The Portland daily press., 1869-09-29
DAILY PRESS.
CORTLAND
Wednesday Morning, S ptember 20, 1869.
The Love Romance er Washington NOR
Written for the Rcuublic1

' LOW ssomance ef Washington W or
written for the Republic1
rev gentlemen We're better known in fbe
New iork OF thelr day than Jacob ana Wash
ington Morton. They were both Iavvars
with an honorable place at the bar of the
metropolis, in the most brilliant period of its
history. The elder brother was for thirty
years or more Maior-Cenera of the Firs.
Division of the State Militia of New York,
During the War of 1872 he was mustered into
the service of the United States, and appoint
ed military comma 1der OF the city, He was
the immediate predecessor of General San
ford, who moi very long since terminated a
term OF service OF about the same duration.
He was hOsptable, faulllessly dressed, we'll
bred gentleman, OF the politics and school Of
General Washington, and universally esteem
ed by contemporaries.
Washington Morton was some yeals bis
junior. lie was graduated at Princeton in
1902, He was a young man OF extraordinary
powers OF mind and great strength OF BODY.
Nature had lavishly endowed him with her
best gifts. He was strikingly handsome
elegant in his manners, and possessed rare
fascination and tact in conversation.
or his physical powers OF endurance, and
his athletit skill, he gave a proof at one time
by walking for wager from New York to Phil
adelphia in day. 1t was considered q most
unprecedented leat, and made q great noise
through the country.
1t is said that when he had finished his
walk, and thereby won his wager, that he
took bath and made his toilet, and then
spent the remainder of the night with some
Philadelphia choice spirits, and the friends
who had accompanied him from New York
on horseback, over supper table which had
been spread IN his honor, where the conviv-
iality was probably more answerable to the
greatness OF the occasion of century ago
than at the present time. Every body knew
everybody in those days The convenient and
democratic system OF overcrowded receptions
by which ladies and gentlemen are now en-
tertained BY hundreds at a time, and thous-
and imperfect social obligations discharged
as imperecty once or twice year, was un-
known to the gentry OF our early metropolis.
Dinner company well chosen, frequent and
elegant, was the style of the time. M
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton was one of the
acknowledged leaders in the polite and fash
ionable world, and 10 one entertained her
guests with more charming grace. She might
almost have been said to have maintained
court of her own. Her family connection
was numerous, of great influence, and her
husband was in the zenith of his popularity.
Her younger sister, Cornelia Schuylerspent
much OF her time with Mrs. Hamilton. She
wat not belle in the brilliant circles of that
period, for her beauty was of the soft and
touching kind, which wins gradually upon the
heart, rather than strikes the senses, like that
of the more dazzling order. She usually wore
her dark brown hair parted in waves over
low, white forehead, and her complexion was
OF that clear paleness which better interprets
the varying phases Of feeling than q more
brilliant color. Her eyes were dark gray, but
ca CHI da1 apI chadoxvoJ bv-I how
seemed black in the imperfect light. Her
SMALL rosy mouth bad a slight compression
sr tt.a Fps, That bctoiencd determination and
strength OF VIII. The superb curve OF her
neck, and the rounding OF her shoulders,
would ave enchanted statuary. Her ma
ture, too soft and clingng for the role ot lead
elship in society, which so well became her
sister, had yet a firmness that promised full
development whenever called into action
through her affections.
Washington Morton was often guest in the
hospitable home Of the Hamlltons, and being
thrown much in the society OF the beautiiu
girl above described, it is not surprisn that
ihey should have fallen in love with each
other.
Miss Schuyler returned to her fathers house
in Albany companied by her lover, who at
once sought an interview with General Schuy-
ler, and asked for her hand.
