Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-12-13
The Beacon Street Belle.

a young Southerner passing DOW
Washington street, near the Sout
Church, was accosted by young gir
, apparently about eighteen, we
dressed, but not in the extreme Q
fashion, and of a peculiar beauty ant
loveliness that almost battles descrp
tion.
Her white silk bonnet but half con
cealed the finest head of glossy, je
black hair in the world, which played
in many nnglets over a neck of sur
pnsing whiteness and beauty. He
forehead was high, but white ant
smooth as Parian marble; while be-
large eyes beamed forth an intensity
of feeling, which impressed those who
saw her with emotions of piety, and
almost reverence.
Her manner was certainly some
what wild and singular; nevertheless,
the Southerner, too well bred to turn
haughtily, paused to listen to the fair
girl, whose tones of earnest entreaty
were evidently making sad havoc
with the poor fellows heart.
The Southerner, himself, practi-
sing lawyer in Richmond, Va, had
just arrived in Boston, where he had
come to attend to certain matters OF
business connected with his profession.
He was quite familiar with the city,
having some three years previous
graduated at the University near
Boston. But familiar as he was with
many peculiarities of cities, he felt In
deed, surprised atthe idea of young
and beautiful stranger stopping him
in the street to ask him singular
question::
'Will you marry me, sir?'
Now, Charles Knowlton-or, as
they called him at home, Chas. Knowl-
ton, Esq.,-was young, and bache-
lor; and, like all young bachelors, in
tended to marry some time or other.
But the idea of being forced into
matrimony without moments warn
ing, and without knowing anything
about the lady who was to be his
bride, except that she was young and
handsome, rather startled him from
his propriety; and, for a moment, it
must be confessed, be stood gazing
with astonishment upon the lovely
maiden, whose eyes seemed to flash
brighter every moment. with re-
doubled brilliancy.
The proud lips of the fair girl were
Just beginning to curl in scorn, as she
noticed the young mans hesitation.
She curbed her feelings, however, for
the time, looking once more upon
him with her bright, beautiful face,
and repeated, with still more earnest
ness, if possible, her former inquiry:
SWill you marry me, siI?'
Startled from his reverie at the
sound of her voice, he was once more
aroused from the statue-like posture
be had fallen into, On first seeing her,
though he still continued to gaze up
on the lovely being before him, with
out uttering a word.
Il must leave you then, sir she
continued, though Heaven alone
knows my present misery. 1t is
true, am asking of you strange IA
vor. l cannot blame you; but may
vet find one whose manliness Of heart
will lead him to compassionate my
present situation. Once more, and
for the last time, permit me to ask
you:
'W1l you marry me, sir?' :.
And here, overcome with her feel
ings, ter tears began to dim her beau
tifll eyes, while the lady turned to
hide her falling tears, and sobbed
aloud.
The young lawyer keenly felt the
awkwardness of his position, and po-
litely rendering his arm to the lady,
for a stroll up the street, inwardly re-
solved to learn more about the mat
ter, if possible. The lady's case
seemed to be SO novel and singular.
One moment he fancied her insane,
but the calm, beautiful expression up.
on her countenance, now that she had
adopted him as her protector; utterly
forbade such a thought. sg ssT
With all the gallantry, romance,
and, perhaps, we may say, impetuosl-
ty, peculiar to Southern character,
Charles Immediately determined to
put the best construction upon the
matter, treating the case as one nally