Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-08-14
From Harper's Magazine for August.
The True Story of James Buchanan s
Courtship.

States Senate, distinguished not only for
his talents but his fine personal appearance,
was seated in richly furnished parlor in
the city of Washington, engaged in live
" conversation with one of the most ami
able and accomplished married ladies that
ever honored our national capital with their
presence. The subject was the common
and most agreeable one Of marriage; and
the ladv, with a beautiful enthusiasm nat
ural to her character. was pressing upon
the notice of her distinguished bachelor
friend the claims OF young female friend,
whose position in society amiable DISPOSE
ton, and liberal education, eminentlv rem
dered her fit To be the wife of distinguish
ed statesman, who had seemingly already
spent too many years without a proper COM
panion to divide his honors and bear with
him the ills of life
The gentleman, who had for long time
entered with hearty good will into the halt
serious and half playful conversation, sud
denly became excited, and remarked, that
he could, OH such subject bear all that was
said in jest but when serious arguments
were brought to urge him to change his
condition, then his reply must be that
such thing could never be-that to love
he could not, for his affect ons qcere IN tie
grore.
The lady was struck with tie Senator 5
manner, and surprised that throughout her
long acquaintance with him she had never
suspected that he had found time, amidst
the struggles of laborous profession and
a high political position, to fall in love. .
With the Establishments only known to the
sex, and with a curiosity prompted by the
kindest of hearts. she asked for an expana-
ton of this seeming mystery, and the gen
ileman, for the moment overcome by the
eloquence of his intcrlocuto-, explained as
follows:
cit was my good fortune, soon after
entered upon the active duties of my pro-
fession, to engage the affections of love
" girl, alike graced with beauty of person
and high social position. Her mother, her
only living parent, was ambi ious: and, in
the thoaghlless desire to make an alliance
Of fashion, opposed the union of her child
with one who had only his talents and the
future to give in return for so much beauty
and wealth. The Young lady, however,
was more disintcrcstcd: mutual VOWS ol
attachment were exchanged, Il correspond
ence and frequently personal interviews sue
ceeded, and the future seemed to promise Il
most happy consummaiion Of all our wish
es At that time | had Just commenced,
under favorable circumstances, my profes-
sion in my native town; and making some
character, was finally engaged as coun-
sci in sui. of importance before one of the
courts holden in the city of Philadelphia.
The opportunity was favorable to make ali
impression if l possessed the ability to do
SO; and | gladly accepted the position, and
bent my whole energies to accomplish my
ambition. Arranging to write frequently
to one who divided my heart with my bus
mess duties, and to receive frequent epistIes
in return, l set out for Philadelphia. ex-
pectlng to be absent at most not more than
two weeks. The laws delays, however, de-
tanned me month beyond the anticipated
time; and, although | succe eded beyond
my most sanguine expectations, and estab-
lished myself in position before the high
est court of my native State, my friumphs
were dashed that in all the time thus en-
gagged | had not received line from Lam
caster, instead "f which, the atmosphere
was filleu with rumors that the person up
on whom | had sent affections had been Sc
duced into the ambitious designs Of her
thoughtlcss parent. and that ! had been
discarded-a thing could not believe, and
yet which the dreadful silence seemed to
indorse.
At last, released from my engagement, |
took the usual, and, in those days, the on
" conveyance to Lancaster; the stage. The
ldleness consequent upon travelling gave
time for consuming thoughts, and my sus-
pense became painful to the last degree, and
unable to bear the slow pace of my convey
ance, determined to anticipate the usual
time of my journey by making the last mile
upon horseback. In carrying out this de
termination, | mounted Il fleet sfccd; but
just as reached the suburbs Of my native
place, the animal, from some urae countabIe
cause, sprang from the read, threw me with
force breaking my arm and otherwise injur-
ING my person. Picked up by my lends,
was conveyed, helpless and full Of phys
al and mental agony to my home. Scarce
ly had the surgeons performed their neccs-
sary duties, than one, whom | esteemed a
friend, announced to me the gossip Of the
yilla.a onI on,c,,. ntho, tbt,,nc 1atoIla1