Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-28

DS2utlIul woman. lie WOuiQ nOL lOTtSI
his selfish amusement, though at the cost
of another's health and happiness. He had
won woman's beautiful affection only tc
tIample on it. Is it possible that such con-
duct can meet with any palliation? Is il
necessary to invent theory when the darl;
facts of the case are so obvious ? That
Swift professed love for Stella is but too
clear from his letters and the journal which
he sent to her, when absent in London
written too, at the very time that he was
making professions of love to woman
still more beautiful, and of far higher intel
lectual powers than poor Stella had preten-
sions to. This was the unhappy but gifted
Esther Vanhomrigh.
The part Swift played in the political in
trignes Of the time led him often to London,
where he first met Miss Vanhomrigh in So
ciety. She was beautiful, handsome, &C
complished, and rich. She was inspired too
with genus; and round her brow was bound
that accanthus wreath which, on woman
so often leaves it bleeding. She was fas-
cinating, brilliant, proud, yet loving; such
was the woman, scarce twenty years of age,
whom Swift met in the high circles of Lon
don life. He professed love for her per-
haps he did love her-who can tell I? But
before his eyes, while he lay at the feet OF
this new beauty, there must often have MS
en- up the form of the devoted, afectionate,
quiet, and graceful Stella then in her lodg-
ings at Trim, or in the rectory at Laracor,
so far removed from the gayeties of London
life, living on the promises which Swift
had made to her, still trusting anG believ-
ing in his truthfulness, and that he would
yet one day rescue her from opprobrium
and make her happy. While he was en-
gagged in constant intercourse with Vanes-
sa, and corresponding with her when abb
sent from town, he was also pennlng his
Journal TO Stella, assuring her that che low
ed her better than his life. thousand mil
lion times" and that che had not had one
happy dav since he left her,
Atlength Swift left London-his ambi-
tion disappointed in not having been made
bishop-and he was pensloned off for life
with the deanery of Dublin, whittier he re-
moved. Vanessa remained behind, with
the deadly shaft fixed in her bosom. Moth
ing but correspondence renamed, and let
ters flew across the channel. The rumor
Of the deans illness produced In her the
most intense anxiety, and she wroteto him
in strain cfthe deepest affection.
Swift resided for about year in Ireland
at this fine, bringing Stella and Mrs. Ding
ley 20 Dublin, and placing them sin lodg-
ings near the deanery." Poor Stella had
now been in Ireland some thirteen years
Waiting, OH how patiently but still hope
lessly She was now woman of thirty
and Swift had reaced the mature age of
forty-slx. The happiness of Stella's life
was staked on Swift's fulfllment of his
promises to her; but ill-health, from hope
deferred, and the heart praying ofitselffell
upon her, and she seemed like one sinking
alive into the tomb. We must confess there
was want Of womanliness in Stella's con-
duct throughout, but remembering Swiits
great influence over her. his early training
Of her, his sacred professions, and his oft
repeated declarations of devotion and love,
shall we not find excuses enough for poor
Stella? Why did not Dean Swift, now
that his source of income were large, fulfil
his promises to this woman? We need not
invent any far-fetched theory to answer
this question. The short answer is-Va-
nessa was in England.
Ard to England the dean returned in
June, 1714. There his intercourse and COR
repondence with Vanessa was resumed, ,and
increased in warmth-on her part perhaps
more than his. But he never told her the
truth-that he had engaged himselfto anoth-
er. While in England on this visit, he
wrote his poem entitled Candeaus 10 TeneS-
sa, in which he gives ain apologetic history
of the rise andprogress ofthe maidens love
for him, in the figid artificial style of the
day. Yet, it is obvious from that poem,
that Swift, though he attributed all the ar
dor to her side, loved to linger over the
picture which he drew. He also address
es lines "To Love-" which he sends to her
about this time-lnes which she treasures
next TO her heart, and they are only brought
TO light after her death, when they are found
in a concealed place in her wrting-desk.
But he must return TO Ireland again With
er Vanessa promises TO follow him. He
writes to dissuade her he says, ''If you
are IN Ireland when am there, shall see
you very seldom; 1t is not place for any
freedom but it is where everything is
known IN week, and magEifed hundred
degrees. God Almighty bless you
would not answer your questions for mil
lion; nor can think ofthem with any ease
of mind.' But Miss Vanhomrigh did fol-
low Swift to Ireland, whittier she went to
take possession of small estate, left to her
on the death of her father, She took up
her residence beside the dean, and saw
him often. Poor Stella-the faithful, de-
voted Stella, now growing old-her posi-
tion was more hopeless than ever The
dean would break into fits of rage against
Vanessa, telling her he would not have
gone to see her at Cellbrdge (where her
estate was, and whittier she soon removed)
''for all the world - that she wanted dis
cretlon, ending one ofhis letters to her
with "a fig for al! your letters and mes
sages!" Vanessa replies in srain Of grief
and love, bordering on despair, and the
dean is Modified again, and now he "will
see her in day or two, assuring her that
it goes to his soul that he does not see her
ottener," and that he s'would give his whole
fortune" to remove her difficulties. Va
nessa replies-'I know it Is quite impossl.
bic for you to burn my letters without read
ling them Once more l advise
you, if you have any regard for your own
quiet, to alter your benavlor, for / do assure
you have too much spirit to sit down con-
tented with this treatment"
But poor Vanessa was in the tolls, and
had no help but to fret and vex herself,un.
til her suffering became quite agonizing--