The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-06-13
POe'S F.rst and Last Love.

Poe's F.rst and Last Love.
Between the year 1892 20, says Apple
tons Journal, Edgar Poe was scholar in
a wcil-known Richmond academy. The
adopted son and reputed heir Of "a
wealthy Scotchman, the la1--during this
period being between ID and 16 years OF
age, and already we'll grounded III gen
eral education from several years tuition
in England--was enabled to make no
mean figure among his students.
His mem Try is still cherished by some ct
them for his classical attachments, his
athletic fcats, and for certain magnetic,
rather than sympathetic, influence which
he exercised upon them. Foremost among
those, however, who fell more com
pletcly under the spell OF his nobler
qualities was little maiden but year
or two younger than himself. Elmira
Registers parents lived oppotite to the
Alans in Richmond, and in the usual
course of events she made the acquaint-
ance Of their adopted son. Edgar" she
says, "was beautiful boy; he was not
very laxative and lis general manner
Mas sad, but when he did talk his con-
versalion was very pleasant. He was
devoted to the first Mrs. Allan, and she
to him. OF his own parents he never
spoke. have seen his brother Henry,wh
was in the navy. He had very few as
sociates, but he was very intimate with
Ebenezer Beriing, a widows son of
about the same age as himself. Berling
was an interesting, intelligent young man,
but somewhat inclined to dissipation.
They used to visit our house together
very !requenily.' Beriing, it may be
mentioned, was to have accompanied Poe
when he started for Europe, to offer his
services to the Greek insurgents, but died
before the departure Of the poet, who had
to journey to Europe alone.
Edgar continues the lady, twas
warm and Jealous in any cause he was
interested in, being enthusiastic and i'm
pulsive. He had strong prejudices, aud
hated everything coarse and unreiined
can still remember his saying to me,
when An acquaintance made al unlady-
like remark, 4 am surprised you should
associate with any one who could make
such a remark"
"ilc was very generous. He drew
beautifully, and drew a pencil likeness
of me in Il few minutes. He was pas
si0nately fond of music. 1t dis
tresses me greatly when | see anything
scurrilOus written about him. Do not
believe tenth part of what is said. Ii
is chiefly produced 10y jealousy and envy.
| have the greatest respect for his mem
Dry. Our acquaintance was kept
up until he left TO 60 to the university,
and during the time he WAS at the uni
ycrSity lie wrote to me frequently. But
my father intercepted the letters because
We were too yoUng-tor no other reason.
| was between Is and 16 when we were
eugagod. | was NOT aware that he lad
written TO me from the university until
after was married, when was Il, to
Mr. Shelton
Many years passed hy; Mr.. Shelton
died and left his widow wealthy. OF
Poe she lost sight for years. At last, in
the summer OF 1910, he returned to the
scenes of his childhood, and, again in
Richmond, called upon his boy hood' s love.
Mrs. Shelton thus describes the meeting
IL was ready to 60 to church, when Il
servant entered ana told me that a gen
tleman in the psrlor wished to see me. T.!
went down and was amazed at seeing
him Il. C. Poe, but knew him instantly.
He came up to me IN the most enthusi-
as,ic manner, and said, oh ElmtrG, is
it your told him | WAS going to
church, that | never let anything inter
fcre with that, and that he must cali
again. When he did call again
he renewed his addresses. laughed
] bn -aI lao
/ in earnest, and had been thinking abou,
it for a long time. When | found out
tina, he was very serious, became Sc
rious also, and told him that il he would
not take Il positive denial, he must give
me time to consider. He answered,
A love that hesltated was not love for
him. But he stayed long time,
and was very pleasant and cheerful. IL
came to visit me frequently.
went with him to the Exchange concert
room, and heard him read. When
he was going away he begged me to
marry him, and promised he would lie
everything | could desire. He said, when
he left, that he was going to New York
to wind up some business matters, and
that he would return to Richmond as
soon as he had accomplished it, although
| he said, al the same time, that he had a
prcsentiment that he should never sec me-
any more. was not engaged
to him, but there was partial under
standing. He was gentleman
in every sense of the word. He was one
of the most fascinating and refined men
| | ever knew. | never saw him under
the influence of wine. admired him
more than any man l ever knew
Nothing can be added to this history