The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-12-06
A TRIANGULAR BRIDAL.
truth IS STRANGER THAN FICTION.
From the Cincinnati Daily Times.

"'" 'eC0"''y NCoiHc acquainted WIN
the facts OF one Of the most extraordinary
dramas in soriaI life Of which we have knowl
edge. The material, which will gradually
unfold itself in the following narrative, com.
bned with the requisite machinery and inter
woven with fictitious characters necessary to
the artistic development Of the plot, would
complete profoundly interesting. if not IN
absolutely thrilling romance Our sketch.
however, Is an unfinished dscurrreotype of
facts which recently transpircd in one Of the
most attractive inland cities Of the "dark
and bloody ground" and >iruatcd not a hun.
drrd miles from 4" La E,Ne H;rieye." We
submit the skeleton, leaving the elaborate.
anu finished touches to oe woven into dra-
matte texture. TO artists en- oving more time
and possessing more skill and rnapinati n
than we can command.
lady. youthful, lovely, accomplished,
ard the daughter of a distinguished X, ntuck
'a"' ENJOYING independent competence, impe-
rion>ly commanded the admiration of the GAL
labtS Of the virirayr, and attracted z.alous
snI'ors from abroad She was a belle Of al
most nnrivaI,d charms, and rcrrivcd uume
rou> declarations Of attachment. MANY Of
them ardent and sincere. Like most queen
'y d'ms'l~ Enjoying fortunate positions in the
s"'h world. She was an apt mistress of 60.
Iu"trv. aud welded her rr>i,tless srrptrc un-
m"rrfuI'y upon all who vrn,ured within the
charmed ral of her matchIess fascinatio IONS
Sh" re'.ned ru'hlrs>lv durinG LONG and
brilliant career. and her reputation for come
Illness and social skill neither wan-d with ,b,.
lapse of time or her cruel exercise of power.
but seemed TO be- promoted without apparent
~ approaching rnlmina,ion. and sp,rndil,v
illustrated the rrmor>rle>S tyranny Of capri,
rions and pa>>ionIt>s beauty. Frirurd at
last. and .Atrd with the common u! A.. tr.
umPhS of ordinary coquetrv. sh" introduced
by way Of episode. the expr'lirnt o! engage
ment to marry Not satisfied, however, ~nh
the usual termination of .u,ce,>tu court>h;p.
she improved upon ,hr obtaining customs. hy
|.'ro:hino herself to two lovers. whom, >h. 4
'!'"''i, managed to keep profoundly ignorant
ot their mutual rreten>ion> AMI expectations.
: One su.or was a talented Young minister.
OF ttIr possessions. The other a gentleman
OF elegant leisure" AMI lord of many broad
acres. Both we're tl,iny for the whimsical
bean'y. each conscious OF the Others devotion.
br'. aS We have said, mutu,l!y unaware of
their mutual success The wong minister
was favored by the dam>crs father. and wa,
accepted by him for III. futur. son in law. -
Acquainted with the mo'h-r's ho,,iIirv to
himself. and conscious Of her preference for
his rival. as we'll as concrivlnS the fathers
consent adequate for the accomplishment Of
his purpose. and trus,,n. TO time and circum-
stance to mitigate her prrjudces, the Young
minister forbore aprlication to her His RI
val, meantime, had been accepted bv the
mother-who. like hirnsrIr, was ignorant of
the young minister's successful negotiations
and Irenins himself sufficiently justified to
proceed, and approaching the fathers otiec.
tions to himself, he, on the other hand, as his
rival had retraintd from submitting his pet,.
ton to The mother. neglected his obIi cations
TO the father. The artiu complications Of
the daughter were thus far attended with the
happirst success, and it is prrsumahle she
hugely rnjoyrd The extraordinary and per-
picking c0ntre hmpS.
/ The rivals now became importunaie and
solicited the speedy consummation of the
contemplated alli,nce. Their be,rothed.
however, capriciou>ly vcxed and tantalzed
them to her hearts content. dculinc them
with alternate hopes and promises, like Mac
beth's 'a>ldes to his two swecthearts." but
finally concurred with their arden, petitions.
and appointed the same dny. hou and pinre,
J tor Me solemn'>n'ion ot the triangular bri,IH
Arrangements wrr" subsequently made which
added richer >I''cr to the eliminating drama
The minister and his b rothrd agreed 10
ct'rhratr 'h-': nnp'ial> Yn'rtly, few Of their
"u'"'i friends only hr,r. advised ON the
Other ha"". o>'rn'a'lous preparations were
mad" tor magnificent di>,la". Cards were
dtspat he'd lar and near by our heroine, and
the mothers rhoire, and all ,hr galantrv and
brau'y Of the country were in orned of the
approach OF the bridal period. The absence
OF the munster, meantime, facilitated opera
''""s, and Sos>'rT'rg rumor. strange TO say,
tail. d Tor oh,e to mar The exec u:ion Of bril-
liant dr>i IN. How The parents remained in
i"ho'ance III the midst Of active rrepara.
non has not beer developed tut those j. mil.
lar With The inventive Wit otsrrigh'y woman
will readily imagine the keen diplomacy of
cur heroine, Who so successfully managed her
doutle intrigue into the crisis Of con.umma.
tion. Suffice it. that at the denourmrnt. the
parents were the most completely confound-
rd It ALL
lie nuFtial eve rolled round Guests as
,'n.t''d III gi''te,iny concour>r. exuberant
1" joyous a"trpa'ions, and spendidy deco
rated. The most brilliant vivacity and gay
est confusion prevailed The officiating
minister appeared, and there were bright in
iii, al ,nnS ~ tho tnlI..t r.a;;za,;.r ~ ali L.r
ny anticiEa'iUns. Moments frit,ered in
pleasant interchange Of compliments. Beau