The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-08-09
Why Buchanan is Bachelor.

! permanent, from the fact that he Is bache
lor, is defeated by the general knowledge oi
the high social qualities and genial disposi
! ton of that accomplished and distinguished
statesman, and by the sadly romantic anG
( touching circumstances which closed to him
/ the joys of connubial life. These will be re-
lated in the forthcoming number of Harpers
! Magazine, an advance sheet Of which WE
I have obtained, and Fl ON which we copy the
/ following:
| Some years ago member of the United
States Senate, distinguished not only for hi-
talents bat for his fine personal appearance
was seated in richly furnished parlor in the
city of Washington, engaged in Il lively con
vcrsation with one of the most amiable and
/ accomplished married ladies that ever honor
ed our national capital with their presence.
The subject was the common and most
agreeable one of marriage; and the lady,
with beautiful enthusiasm natura 10 her
character, was pressing upon the notice OF
her distinguished bachelor friend the claims
Of young female friend, whose position in
society, a;nlable disposition, and liberal edu-
cation cminently rendered her fit TO be the
wife Of 4 distinguished statesman who had
seemingly already spent too many years
without proper companion TO divide his
honOrS and bear with him the ills o. life.
The gentleman, vino had for long time
entered with hearty good Will into the halt
serionS and half playful conversation, sud
denly became excited, and remarked that he
could on such subject bear a: that was said
in jest, but when serious arguments were
brought to urge him to change his condi-
ton, then his reply must be that such a
thing could never bc-taat to love he could
not. for his affections were ~ lie grace.
The lady was struck with the senator :
manner. and surprised that Throughout her
long acquaintance with him she had never
suspected that he had found time, amidst
the struggle Of a !aborouS profession and q
high political position, to 'tall in love. -
W lth the Establishments only hnosu u the
sex, and with curiosity prompted by the
kIudvst OF hearts. She asked for an cxplana-
ton OF this seeming mystery, and the gen
tcman, for the moment overcome by the
e.oIucnce of his inteT.oCg;or, explained as
follows:
1t was my good fortune, soon after en-
tered upon the active duty Of rny profcs-
sion, to engage the affections of lovely
Giri, alike graccd with beauty of person and
high social position. Her mother her only
living parent, was ambitious; and in the
though,iess desire 10 make an alliance Of
enc who had only his talents and the future
10 give IN return for 50 mach beauty and
wealth. The young lady, however, was
more d.siHter-stgd mUiIA. VOWS Of attach
mcnt were exchanged, a cogrgSp SpOGilncc and
frequent personal interviews succeeded, and
the fLture seemed u promise 4 most happy
couSIMmatIOH of all our wishes. At that
time had Just commenced, under favorable
Circumstance, my profession IN my native
town; and making some character, was
finally engaged - COuH-e. III 4 suit O.! im-
pOrtance -e.ore one ot the courts holden IN
the city OF pEi.a-elphit. The opportunity
was favorable To make an impression If
possessed the ability 10 10 20 and gladly
accepted the position, and bent my whole
energies 10 accomplish my ambition. Ar
ranging 10 write frequently 10 one who Gi-
yIt-d my heart with my business duties and
TO receive frequent cp.>G,s IN return, set
0-t for Phi.aGc.p phIl, expecting ~ be absent
At most, not more than two weeks The
.aV = delays however, Il .t4lGcI E.r 4 month
beyond the anticipated time. and although
succeeded beyond my most >pugu'uc expect
atoms, and e-'lb.ishc. my>ci! u . position
b-:ui. the highest court iu nay uati:c state,
my tIiumpi.s were dashed that IN al. time
thus engaged, had not received Inc from
3 =
was filled with rumors that the person upon
whom had set ny affections had been Sc
dGced into the ambitious designs Of her
thoughtless parents, and that | had been
di~carded-a thing could not believe, and
yet the dreadful silence seemed TO endorse
At last, relieved from nv engagement, !
took the usual, and, in those days, the only
conveyance to LancaStcr--thc stage. The
dicness consequent upon travelling gave time
for consuming thoughts, and my suspense
became painful to the last degree, and, una
bic to bear the Slow pace Of my conveyance,
determined 10 anticipate the usual time Of
my journey. 10y making the last miles Oh
horseback. In carrying out this detcruiua-
ton, ! mounted hne steed; but just as
reached the suburbs Of my native place, the
animal, from some unaCcOuutable Ca-sc,
sprang from the road, threw me with force
breaking my arm and otherwise iniurin. my
person. Picked up by my friends, | was
conveyed helpless sal full of physical and
mental agony, to my home. Scarcely had
the surgeons performed the necessary du-
ties, than one, whom esteemed a friend
announced to me the gossip of the village.
and, among other things, detailed the parti-
cuiars of the cOurtShip and engagement Of
the young lady iii whom was so interested
with well known person of ne:ghboring
city-a person whose claims to regard no
one could dispute. These things, stated
with such apparent good faith, conn ectcd
with that fearful silence of six long weeks
had no other effect than to increase nv
anxiety TO unrayel the mystery and on the
following morning, conccaling my wounded
limb under cloak, probably pale and bag
gard, ! presented myself at the mansion OF
my mistress ! was received in the pre-
scnce of the mother. She confirmed nv
suspicious. The young lady stood by, the
picture of despair, yet silent as the grave
Desperate at what seemed this bad faith, |
returned to my house, wrote hasty letter
demanding my correspondence, and return
ins AZ the same time, every one cherished
token of affection. received all | sent for,
save perhaps, some forgotten flower.
That night the young lady, accompanied
by female servant, lett for Philadelphia
Arriving at her unces house, she complain
ed of being tatgued with he. Journey, and
retired to her room. Complaining of some
serious pain, only soothed by narcotics, she
sent her faithful but unsuspecting servant
and friend TO a neighboring drug store for
laudanum: received it, expressed the wish to
be alone, and seemingly retired to Sleep
The following morning, not making her ap-
Iearancc, the family became alarmed, broke
open the door, and found the young lady
dead-in her hand the little keepsake retain
ed from my correspondence. The uncle. as
if comprehendng the particulars which led
TO this dreadful tragedy, had the body en-
cofiined, and with it returned to Lancaster.
Placing all that remained of this once lovely
being in the parlor, he brought the mother
forward, and displayed, what he was
pleased to term, the result Of her work.
was sent for, and arrived to witness the
eloquent agony of that mothers heart