The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-06-14

THE / sWEETHEARTs OF SENATOR
MATT. CARPENTER AND EX-PREsI-
DENT JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Many writers have devoted them
selves to telling us about the wives of
great men. Their p~eculiarities and do
nestle virtues are recorded and safely
preserved. But who will tell us Of their
s~Weethearts, who never became their
WlyesY Of the girls whose beauty filled
their boyish hearts with admiration and
unseltish love; a love far purer, better
and hOlller than that which accompa-
MED them to the altar in later years.
The man who firts till thirty cannot
love. AT least, he cannot love as a boy
loves.
Not long since 7 met a lady who was
for years the betrothed of Senator Car
penter. She loved him with a WOman'S
devotion. She watched every move
ment of his life with an intense anxiety.
She was keenly sensitive to any re-
prOacll cast upon him as if she bore his
name and shared his life. And yet he
nae broken his VOWS and married an
other, He had held her heart in thrall
until she felt that it was worthless to
anyone but him, and then flung it away
as a discarded thing. He wrote her af-
ter his marriage and received her for
glvness and blessing. He carries with
him still her fondest, sweetest thoughts.
When he speaks to the Senate there is
an ear affair off listening for every word :
and when he receives the plaudits of
men he thinks, perhaps, of one whose
smile is worth more than all their
praises, who will smile when others
frOWn, and will be true when all else is
false.
There is living in Detroit a venerable
and respected lady, who to those who
know her, is the heroine of a strange
story. She may be seen almost any dav
on the streets, hHrrying from her tour
OF shopping back to her pleasant little
nome, where over her needle and thread
her fancles have full play and memory
is supreme.
She is a woman of rare intellect and
great cultivation, a charming converse
tlOnallst, and an exemplary Christian.
She has been twice married and twice a
widow, and now as time is drawing his
silver tracings through her hair. she
moves alone. The loved ones of the
past are gone. Her interests and he1
affections draw her toward the world OF
spirits.
She was in her young days the be-
trOthed of Jefferson Davis. Why they
never married is not known. She treas
ures too dearly the casket of the past tc
open it to other eyes. 1t may he that tC
her near and dear ones she tells the sto.
ry. L am not among them, and do moi
know it.
It is certain, however, whatever ma
have prevented the contamination Of
their early plans, she and the rebel Pres,
ident have never lost their regard f07
each other. They still exchange letters
and watch over each others welfare
Two such lives running in such differenr
channels, and yet having the sympathy
of heart and interest, must have mucl
to attract each other. His has been {
life of splendid achievements and noble
failures-full of excitement and thrill
ing episodes. Hers having its owl
vicissitudes, borne like a woman, hal
been quiet and unobtrusive, but, per
haps, as wonderful as his. When | pas.
her on the street, or see her in church
| feel like running to her and asking 70.
her story, | knOwit would be interesting
The sweetheart Of Jefferson Davis
Who would not like to go back of hi
p%lottings for power and his struggle il
behalf Of the South, and learn some
thing more of his boyhood, and how h,
ACTED when in love.-[Cor. Detroi
Union.