Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-03-05

A ROMANCE IN THE LIFE OF AN UNRoMAN-
TIC MAN.

brated compact made in the llltle caOln Ol
the May1ower, and who became the sec
ond Governor of Plymouth Colony, was
born at Ansterfield, Yorkshire, England,
in the month of March, 1888. His parents
dying in his youth, he was lell to the care
of grand parents aud after them TO his un-
cles. His family was respectable, but was
among the yeomanry of England, and he
was bred to agriculture. At an early peri
cd he took upon himself the care of his
large estates, and TO improve and beautify
them was his occupation and pleasure.
But while each day found him busy with
the men in the fields, night found him busy
with his books. He became proficient in
tho Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages,
and French and German he both read and
spoke with ease. While still mere youth,
no identified himself with the Puritans,
and at seventeen years of age was one of
a company who attempted 10 escape to
Holland in quest of liberty to worship as
their consciences counseled. But they
were betrayed, and cast into prison at Bos-
ton, Lincolnshire. While religion, and
numerou, other grave and earnest objects
had their place in his mind, there was one
corner where a more beautiful, less grave,
but as earnest a passion held sway. Love
had entered the heart of the young Puritan,
and often, while his head was bowed over
his book, the graceful figure of her he
loved would charm his eyes, making his
heart throb with delight. When as a child
he had played with little Alice Carpenter,
he knew that she was lovelier and sveeter
to him than any other golden-haired, rosy
Tipped little fairy. She was just two years
younger than himself.
AS years passed, and her form became
taller and fuller, the golden curls deepen
ing in shade to sunny brown, she grew
more beautiful to him. Many were the
walks they had together. His lands Joined
her fathers, and of a summer evening,
leaning over the hedge that divided them,
long and sweet were the conversations
they enjoyed. One evening in autumn,
Alice announced to him that in two days
more she was to go to London with an
aunt, TO stay some months. The news
came like a death-bow upon William.
The Carpenter family had been highly dis
tinguished in former times, and one of its
members had received from the king the
honor of knighthood, but they were now
INDECENT, and William determined to risk
his fate. and ask Alice of her stern and
proud father. He hoped that bis own
broad lands and fair name might influence
the father TO accept him as a suitable match
for this lovely but portionless girl. But
he did not know the pride of the $ tern old
man. He was dismissed with naughty and
severe reproofs for his presumption. His
religious belief would have raised barri-
er had there been no other, and sad was
the interview OF the young lovers that eve
ming at the trysting-place where they had
spent so many happy hours. 1t was to be
and high-mnded. and Alice too dutiful to
act in opposition to parents wishes.
Alice went to London aud in course of
time was married to Constant Southworth,
a wealthy and honorable man. William
devoted himself to his farm and books.
By-andby, he felt that a wife was need
full to him, and his eye fell on Dorothy
May, a sensible, discreet woman of his
own rank in life. He did not love her as he
had loved Alice, but he felt an honest and
true affection for her, and she proved an
estimable, and faithful wife. The number
of those protesting the Puritan faith in
creased, and trial and persecution were
their lot. William was one of the earliest
advocates for their removal to America,
where they might enjoy their religion un-
disturbed. He was with the little band in
their hasty flight, in their sojourn in Lon
don, and upon the stormy and perilous
ocean in the cabin Of the Mayflower. While
in Cape Cod harbor, and during his alb
sence with party sent to explore the coast,
his faithful wife Dorothy fell from the ship
and was drowned. He sincerely mourned
for her, for she had been an affectlonate
wife, but with the submission af a Chris
tion, he calmly turned to the duties of life
life for him was a warfare with hunger
and cold, disease and savage enemies.
What the cOlonists suffered is well known.
Mr.. Bradford was now mature man of
thirty-two, and when Governor Carver
died few months after their arrival, he
was elected his successor, and for period
OF more than thirty-one years he directed
the affairs OF the colony. But while with
fatherly care he watched over the little
colony, he o1en felt the want of woman's
ready sympathy and soothing tender
ness. lie thought of Alice. The love
he had felt for her had never died out in
his heart. While the husband of another
it had slumbered, but now Alice and him
self were both free-for her husband had
died year since. Did she remember the
lover of her yOuth2 And if she yet cher
ished that memory, would she consent 10
leave happy home aud troops of friends
to share the fortunes of one in a wilder
ness3 At last he decided 10 write TO her
and propose that she should share his for
tunes in the wilderness. Early in the
spring of 1923 the letter was sent. He sci
before her faithfully all the trials and pri-
vations TO which she would be exposed
he left 1t TO her to decide whether she could
regard his love as an equivalent for the sac
rifiee she would be called upon TO make
And he requested her, if she should con-
sent, since the affairs a the colony would
not suffer his absence, to take passage in
the first ship bound for the colonies.
The time passed slowly 20 the Governor,
until, on the 14th of August, sail was dis.
covered, as yet faint speck on the horizon
1t was the ship so long expected. 1t was
in this ship he expected Alice. If she
were not there, there would at least be
written rejection of his proposal. The
whole population of the town crowded t.
the landing. Governor Bradford stood
firm and erect, conspicuous among the lit
tie crowd. When the vessel touched thu
shore, all hurried on board. The Governo