Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-03-02
A CANADIAN ROMANCE.


There Is credited to q Canadian
paper, called the st. AarY's Ttdette,
pleasant and romantic little social
Feminiscence, which, while promp-
ted by line in the last edition of
the "Peerage and Baronetage" of
England, refers to one of the hum
blest stations in American life
Among the travellers brought by q
stage coach to 8 tavern of the vii
lsge of Stanford, Canada, many
years ago, was q young man Of rath-
er boyish countenaace but not un-
dignifed bearing, who, attracted by
the pleasant scenery Of the place,
and its opportunities for fishing and
hunting, fingered on at the inn
many weeks beyond his apparent
first Intention. Known as Stirling,
and believed to be from England,
he was for some time credited only
with the Whim Of a free and easy
young tourist enjoying an interval
of rural Incidence between city
Sightseeing; but at last the true
reason of his delay was discovered.
Immediately across the road from
the tavern stood the cozy cottage
and sparkling forge of the village
blacksmith, named Folsom, whose
only daughter was a girl Of extraor-
binary beauty and the belle of the
place. From spending certain idle
hours in the smithy, the young
stranger had contracted quite an in
timacy with the smith, and thus, by
degrees, formed an acquaintance
with the family; and a fortnight's
incidental association with the beau
tiful daughter was what had caused
the weeks Of his stay in Stratford TO
lenghten, ,unnoticed, into months. In
short, this English youth upon his
travels fell in love to depth deep
er than all fiirtations with the
blacksmith's child, and was manly
enough to confess as much to her
and her father. The latter he frank
ly told that his feeling in the mat
ter had become much stronger and
more serious than he had intended
they should be; that his station in
but that, being in love beyond the
power Of recantation, he wished to
marry the young lady, and, in due
time, raise her to his own position.
To the girl herself he not only Of
fered ardent suit, but confided in
confidence his position and expecta-
tions. Trusting his honest face and
manner, the worthy blacksmith ia
Vored his pretensions; trusting his
love and honor, the humble belle of
theIvillage returned his honora-
HE tlassion, and, as a consequence,
there followed a wedding, Of which
the older spinsters and sages OF
Stratford could not predict too
much evil. After a few happy
weeks of married life, Stirling In
formed his wife that he must visit
New Orleans and took leave Of her
with a promise to write very soon.
Then, of course, the "I told-you-
so 's' of the village were sure that
he would never come back again,
and chorused hints and fears in
Vulnerable to that effect; but, to
their discontinue, the Englishman
reappeared at Stratford even earlier
then he had promised, and his ca
lumniatorsacknowledged their defat
by an abashed silence. Only few
days from thence, however, after
q
letters bearing foreign post marks,
the young husband declared that he
must return Immediately to ERg-
land and alone. Without thought
of distrust or q single question the
wife bade him 60: and from the
hour Of his going until after two
years elapsed she never saw nor
heard from him again. This time
the social critics of the village were
sure of vertifcation Of all their pre-.
dictions, and only the wife herself
believed that it was not q final de.
sertion. In two years of absence
aud silence on one part, and trust.
full waiting on the other, son was
born to Mrs. Stirling and helped
her to bear the more patiently the
trial of the fathers absence; but, a.
the end of the period named wore
came across the Atlantic from thar
father himself, briefly asking thu
wife and mother to go at once Il
New York, from whence to embark
as directed, for q new home in Eng
land.
Coming hither with her babe, sh,
found that the ship named haC
apartments splendidly furnished 70
her use, and tive servants to obel
her every wish during the voyage
Unquestioning still, but full o
happy hopes, she sailed fo= old Eng
land, to be there received by her &c
| lighted husband in his true charsC
ter of heir to name and estate sec
ond to none in the English barone
tage, and TO entertain 8 luxuriou
home under the title of Lady Stir
ling. BY her beauty, virtues, an,
simple graces doing honor to tn
sEstation unto which she was no
born" the village blacksmith
daughter passed many happy year
before following her husband, 81
Samuel Stirling, TO the grave. Al
ter his fathers death the son sue
ceeded to the title and estate; an
the mention of him in the last "PeC
rage and Baronetage," as the issu
of the former "Miss Folsom, @
Stratford, North America" is wha
incites the Canadian paper TO te
the above romantic story Of his ps
rents courtship and marriage.
An Incident.