Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-17
EVENING STAR.
INCIDENT IN REAL LIFE-THE POST.
AGE STAMP

AGE STAMP.
Upon what small events does the hanniness
and even existence, Of individuals often de-
pend Some years ago there lived, in a small
interior town in Ohio, young woman, then
but fifteen years Of age. She was the heiress
Of a large fortune, held by trustees The will
OF her father strictly enjoined upon her, that
she was not to marry until after she had ter
minated her twenty-frst year. He had en-
forced this injunction by strong and earnest
| appeals to her affection, and by reminding her
| OF the untimely deaths Of two older sisters,
who had married young, and had died child
lesS shortly after. But with almost prophetic
judgment Of her future lot, he had added a
| still stronger inducement, to obtain her com
pilance with his request. He had stipulated
| that in case of her death or marriage before
attaining the prescribed age, the trustees
should by deed convey all his estate TO some
distant relatives. The young and exceedingly
| handsome girl soon found herself the att-ac-
tive object Of the attentions, the devotions
| and the opportunities of a score of young
| men of the neighbOrhood. She was aware of
| the provisions OF her fathers will, and hon
estiy intended to comply with his so fervently
expressed wish; but sOon-too soon, indeed
was that injunction to appear harsh, unkind,
unfortunate, unreasonable.
Three years after her fathers death, she
| then being eighteen years Of age, she became
acquainted at festive party, with an indi-
vidual upon whose honor, faith and maDIiness
her destiny from that hour was to depend.
tie knew her as a fair, accomplished girl, and
as an helress of half million. He was but
visitor at that town. He remained there
but few weeks, but during that time sue
ceeded too well in leaving highly favorable
impression Of his worth upon the heart Of a
lady. lie returned in one month announcing
his lntentlOn to reside In that village The
hnf
the woman was gratifed; she recognized in
this voluntary abandonment of his former
homo and friends, to take up his residence
there, tribute from his heart to her own
personal and mental attractions He failed
not In soon confirming that belief, and in pro-
testatlons of deep affection and urging the in
cvitable life Of wretchedness he would endure
IN case OF her rejection, as well as by the dis
play OF all the outward accom- plishments and
bearing OF gentlemen, he won her love, and
obtained from her promise of marriage
These proceedings had been secret and were
entirely unknown to her guardian wit whom
she resided. The bctrothment was soon fol-
lowed by al urgent request for speedy mar
rlagc. In her hours of blissful communion
with her lover, she had almost forgotten her
father command. Il now cane upon her with
sudden and bitter force. She answered the
proposal ot marriage by stating that her
fathers dying command was that she sbould
not marry till twenty-One This he met by
rldlcuiInG the fears and superstition of too
anxious parent, and holding out TO her the
alternative Of obeying an unreasonable request
ot deceased parent, made when she was a
child, and when her capacity for forming
proper alliance could not be determined, or
the distress, ruin, madness of true and honest
heart which could not EXIT if separated from
her.
Her next objection met with moro serious
consideration She tsld him that she could
not obtain her property till she was vi full age.
though this was unexpected, and did not nj
all agree with the hopes and aims of the willy
suitor, he was too we'll skilled in deception to
betray his disappOin tment He, therefore
promptly interrupted her In her explanation O:
the conditions Of her fathers will by the most
solemn assurances that with him her fortune
had not feathers weight; that he loved her.
and that love would be as pure, and as strong
and az devoted, had she been reared in poyeT
ty, instead Of in the expectancy OF wealth
again, and again, she sought to explain TO him
that with her marriage, before the period fixed
by her father, she would sacrifice all her eS-
pected wealth; but with the blindness which
often overtakes and misleads avarice and the
other base passions Of human nature, he as
sured her he knew all that he was aware of
everything, that he had enough for both, and
was prepared to remedy to the extent of all he
possessed any inconvenience she might suffer,
pecunlally, from disObeying her fathers re-
quest. In telling her that he knew all he
meant no falsehood; he had made carefully
disguised enquiries, and by every one whom
he addressed he was told that "MsS c. would
inherit her father g furture at twonty-one but
not before" 1t did not suit his designs TO un-
mask his motives, and, in Disgusting with in
difference his questions, he failed to ascertain
the wheie truth, Supposing that her fathers
VIII was SIMPLY framed TO prevent the fortune
falling, in any way, however remotely. under
the control of her husband before she reached
that mature age, he desired by marrisge to
secure it ultimately. He had good cause for
speed; with him prompt and secret marriage
was essential, for penniless, he could not much
longer maintain appearances, or pay his
board, for which he was largely in arrears.
His apparent disintereStedness ut length
prevailed over the daughters obedience A
false statement that her guardian had forbid
him addressing her, with incessant urging
that business required his immediate presence
In New York for several months, swept away
all further objections TO an immediate and |
secret marriage. They were married private |
ly at neig ghboriEg village, ana to the brides |
utter surprise, he advised her TO return to her /
guardians house for few days. He returned /
to his own lodgings, and at once, publicly, ev-
erywhere, and TO all he met, announced his /
marriage. In few hours, he called at the
entered it, her guardian, who had Just heard |
OF the marriage, also entered. He was stern. |
ly questioned as 10 the truth ofthe report, and 1
he boldly avowed it, making no apology for /
the unauthrigel act, but assuming an attitude |
of one who was entitled to admiration for a
most successful man@uvre He demanded |
permission to see his wife, she was called, and
in their presence the guardian bewailed the
lmprudence Of their conduct, and for the first
time, the heretofore daring groom learned
that by her marriage his bride had forfeited
the entire fortune Of her father.
Batfied, disappointed, cheated, the late az
dent wooer stormed and raved; he turned upon
the poor trembling woman to whom, but few
hours before, he had pledged eternal love, and
charged her with bassly deceiving him. Over
come with grief, she tainted, and before she
recovered he had left the house and city. She |
heard no more of him for years During all
that time, with the incomprshsnsibility of
a woman's devotion, she had loved him. His
re me which for many months had been coupled
with reproaohes and eOntumely, never passed