The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-09-12
AN AGED DARLING.
CuriOuS Case Of InfatuatiOn-
Years and Wickedness no
BAR TO Love.

Bar to Love.
Jenny June's New York Letter in Bait. American
1t is generally supposed when
beautiful young women marry elder
ly men they do it simply and solely
as a matter OF business--so much
young flesh and blood for so much
money-and there is little sympathy
for either side if the bargain does
not turn out as good as was expect
ed. A young lady OF Brooklyn has
recently, however, reversed all the
traditions in this respect. She ie
an only daughter. and the apple oi
her parents eyes. She is extremely
pretty and petite, with a rose-leaf
complexion, plump yet delicate
form. and profusion OF golden brown
hair, She has been educated at
home exclusively, and seen but lit
tie of the world, except one year
spent abroad. This trip was pro-
jected in order to get rid of an at
tachment which to her parents hOr.
ror. she had formed for a man OF
nearly sixty years old, who was in
the habit of visiting her father oc.
! casionally, but who took advantage
Of the privilege accorded to his age,
and Of a still somewhat fine and
even distinguished personal appear.
ance, to make passionate love to
his daughter. He is a very poor
man-so poor that his board and
washing bills are always in arrears,
and he is overwhelmed with debts
for personal indulgences for which
he never thinks OF paying.
All this had no effect upon the
girl. She insisted upon returning
home, and the parents. really know
ing but little OF him. after a hard
contest finally gave a conditional
consent. their daughter to first &C
company her mother abroad for 9
year, and if she, on her return, de-
sired to marry her elderly lover they
would no more oppose it but pay
his debts and give him a home at
their house, for they have abundant
means, and the daughter has every
advantage that wealth could be-
stow.
A few months ago the mother and
daughter returned from Europe. the
daughter still determined on the alli-
ance so repulsive to her family that
the thought had made her mothers
hair turn gray. But, in the mean
time, her father had made himself
acquainted with some previous pass
ages in the mans career, and sc
soon as possible after her arrival
placed them strongly before her.
The man was proved to be a thor
oughly unprincipled old scamp, the
father OF an illegitimate child, whose
mother he had refused to marry
the boy, now fifteen years OF age,
supported and kept at school by his
mothers daily labor. He had even
been compelled to leave one place
where he lived to escape lynching.
and left everywhere in debt. The faith
er, with tears. told his daughter he
could not let her marry such mAn.
and that her death would be almost
preferable. He pictured her ten or
fifteen years from this time in the
flower OF her womanhood {she is not
yet tninsteeD)with a husband decrepid
and helpless. whom she could. not
even respect. But it was all OF no
avail. She insisted that he had
been abused, wronged. and said it
was the one desire of her life to be
able to comfort his remaining years.
and smooth his pathway to the
grave. d ~
There seems to me something rad
ically wrong and morbid about o
case like this, and think her pa
rents would be Justified in. taking
M
strong measures to save their daugh-
ter from her self imposed fate. If
'thoy do not, she will certainly blame
them some time for their failure TO
rescue her from her situation. and
should she even die. as she threat
ems, her death would be easier borne
than tie long, horrible sacrifice 10
which she wishes TO eonfne herr
self. se , bsa
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