Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-30
Romance and MatrimOny In Mar
tinSburg, West Va.


The Martinsburg New Era vouches for the
following bit of 'love romance, which is but
another chapter in the history of woman's
strange caprices:
The dull monotony of our town " las broken
op Tuesday by a little episode which threw I'M
peachment talk and excitement completely into
the shade, and clearly demonstrated that truth
is oftimes stranger than tlctlon. The facts are
tbese A Young and rather prepossessing lady
residing in the neighborhood Of Bunker Hill,
was engaged to be married to gentleman liv-
inv in Missouri. Tuesday last was the day fix
cd for the celebration Of the nuptials. The
bridegroom and his attendants had arrived
Monday evening found a convivial party at the
residence of the brides father.-among the
number, the expectant bridegroom, his atten-
d.nts and several near relatives, together
with the youth and beauty of the surrounding
country.
And there was present, also, as an Invited
guest, former affianced and discarded lover
Of the prospective bride But there was in
this nothing strange The hours, on rosy
wings, flew swiftly by. 1t was a 'smerrie COM
panic" The bridegroom, in blissful Ignorance
of 'breakers ahead" was gliding smoothly and
peacefully along in Faucys bark, counting the
hours that intervened between him and the
eonsummatiOn of his happiness. But alas tor
Aeeting hopes and woman's fcklessness. A
change had come o'er the spirit of the blushing
maiden's dreams-of her who had promised,
on the morrow, to become the partner OF his
Joys and sorrows. Her heart wandered back to
uer first love. What high tricks does Cupid
sometimes play!
It was near the 'witching hour of nigh t, -
and the bridegroom was there, the license had
been procured, the attendants were in waiting,
and everything in readiness for the performance
Of the nuptial rites on the following morning.
But what of that? The bride had changed
her mind-an easy thing for woman to DO.
She had suddenly concluded not to give her
hand to him who had journeycd from the tar
West to claim it. Her determination was
made public, and there was sensation In the
assemblsge. She said she would only wed the
man of her first love. Tears and entreatles
finally prevailed, and the ''old gentleman in
a areenting mood, gave her permission to re-
verse her choice, She did it. We leave the
reader to Judge of the feelings of the expectant
affairs had taken. 1t must have given his
faith in woman a pretty heavy shock, to say
the least, but he must remember that there is
many slip twixt the cup and lip, and that
nothing is certain except death. =.
The wedding came off in the Presbyterian
church In this place on Tuesday, according to
previous arrangements, but it was like the play
of Richard III. with Richard left out. There
was change ofpartners. The discarded lover
was the bridegroom, and the bridegroom that
was to be, became discarded lover. The
affair afforded much food for gossip and has
been the 'town talk" ever since.
The disappointed lover bore up under it
manfully. Instead of taking "a cup of cold
pizsn," he took the first train for his Western
home, preferring not to realize how bitter a
thing it is to look into happiness through
another man 8 eyes,