The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-05
4 Curious Page Of Family History.



and was more courted than ever, since by t6e
death Of his father he had come into posses.
sion OF his fortune. He began to feel ibsf he
had decidedly thrown himself away; and bv 4
most unnatural transition, he hated Mary for
her claims upon him and considered himself q
very ill-used victim.
Mary's brothers, finding that Col. Pollexien
did not follow his letter, nor show any signs of
fulfilling his engagement, would not submit 10
any more triiing. The elder made journey
to London, and demanded satisfaction, with the
intimation that the younger brother would
claim the same right when the first affair was
terminated.
Colonel Pollexfen was not, ofc0urse, afraid
OF having event two duels ON his hands at once ),
ne had already proved his courage too well to
allow suspicion of that sort. His answer
was characteristic. He told young Chambel-
Ian that he was quite ready TO meet both him
and his brother, but that he was under pre-
yious engagement to marry their sister, which
ne wished to perform fret, as otherwise cir
cumstances might occur to prevent it he
should then be quite at their service, as it was
his intention to quit his bride at the church,
door. and never to see her again!
Inc brothers, looking upon this as pretext
10 evade the marriage eltogether, resolved, af-
ter some deliberatIon, TO accept his proposal.
They lhad great difficulty in prevailing upon
their sister TO agree to their wishes but they
none OF them seriously believed that he would
carry out his threat, and Mary fancied that all
danger OF duel would be evaded. very
ilDerai settlement was drawn up By Col. Pol
iexien's direction, which he signed and sent
down to the brides family. On the day an
pointed, Mary and her brothers repaired to the
ehureh; travelling chariot and four horses
$1,000 at the door. On entering, they found
Colonel Pollexfen pointing out to friend who
accompanied him the monuments belonging to
the Chambellan family. As soon as he ner.
celved them he took his place at the altar, and
the ceremony commenced without DELAY. As
soon as IT was concluded, he bowed with great
politeness to all present, and said, "You are
all here witnesses that have performed my
engagement J! Then, without even looking
at his bride, he quilted the church, and ac.
companied by his friend, entered the carriage
which was IN waiting. and drove rapidly away!
mary was carried senseless from the church,
and for several weeks continued dangerously
i'll.
The real strength of her character now
showed ITSELF She made no complaint she
did not even assume her husbands name, but
took the appellation of Mrs. Chambellan. The
settlement was returned to Colonel Pollexfen's
lawyer, with an intimation that il would never
be claimed. She st:lled the anger of her
brothers, and would not endure a word to be
said against her husband. She never alluded
to him herself A great change came over
her; she did not seem to suffer nearly SO much
from her cruel position as might have been ex-
pected; her melancholy and depression gave
place to steady determination of purpose
In the brief space during which she and her
husband had stood before the altar, she had
realized the distance that existed between their
positions in life. With rare superiority, she
understood how natural it was that he should
have felt no desire to fulfill his boyish engage
ment; she owned in her heart that she was not
fitted to be the wife and companion of such a
man as he had now become. Had she seen all
this sooner, she would have at once released
him now she could no longer do so, and she
res solved to fit herself to fill the station to
which. as his wife, she had been raised.
The brief interview before the altar had stim-
ulated to desperation her attachment to him:
and she felt that she must win him back or die.
Mary had received very little education. In
those days the education bestowed on most
women was very limited; but Mary fancied that
all gentle-women, who moved in society, were
well informed; and her first step was to obtain
some elementary books from the master of
boys school at York, and begin, with undoubl.
ing simplicity, to learn history and geography,
and all the things which she supposed every
lady OF her husbands acquaintance knew. A
thirst for information was soon aroused in her;
she had few advantages and very little assis.
tance; but her energies and perseverance sur
mounted all obstacles, and she found present
reward in her labor. Her life ceased to seem
either lonely or monotonous. Still, the spirit
that worked within her was far more precious
than any actual result she obtained. She had
a noble object IN view; and, unconciously to
herself 1t purified her heart from all bitterness.
or. wounded vanity, or impatience. A great
sorrow nobly borne. is a great dignity. The
very insult which had seemed to condemn her
to a wasted existence, was transformed into
source of life and fruitfulness, by the wise hu-
mility with which she accepted it.
Ten years passed thus, and in the matured
woman thirty, few could have recognized the
forsaken girl ofnineteen. But the present only
fulfilled the promise which was then latent in
her character.
to forget that he was married. Shortly after
the ceremony. he went abroad with his regi-
ment; and after some time spent in active SER
wee, he returned to England, and quilted the
army with the brevet rank ofgenerai. He re-
sided partly in London and partly in Bath.
leading the usual life Of a man of fashion in
those days, and making himself remark able
for his brilliant extravagances.
About that time young and beautiful ac-
lress appeared, who speedily became the object
Of alteration TO all the young men of fashion
about town.
General Pollexfen was one OF her lovers, and
carried her off one night from the theatre,
when she came off the stage between the acts.
He allowed her to assume his name, and law
ished fortune upon her caprices; although
her extravaganza and propensity TO gambling
involved him in debt.
Ten wears had tbrs nassed when the ro.,..