Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-20
THE SECRET MARRIAGE
Or, Why n Bride Became n Nm


Not many years since, became &C
qualnted with nun, very charming
young lrishwoman, governess ID tht
daughter of neighboring physician
whose wife being a Catholic, reared th,
girls according to her own faith. while
the worthy doctor trained his only sor
in the Protestant religion. Miss Hamil.
ton, as the governess was called, seemed
happy to have me with her whenever on
portunity permitted, and my fathers in.
tlmacy with DR.. Benton's family render.
cd this of frequent occurrence. In one
OF our many rambles through the beau.
tliul woods which clothed the banks O
the river. she, for the first time to me a,
least, began to speak other own previous
history, a subject hitherto always avoided
by her. l was not little startled, when
alludlng to some circumstance, she mad
vertently said: "Ah, that happened or
my marriage-day." I felt embarrassed
and was silent. I always suspected shs
had a secret; and though wondering what
it was, would not for the world have
taken advantage of what she had thus
incautiorsly uttered, to win it from her
1t appeared as if this very forbearance on
my part determined her on making me
her confdante. E ..-..-.
4" 1t is dreary thing" she said, afte,
a pause, "whcn an incident, in which is
at once concentrated the chief happiness
and misery of our lives, must be Shut ur
in our own bosoms, untalked of, and un.
sympathized with
l felt quite unable to fill up the painful
silence which now ensucd. At length
Miss Hamilton thus resumed "My ia.
thcr's second marriage made my home q
wretched one, and determined me at a
very early age to leave it, and adventure
In the world for subsistence. For this
purpose, 1applied myself closely to study.
| was a pretty good musician, was ad-
vancing in French, and acknowledged to
he the best grammarian in the school :
this, with the advantage of writing we'll,
made up the whole stock of accomplish
ments on which l was about to trade. ]
packed up my wardrobe, took a cold
leave Of my father, and with five sove-
reigns in my purse, started by the coach
for Dublin. had my project arranged,
and was singularly confident of success.
My intention was to offer myself for
a year as teacher at one of the schools,
that might acquire sufficient knowlege
and confidence to take situation as a
private goyerness. This was accomplish
ed: and At the age of sixteen was re-
ceived into the family of the Marquis of
-, to instruct his young daughters.
The son arrived from Cambridge, bring
ing his tutor, Mr.. Seymour, along with
him. was treated by the whole family
with the most affectionatc kindness. The
young tutor, for he was not many years
older than his pupil, hearing me express
a desire to acquire German, volunteered
to give me lessons. A Asympathy, strength
ened by singular coincidence of unhap-
py family circumstances, which had
thrown us both alike on the wide world
to struggle for ourselves, sprang up, and
resulted-on my part at least, and be-
lieve mutually-in the most devoted at
tachment; but this we thought it pru-
dent to conceal from the family, lest it
should prove inimical to our interests.
On the morning of his leaving Dublin
with his pupil, finding an excuse to walk
out with me, we were privately married
vowing to each other never to divulge the
secret until circumstances rendered it ex.
pcdient. Even in separation we were
happy, now that our VOWS were irrevoca-
bly, made.
"Several letters had Al lived from him.
addressed to me, by previous arrange
ment, at the post-officc; when, one morn
ing, the marquis informed his family that
he had received from his son the melan.
choly news of Mr.. Seymour's sudden
death. You cannot imagine, my dear
friend," continued Miss Hamilton-for !
cannot call her any other name" what
my sensations were it would be impos-
sible to describe them. Yet in the midst
Of my distress kept my secret. Twas
ashamed, so young as I was, to reveal the
duplicity l had practictd. But my health
sunk beneath the struggle, and compelled
me to resign situation, which, from
these circumstances, had now become
irksome to me. For time, my only con-
ISOLATION was in the advice and sympathy
Of the good old priest who Joined our
hands; besides yourself, he is the only
person acquainted with this portion OF
my history. l owe to you, my dear
friend" concluded Miss Hamilton, "to
be thus sincere; and oh, let it VAIN you
against clandestine friendship, love, OF
alliance. Few circumstances can excuse
them, and the result is always sorrow.' 81
OF course, Miss Hamilton was dearer
to me, and more interesting that ever;
and after she had left DIR. Benton's fam
lily, and gone to reside in the west ot
England, letter arrived stating that she
was going to convent in Germany
which supported a school, to be English
teacher there; and that, at the termina-
ton of the first twelvcmonth, she might,
if she chose, commence her novitiate-
this she declared to be her intention
and eventually take the veil. I tried to
dissuade her-would had succeeded :
but all in vain; she went. '''
Her first letter described to me her ar.
rival at the convent, and the singular
feeling she had as the gates closed behind