The cautious cblefain did not like the idea
OF il trusting his lovely daughter to the care oil
volatile head-sirong youth, however fiatter-
In. his prospects and his possibii ies He
must first sIacken his pace to the sober rate
befitting steady-going married man. He re-
fused bis consent to the marriage, and forbade
all communication between them. He did
not even allow them parting, but himself
escorted the young man 10 the New Yolk
boat, aud saw him take his departure flom
these coasts. .f..
returning to the house he met Cornelia
upon the verandah, and her pale sad face ut
tered approaches keener than words could
have conveyed He believed, however. that
she was incapable of wise JUDGMENT on a sub
jet OF so much Importance, and was deterni-
lned to make her happy in spite OF herself.
He had seen the evil OF imprudent and une-
quail marriages, and in those times the d =
tinctions of rank were as impossible here as
in the old world. He never could allow a
child OF his 10 precipitate herself into ruin
lie was not an austere man naturally, but
esteemng himself the sole and rehtful arbi-
ter of heI destiny, he had formed a resolution
that nothing could bend. 1t never occurred
to him that his gentle and yielding Cornelia
could offer opposition to his will.
Come in the library he said, and led the
way. -. HHaa uueEH
His dauIgnrt6s-rt 6- followed, and seating herself
in an attitude of detection, wIpeeSS%ay wIes way at in
tervals the tears that lett her eyes Tor wattt.oi Of
accommodation there.
General Schuyler related all that had trans
pired between himself and young Morton, ant
added:
"My wish, of course, will be law 10 YOU
Promise me to have nothing hereafter to dc
with him, either by word or letter."
81 cannot, SIR"
"What! do you mean to disobey me?"
81 mean nothing; l simply cannot bind
myself by any such pledge as you name, and
l will not"
Astonshed, excited, ard angry, Genera
schuyler ordered his daughter to 90 to hel
apartments and remain there until she wa.
| prepared to ask his pardon for her undutifu
| conduct.
Washington Morton was not man to be
turned from his purpose by any slight obsta
| Gle. Instead of staying the progress of hi:
true love, the events just recorded only made
1T run the faster. He soon found way tC
smuggle into the young lady's hands a letter
in which all a lovers fond hopes and blissfu
expectations were depicted in glowing colors
He also gave her the plan OF his future cours,
OF action, and asked Tor her approval.
She responded at once and promised he
| cooperation. Ni
l AAAS Seesio VSAO iOlll uOlIt Il
! less sky. The hour was midnight. The light
had long since been extinguished in the ele
CANT mansion OF General Philip Schuyler
| The deep silence that reigned throughout til
city OF Albany was unbroken by voice or foot
| step. t .'ta 0'1i
| Two gentlemen wrapped in cloaks wake
| quickly and cautiously along the deserte
| streets. Arriving in front of the house abov
named, they paused, sprang lightly over tn
picket fence upon the velvety tur! of the yarC
and gave signal, which must nave been pre-
concerted, for window above was softly rails
| ed, and the outline OF a figure was dimly dis
cerned bending from it, as it seeking to dis
cover who stood beneath. I'm
| One of the gentlemen threw up q rope
| which was caught. A rope-ladder was dra ~
upon, and after the lapse of few minute
was again lowered. 1t was pulled at forcib
| by those below to ascertain that it was secure
ly fastened, and then the taller and NOR
athletic OF the two, ascended to the apart
ment into which the win0ow opened, an,
| gave his assistance in fastening the laddr
firmly. The moment for summoning all he
! energies had at last arrived, and Cornel
Schuy Ter, aided by her companions, steppe,
upon the ladder and accomplished the de.
| scent in safety. She was so overcome witt
! fear that she was nearly tainting, but TIN
| strong arm of her lover supported her, and
rapid walk brought them in few minutes t
| the shore ofthe Hudson, where boat was il
| waiting to convey them to the other SIDE.
Horses, al saddled and bridled, were paw
irg the earth impatientty at the landing. Th
trembling girl was lifted upon one of then
| her cavalier mounted the other, and biddin
adeu to the friends who had lent their aid il
| THO ascapada they rode pidy away.
1t was some thirty miles over rough road
to Stockbrdge, Mass. Thither the runaway