The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-03-31

Supremacy ridiculous. could not by any
system of reasoning lead myself to believe
there existed in the wide world a single woman
that could induce Inc to marry. Yet such an
event appeared 10 Inc now 70 be the only OBJ
jcct for which lived. Strange as it may
seem all the while was aware of my terrible
inlatualion. and over and over again have I
sat down and argued with myself on the
folly of my conduct. But all to no purpose.
saw the abyss before me, and still rushed
madly toward it. As | said before, after a
ten days acquaintance | made formal pro-
posal Of marriage. Bat judge ofmy surprise
when | met with a positive refusal IL shall
be happy at all timcs-most happy indeed,
Mr.. Marte''-thls was the reply-"to see
you as fricnd-for am free to confess our
short acquaintance has attached me deeply to
you; but to become my husband-that can
never, ncvcr le. 1T were even inclined to
listen TO your proposals, there exists insur-
nountable barriers to our union.". She open
cd a trunk, and taking from it closely writ
tn manuscript, placed it in my hand.
There, she continued, is my autobiography.
have preserved another copy. Take that
keep tread it ttcntivcy-asccrtain
what | am, and cease to think of Ida. That
is my solemn advice, But know well that
y on will not heed it. I know well that after
you have read that sad record Of folly and
c.imc--tlat after you have become convinced
of the truth Of every word contained in those
pages; coarincel, mind you say, ofthcir truth
you will still ,icvc them, and love me more
madly, more infatuatcdly than ever. lfit is
not too late Danish all thoughts Of Inc from
your mind But if you arc not able to do So
do not accuse me Of having Dclilah-like shorn
you Of your strength by stratagcm. You
know full well told you at an earlier stage
of our acquaintance with an umrcscrycd frank
ncs, to beware how you stood i'll regard to
me. You know told you how others who
Wanted themselves on their strength and
their ability to resist all the influence that
could be brought to bear upon them, had
fallcn--had become victims to what they
themselves termed, my destinations. Yet |
used no artifce. | know | possess attrac
tons not possessed by other women, and
know their effect upon your sex. But am |
accountable therefor! After ! have warned
those, who pursue me, to beware, have l not
done all my duty in the premises! Have
not done what but few women would dare
do! Bat you have my answer to your pro-
posal. Nothing can change it. And let me
add in conclusion, that have given to you
an amount Of confidence that has been given
to but one man before, and tlat can never be
given 10 anothcr.-Keep and read the Auto
biography ] have given you, and if you re-
gard your own happincss--concerning mine
| say nothing-ayod my society in future.
Good bye"
Before | had tinc to utter word she
glIdcd from the room, leaving me to my own
reflections. knew not what to make of the
strange proceeding, but picking up my hat
| hurried to my solitary chamber, and with
an indesciiblc ayidity pcruscd the manuscript
sue Iilu ~ Cll iilt.
The Auto biography of Ida which fills
forty-scven closely written foolscap pages, is
intensely interesting and should be inse rtcd
here, but is omitted for want of space. Ida
had been married young, but bitter hatred,
after few years, arising in her heart against
her husband, she had broken her vows, for
gotten her faith and gone widely astray from
the path of duty. Yet. in spite of all her
frailtics and failngs Ito call them by no
harsher namc,) he was still dcvotedly at
tachcd to her. and had again and again be-
sought and cntrcatcd her to return and be
received with open arms and forgiven for all
the past. But to his cntreatcs she turned q
deaf car. "God knows" she says in her
auto biography, II have suffered more than
it falls to ordinary women to suffer; but no
amount of misery would induce me ever
again to return to his home."l
My sensations after reading Idas manu-
script will amt ofno analysis. No language
is adequate to express my feelings, so that
those whose mental and physical organiza-
ton differ from my own could form even the
faintest conception of them. Although l
was fully satisfied of the truth of every word
she had written, my mind could not by any
process ofrcasoning be brought to realize and
believe it, and as she had foresecn and fore
told | was more terribly infatuated with her
than ever. had previous to this time con-
sdcrcd myself capable, by strong effort of
the will, of accomplishing anything. But
in this case found myself powerless. l had
not even the ability to desire to will what l
knew was proper for me to do in the case
avoid her presence and her destinations: but,
on the contrary, resolved on seeing her again
at the earliest opportunity. The next day
when called at her hotel was informed she
had left the town that morning. For the
succeeding fortnight was prey to the most
conflicting emotions imaginable. and before
the winter passed away had made my ar
engagements to leave the town forever. With
CT l was destined, or for what object, had