The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-27
A PEABODY ROMANCE.
An Episode In the Life of the Great PhIlnnthrO-
pist-A Betrothnl that was Never C0nsum-
mated-Ambition Gives Way Before Love.


An Episode in the Life of the Great Philnnthro-
pist-A Betrothnl that was Never Consum-
mated-Ambition Gives Way Before Love.
The fact that the late George Peabody died, as
he had lived, unmarried has given rise to innu-
merable speculations and anecdotes concerning
the cause of his remaining single. 1t is gene
rally believed that at one time he was on the
point of marrying Miss Burdett Coutts, an alll-
ance that, in financial point of view, would
have been very natural one. But hers is not
the only name with which that of the millionaire
phianthropist has been associated and now we
have still another suggested. For the following
romantic story Providence paper is respon-
sible:--
More than thirty years ago, in the far-famed
school of the prince of teachers, John Kings
bury, was of the fairest of all the fair daugh
ters of Providence, celebrated far and nigh, as
that city has ever been for its lovely girls. Her
school education finished, she went with friends
to Europe, not, however, before having given
her youthful affections to u young man whom
she had met in sister city. But before mar
riage had consummated their happiness adver-
sity came upon him, and he found himself in no
situation to marry. He was not willing she
should waste her youth and glorious beauty in
waiting through long years for the day to come
when he could call her his own, so he released
her from her VOWS, and they parted, she going,
as l said before, to Europe. There she
met George Peabody, then, comparatively
speaking, young man, but one who
was already making his mark and whose wealth
was beginning to pour in on every side. He saw
her and was struck Gas who that ever saw her
was not p with her grace, her winning ways, her
exceeding loveliness, and after a while, he
proposed" Her heart still clung to her loved
one across the wide Atlantic, but after some time
she yielded, perhaps to the wishes of her friends,
perhaps to the promptings of worldly ambition,
who can tell? Who can fathom the heart of a
young and beautiful maiden? She became the
affianced wife of Mr.. Peabody. After a little
interval she came back to this country, and soon
after her arrival, met her first love, and after
events justify me in saying, her "Only love-"
At sight of him, all her former affection came
back, if, indeed, it had ever left her. and Mr..
Peabody, with his wealth and brilliant prospects,
faded away, and she clung with fond affection
to her American lover, and was willing
chosen of her heart. All was told to
Mr.. Peabody, and he, with that nanliness that
characterized his every action, gave her up, and
in due time she was married and settled in a
city not more than three hundred miles from
Providence. What she suffered in coming to q
final conclusion was known to but few. Her
fair cheeks lost their roundness, and grew wan
and pale, her lovely eyes had a mournful wist-
fulness that touched every heart. Some blamed
her, others praised her. Those who were am
bilious of worldly honors pronounced her mad, |"
'foolish, to throw over a man like George Pea
body, whose ever-increasing wealth would be-
stow every luxury upon her, and place her in
position in London that would make her lot an
envied one, to marry man who might never have
more than a limited income to live upon. Others,
and shall 1 say the nobler part? justified her
in thinking that love, true love- was more
to be desired than wealth or earthly fame. The
painful conflict was at length ended. Her true
womanhood vindicated itself, and she wavered
no more. 1 well remember, when in London
twenty-eight years ago, hearing all this talked
over in a chosen circle by American friends, and
also at a brilliant dinner party given by General
Cass, in Versailles, it was thoroughly discussed
in all its length and breadth. Whether, in his
visit to this country, Mr.. Peabody ever met his
once afiianced bride, cannot say, neither do 1
know whether, when she heard of his more
the thought, 'ail this might have been mine. :"
After several years of welded bliss, death took
her husband from her side, when the glorious
loveliness of her youth had ripened into the full
luxuriance of perfect matronhood.