The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-10-30

a - Z
a married sister on the other side Of
the street, and several grown.up
brothers; soyou may easily imagine
what an oyerpoweriP g weightof fam
lily influence can be brought to bear
upon my. individpa win, in cases in
whichsit dares 70 rot for ITSELF
Well, urged by ths wishes Of my
family, 'and also, ! must own, in ac-
cordance with my Q - inclinations,
1 some months ago htered into an
engagement With gentleman who
was \ great friend or perhaps l
should say d cbnsl companion, ,6f
my eldest brothtf Tomorrow is
the day fxsdfoF edding. lam
certain Fshoaid 16t I've, made this
engagement; il / a had greater
freedom of intereo 4 with other
men, SO as to, o,comph and Judge Of
character Thisfre om l haye.ney-
er enjoyed Until lai and the res
suit of my Iobsers ons has been
anything but favora to myihtend-,
ed. Daily l disccy him traits.
of character which ectlally dess
troyed all the roma b my predic-
ton. But still / I bte to break
with him, ,consoline self with the
reflection that no m IS perfect, and
that I must expect eet with de-
fects in whosoever ight take'for
my husband. i I'll ou this that
you may uhdersts hy | did not
seek to put amend this engage,
ment until it had a nchedso near
its completion. dissatisfied,
and wished that free; but it
was not till this that ! per-
ceived in him poi ogs character
which excited my Apt. Ineed
not explain what points are
it is'sufiicient th eli tcontempt
for him; and with D sentiment
in my heart, c9n right that 4
should marry him
Decidedly NOT, the doctor
emphatically.
"Then what couFs luld you adj
wise me to adopt D lid Of himSp
demanded the lad
"Would not this question for
a clergyman or TO settle"
asked thedoctsr ,liiheslhan
a physician, whose XIII is mainly
directed to curipg theill Of the body2
Nevertheless, ,as you ask my advice
I cannot but give il to the best of
my knowledge and judgment. 1t
seems to me that you have one of
two courses to pursue- either to de-
cline openly, to keep your engage
ment, or to throw yourself upon the
honor of the gentleman. He could
not insist on your keeping promise
of this nature, if you expressed
wish to reHact it.p
FUnder ordinary circumstances,
and ordinary people to deal WITH"
the lady, "either of these plans or
combination OF the 1.-TWO, would no
doubt be successful But I have al
ready toldsou in what formidable ar
ray my family can. muster to oppose;
and they would do 50, every one of
them, if were to attempt to bring
such disgrace on them (tor such they
would all consider it) as to refuse
this marriage from apparent caprice
at the eleventh hour"
ain a matter SO entirely concern
ing yourself, and in which your hap
piness for life is involved, 1 should
imagine that, in these enlightened
days, every one would yield to your
wishes and judgment" said the doc
tor.
"Tho days are certainly past when
q lady could be storined and carried
at the point of the bayonet," replied
the visitor; "but an immense amount
of coercion can still be used, of q kind
that no law can protect us FROM"
"Then it seems to me, that your
own firmness and resolution should
supply the deficiency" said the doc
tor.
"You are of age, | presumed"
EYES," she replied, "and year be-
yond it. But my being legally en-
titled to act for myself does not, as l
told you, protect me from tho pecul-
iar kind of coercion which l dread
Do you remember the ballad of'Auld
Robin Gray2"