The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-03-25

s,.s i, no haste, for waited I'LL ! Was NJ
,,aa.r n very Young man, before II oecar
~ i ma ,ba, l wanted wife. This was
because | had never seen woman whan
ssnrieJ. and am sure that no woman had
- a.a- AIKEN d fancy 70 me, Tor you can readi
= .eet that never was very charming
g1 nv hour was to come.
was walking one day with frient
through lhe principal street oi the small
,ovn Of B., when We met lady. lcanghl
aoe look a, her modest face, aud said to ny
.ToIl me- who tia, lady is, and | will
marry Ier.'
.M,rry her, indeed" said he, with a
l,nsb; .yoi are crazy."
aTeU me who she is
.she is Miss Marg1ret Clifton, Of C.,
,soaih'Carolina."
.Wbat Is she doing here?'
.sbs is in the Moravian school here
Marry her indeed! The girls ofthe Mora
xi,n school have nothing to do with mar
Ii.oe. They arc as sanity as nuns, and
40 as crave and decoroas as il the worlo
uere area, chapcl, made 10 sing psalms
in. should like to see you try 10 speak
10 herr
j have no idea Of trying it. Bat ii is
rue. Notwithstanding, that ! will marry
hsr.n
Isaw no moro Of Miss Clifton, but has
,epel home To my business, for this was in
he spring, md the crop was to be started
Egery true Virgins aplanter is his own oser-
seer The corn WIS up and ploaghed Tor
tbs ffst time, the tobacco fields were Sc,
with thrifty young plants ever, thing on
be plantation was IN perfect order, aud
matters pa, in such train. tina, nothing
paald suffer in nv absence; aud then set
oal on my enterprise.
T. B. | weut; and there ! learned that
l5e fair LADY of whom was in quest, had
55as % her home in South Carolina.
S 10 soath Carolina ! went; and one
fae morning s.oad al the dopr oi stately
m4asion in the city Of G., aud inquired Il
.liss Clifton was ii home. She soon came
IA Iaa. aud iuoked At me with grave aston
i.bnen,. when tod her frankly that had
e4laa TO marry her,
II do no, understand ynn, sir. My moth
or il from home, and viii be absent sever
eiaAys. am no, accustomed TO form any
aeouaniance wilhot, her sanction, and
mnst beg goui7 excnse me"
Nahing could he more reason able. and
ii, stsia and seIi.possessed manner Of the
,5tag adf, aud the absence ot all conta-
siaa aud petty co lnelry charmed me, "tios
| love YOU nlready.' thought 1; show
s5ln worship you when you are my wIte!
settled myset comfortably in lodgings.
sa3 made all mY arrangements for long
clu9,ign Four days after, when had
ascerlained the arriva, of Mrs. Clifton,
again assembled the stone steps aud rang al
the door. | felt no nuttcr or agitation.
though what bad heard Of the lady moth
er. was calculated TO lessen my courage
She was widow, Of ample fortune. aud Of
ancirn, aud honorable descent. She was
lady Of great dignity, stately and formal
with her friends, and distant aud chilling
to slight acqdainiances Had brought
lsl,ers Of introduction from her best friends
and earnest recommendations to ber favor
aad hospitality, she nigh, have unbent 'o
something like graciousness. As ! had
no, provided my sei' with these. | made no
altemp, TO ingratiaie myself. When had
told ber nv uame, and she had remarked
that | was stranger, | nssented with a
polite bow. When she begged 10 be favor
cd With my business, plainly told her thai
HAD come to marry her daughter. Proba,
by no human coun'enance was ever cx
pressire of more nmaZemcni than the one
then before me. She sata momcntspeech
Isss, then rising, she said: .'You are evi-
danliy under some great mistake, sir. You
will excuse me il close this interview"
The next morning, at the same hour,
again presented myself, and after similar
reception from Mrs. Clifton, and blank
refusal TO my request for a few moments
conversation with her daughter, politely
wished her good morning, and withdrew
On the third morning ! called at the
same hour, and was refused adml,tance.-
Auc IdulCs were ehgaBeu
"Say to Mrs. Ciiiton." said !, "ihat will
90 myself the honor TO wait her convent
ence;' and seated myself in the vestlbale
The open door commanded pleasant view,
aud fine breeze entered from the garden
fragrant with orange-blossoms and Cape
Iessamne. The matted floor. the shaded
light, the comfortable armchair, and booi,
which produced from my pocket, made
'aa morning pass very aereeabiy and al
tie late dinner hour to which was accus-
toned, | et, the spot with regret.
The next morning again rang for ad
mlllancc, but no answer was accorded to
my summons. The inhospi,abe door was
deaf to my appeals, and ! sat down upon
The steps. The heat OF the sun was in,
toDse, the day was without cloud; and II
seemed to me as il the hear, within was
0fong. Bat persisted in remaining al
my post, till | saw the sun pass his meri
dian and commence his descent.
The next day, equipped in thin liner
coat, and armed with an umbrella, repeat
cd my attempt to gain adu,ittancc, and t.
my surprise, the door was opened. Ia re
ply to my inquiries for the ladies', | learn
edthat Mrs and Miss Clifton had lcf; town
could get no clue to their retreat, and ac
eoFdIngly, leaving polite message Of re
gret that had not the opportunity 10 pay
my farewell respects, | left town myself