Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-02-14

riages.
4 am convinced," he said, that shall
never marry
It was not nv first hearing Of this laud-
able determination; so l let it pass, mere
ly asking his reasons.
" Because my conscience, principles
and feelings 90 so totally against the svs-
tenn Of matrimonv, rs praeticed in the
world, especially to the world of woman
kind. All the courtinr and proposing. the
presents and the love letters the dinners
te relatives and congratulations of friends,
the marriage guests and marriage settle
ments, the white lace, white satin, white
. iayorS. carriage postilliOns, and all Heigh-
no, Heathcote. what fools men are
/ was Just about To suggest the pOssIhil-
ity of naming one, say two, wise indiyid-
uals among our sex. when in stole a white
fairv-my pretty Lizzie in her brides
maid 5 dress. Her presence changed the
/ current OF conversation; until, from some
remark she made about q message Anre-
line had left rs to the proper way of insert
/ ing her marriage in the Times newspaper
/ tomorrow. our talk imperceptibly fell
/ back into the ola channel
l, like you, Lau0ceston. hate the whole
system Of love and marrying. Ii is one
great sham. Beginning when miss, at
school, learns that it is the apex of fomi-
nine honor TO be a bridc-the lowest depth
+ of femine humiliation to die an old maid
/ Continuing when she, & young lady at
home, counts her numerous offers;
taking pride in what ought to be to her a
source either Of regret or humiliation -
/ Ending when, time slipping bv, she drops
into the usual belief that nobody ever mar
ries her first love so takes the best match
she can find, and makes marriage, which
is merely the visible crown and compile
ton of love, the pitiful, dishonored substi-
tute for it | declare solemnly, that
/ have seen many wife whom held to be
scarcely better-than no wife at all
had forgotten my little sisters pres
I ence but she did not seem TO hear me
nor Launceston either, for that matter
His earnestness had softcned down: he
sat very thoughtful, over against the vim
dow where Lizzie had taken her sewing.
What pretty picture she made
" Come here, my little girl" I said 8" l
should not like thee to 20 the way OF the
world and yet should be satisfied to give
thee away some day, in 4 white muslin
gown and straw bonnet, to some honest
man who loved thee - and was loved so
we'll that Lizzie would never dream Of
marrying any other, but would have been
quite content, If need be, to live an old
maid for his sake to the end Of her days.
That's what | call lovo-ah my girl
Lizzie dropped her head, blushing deep
ly OF course; girls always do.
Launceston said. in n tono so low that
quite started; "Thcn you do believe in
true love, after oil
4" 1t would be i'll for me, or for any hl-
man bein--if do not And believe in
Al Of
borlrss c1untcrleits Nay rs since in the
ralsest croeIs there Turks / hope, a modi-
cum Of absolute truth. | would fain trust
that in the poorest travesty or masquerade
Of love, one might find fragment Of the
sterling commodity Still, my Lizzie dear,
when all our brides are gone let rs con
cratulate ourselves that for along time we
shall have no more engagements.
=" You Chiect to engagements p said
Lizzie, speaking timidly and downfaccd-
as rather Ike to see young girl speak on
this subject
WHY. how should you ike it yourself,
nv little maid2 To be loved, woocd and
welded, in public, for the benefit Of on
amused circle of friends, neighbors and
connections To have ones actions no
ticed, ones affairs canyassed, ones feel
inrs weighed and measured; to be con
graduated. condolcd and tested with
Horrible literally horrible. My wonder
IS that any true lovers can ever stand it.
Perhaps YOU are right, said Launces-
ton, yehemently. "\o man ought to place
the Girl he loves in such position. What
ever it costs him. he ought to leave her
free-altogether free-and offer her no
thing until he can offer her his hand, al
once, and with no delay
Bless nv soul. Launceston. what arc
YOU in such excitement about? Has any
body heen Offering himself 10 your sister
Because YOU mistook me Ask her, on
Lizzie. 0 any good woman, If they would
feel iattered bv centlemans acting in
the wav YOU suggest As if his hand
with the ring in it-were anything Il
them. and himself and his true love no.
thing ut all
Launeeston laughed uneasily. Well
but what did Won mean? "A friend 0
mine would like TO know your opinion OF
this matter.
Nv opinion is simply an opinion
Every man j. the best judge Of his own
affairs, especially loye-aTairs As the
, Eastern Pr0verb saws. Let not the lions
, decide for the tigers But | think did
: love a woman (and it pleased me to know
! I was but speaking ont her mind wbg
wears ago lived and died in her fond sim
, p';citv wiser than any Of these )-' dill
love q woman | wonll tell her so-inst Il
herself no more ] would like to give heI
nv love To rest onto receive the help and
consolation Of hers | would like her tr
feel that through all chances and changes
she and were one. one. neither for fool
! ish child play nor headlonC passion, but
r for mutual strength and support, ho.diuz
! ourselves responsible both for Heaven anr
, each other for our life and love One, in
: agssolublv whether we ever married oI
I not: one in this world. and-ve pray
orc IN the world everlasting
T Was dreaming DID I actuall~ sec
. ny friend Lauuceston take. unfarhidlen
: nv Youngest sisters hand, and hold it
p firmly. tcnderlv fast Did hear, viii
= nv own natural ears Lizzie's soft Ii5tl,
sob. no- oC grief certainly, = she slippe'
+ out of the room. Is swift and silent as
g mo0nteam
< Fhi What2 Good Heavens Wa
: there ever any creature 50 blind as q nj
& 6icarad elder brother
: Well rs ! told Launceston, it was ha
y nv own fault. and | must bear it stoicall,
Perhaps. on the whole, things might hay
/ been worse, for he il q noble fellow. m
4 no wonder the child loves him The