The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
From hs cAiesse Timss.
THE POSTAGE STAMP,
An INCIDENT IN REAL LIFE.

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ness and even e1istance of individuals, oftel
depend! Some years ago there lived in I
small interior town in Ohio, young wo
man, then but fifteen years Of age. She wa
the heircss Of large fortune, held by trust
ees. The will of her father strictly enjoinct
upon her that she was not to marry until
after she had terminated her twenty-firt
year. He had enforced 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 died childless shortly afters But, with
almost prophetic Judgment Of her future
lot, he had added a stronger inducement to
obtain her compliance 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 handsome girl soon found her
self the attractive centre Of the attentions,
the devotions, and the opportunities Of a
score Of young men Of the ncighborhood.-
She was aware Of the provisions of her faith
er's will, and honestly intended to comply
with his fervently expressed wish /; but soon
too soon, indeed-was that injunction to
appear harsh, unkind, unfortunate, unrea-
sonable.
Three years after his decease, she then be-
ing eighteen years of age, she became ac-
quainted at festive party, with an individ-
ual, upon whose honor, faith and manliness
her destiny from that hour was to depend.
He knew her as fair, accomplished girl,
and as an heiress Of half a million. lie
was but visitor at that town. lie remain
ed there buta few weeks, but during that
time succeeded too well in leaving highly
favorable impression Of his worth upon the
heart of the lady. He returned in one
month announcing his intention to reside in
that village. The vanity, not criminal, but
a natural vanity of the woman was graft
fed she recognized in this voluntary aband-
onment of his former home and friends, to
take up his residence there, tribute from
his heart to her personal and mental attrac-
tions. He failed not in soon confirming that
belief, and in protestation Of deep affection,
and urging tho inevitable life Of wretchcd-
ness he would endure in case of her reicc-
ton, as well as by the display Of all out
ward accomplishments and bearing us gen.
tleman, he won her love, and obtained from
her promise Of marriage. These proceed.
ings had been secret, and were entirely un.
known to her guardian, with whom she
resided. The betrothmcnt was soon follow.
ed by an urgent request for speedy marriage.
In her hours Of blssful communion with her
lover, she had almost forgotten her fathers
command. 1t now came upon her with hsud.
den and bitter force. She answered the
proposal of marriage by stating that her
ather's dying command was that she should
not marry till twenty.onc. This he met by
ridiculins the fears and superstition Of too
anxious parent, and holding out to her tho
alternative of obeying an unreasonable re-
quest of deceased parent made when she
was child, and when her capacity for
forming proper alliance could not bc de-
termined, or the distress, ruin and madness
Of true and honest heart which could not
exist il separated from her.
Her next objection met with more serious
consideration. She told him that she could
not obtain her property until she was offull
age. Though this was unexpected, and did
not at all agree with the hopes and aims oi
the willy suitor, he was too well skilled in
deception to betray his disappointment
IIc therefore promptly interrupted her in her
explanation of the conditions Of her fathers
will with the most solemn assurance that
with him her fortune had not feathers
weight that he loved her and that love
would be as pure, and as strong, and as de-
voted had she been reared in poverty, in
stead Of in the expectancy of wealth.
Again and again she sought to explain to
him that with her marriage before the peri
cd fixed by her father, she would sacrifice
all her expected wealth; butwith the blind
ness which often overtakes and misleads
ayarice and the other base passions Of human
nature, he assured her that 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 pccuniarily,
from disobcying her fathers request. In
telling her that he knew all, he meant no
lllsehood; he had made carefully disguised
inquiries, and by every one whom he address
ed he was told that Miss c. would inherit
her fathers fortune at twenty-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 ascer-
tain the whole truth. Supposing her faith
er's will was simply framed to prevent the
fortune falling, in any way, however re.
motely, under the control of her husband
before she reached that mature age, he de-
sired by marriage to secure 1t ultimately
He had good cause for speed; with him a
prompt aud 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 disintercstcdncss ut length
prevailed over the daughters obciicnce.-
A false statement that her guardian had for
bid him addressing her, with inccsant urg-
ing that business required his presence in
New York for several months, swept away
all further objections to an immediate and