment lately-How HaeH, for, contradictory as
what am now about TO tell you may appear il is |
nevertheless bHs-thOugh inexplicabe-to me- as
I-se e2c--. = yS,I 80 .ssss~SyS~S 4 /
said, while am strongly attracted to Wolfgang,
am as strongly rfp1lssd, II is as il some prin-
ciple in my being were powerfully dyaiUq towards J
MIN, WINS ahotner prinClple was powerfully re-
peled; or as if some element in Wolfgangs nature
possesses for me irresistible fascination while some
other element affects me with dsgust-which fills
me with rcmorse-which endeavor to conquer
which only succeed in concealingp
"You have succeeded in that! | never BUS
pected itp
Thus you see, my bosom is made the battle
field Of warning emotions, and over all broods
this dark presentment like the lowering black
clouds of some approaching and destructive
storm ~
Do not marry him !" said |, earnestly.
L 1
no power to stop myself!n
"Then can stop you can be stronger than
fate You shall not be married p
"But WILL! | LOVE him! If had the power
would tear out from my bosom that which oc-
casonally recoils from him, though ii were the one
ventricle of my heart! ..... II half past one
O'Clock my marriage-day has come, dearest broth
err; dearest, only brother only came in to kiss
youD
"To give me an opportunity, for the last time,
of pressing my maiden sister to my bosom,n said
| l. as hsid her there.
eyes and with no intention of affecting you
! with my equinoctial stormsn--
"Your-whmW
"My equinocial storms-the clouds the thun-
der, lightning, and showers, that have marked my
| approach to the line matrimonial In-AAd dash
ing clouds and tears from her now sparkling face,
she kissed me and vanished from the room
| In the silence Of the night, after she had left
the chamber heard the pattering of raindrops
against the windows. | went to them and looked
out, and found the sky black and lowering with
clouds, and the streets drenched with rain |
turned away, and at last, throwing of my clothes,
lay down to try to sleep. My spirits were heavily
oppressed. There is nothing more disheartening
than to feel some evil fate impending over those
We love- and to know ourselves powerless to avert
it, However wearied out and luled by the go
dative pattering Of the raindrops, ! fell into
dreamless sleep, and slept till morning.
IL was a dark, DRILLING, dull morning At
seven o'clock we met in the parlor, to 20 together
TO church We had ordered breakfast mt eight
The stage in which we had engaged places was to
start at nine. Wallraven looked happy and
| frightened, and seemed to strive for sef-command
| Regina's countenanoe, like spring sky, seemed
| all the brighter for her equinoctial storm She
wore beautiful dress Of full white blond over
white satin, with fine lace trimmings, and pearl
bracelets and necklace on her arms and neck, and
pearl bandeau turning back her blond hair, and
fastening large, floating, mist like veil. Miss
Wallraven was attired in somewhat similar
style. Again was struck by the CONTRAST pre-
scented by these two young women-thc blond and
the brunette-both 40 dazzling, beautiful yet so
unlike. One, clear, bright, morning sunshine
the other, resplendent starlight
We stepped into the carriage, and were driven |
to the church We found Bishop l. pune
tual, waiting for US. We ranged ourselves before
the altar, Constant and Constantine acting as
groomsman and bridesmaid, and ! giving away
the bride
After the ceremony was over, we returned 40
companied by Bishop l. to break FIST, and
in an hour afterwards, bidding alden to our ven
cradle friend, We took our seats in the stage and
sot out upon our Journey to Virginia The rain
ceased and the sun shone out ut noon.
IL had teen arranged among us, as the season
very beautiful, and certain parts Of the coun-
try through which our roads lay very picturesque,
that We should travel leisnrely, taking n week for
the journey
At Washington we found the large family car.
riage Of the Walravens that had been sent to
meet us there and that had been waiting for us
for several days We remained in the city two
Iava IN vis al
ment Departments, &c, and the third day entered
the capacious and comfortable travelling carriage
aud set of for the Blue Ridge and Hickory Hall
This journey, from Washington TO the Blue
Ridge, was one OF tho most delightful journeys
ever took. Our carriage was not only convenient,
It was luxurious We were attended by our own
servants, took our own route, and kept our own
hours. We managed TO be six days on a route
that we might have travelled in two Sometimes,
at SUNRISE after nm early breakfast we would
leave the inn at which We had passed the Light,
and travel lesurely but twenty miles through
some wildly picturesque country, reach another
quaint country inn by noon, eat dinner, and,
after an hours repose, order saddlchorses, spend
the afternoon In excursions about the neigh
borhooJ, return TO tea, and occupy the evening
in conversation, or books and music with which
we were provided. We would sleep then, and
the next moAiDg resume our journey, which !
would BIO continued with some pleasant new va
ration. Miss Wallrayen ami myself were thrown
very much together, and found her mind and
heart as rich and well cultivated as her person
was beautiful and her manners charming | adj.
mred her with enthusiasm; yet, not for one mo-
msnt WAS In the slightest danger Of falling in
love with her, even II there had not been something
In her manner that politely kept me at q certain
distance. AS for Regina and Wolfgang, they be-
hayed very much like any other bride and groom
upon their wedding journey-thcy seemed fond,
and shy, and tremnlously happy.
In approaching the mountains, and the old
neighborhood Of the Northern Neck first settled