The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-07
For thu FAaHER ASs NKcHAsIo-
President Buchannon's Love
Story.

was in Washington City in the vii
ter of lS75-'76, boarding on q stree
opposite Epiphany church. One Sur
day morning my companion babe Ii
notice a large, handsome, dark gree
coach, drawn by two fine glossy blac
horses, and driven by coachman i
plain black livery, white gloves and
gold band round his hat, a footman i
similar livery suit, beside him Th
whole equipage betokened wealth, an
elegance. but it was curiously old time
looking. At the church gate the cal
riage stopped. The solemn footma
descended, opened the door, and assist
ed cut a little old lady, small fragil
woman, dressed like a veritable oil
lady In plainly made black silk, be
snow white hair plainly banded under
small black boDnet-an old woman
feeble. slightly bent, and grey. with
sweet, pale face. on which was stamped
the look Of that indescribable peace tha
paSseth all understanding, and tina
oniy comes after long grief and pain
borne with christian patience and iorti
tude. She had been lovely woman il
/ her youth, and there was still trace OF
beauty in the delicate outlines Of he
withered face.
Who Is she? One of the wealthest
most benevolent, and least ostentatiou,
of women the right hand of the
Epiphany church charities-ope Of the
most liberal givers to the missions.
was III church one SUNDAY when Rev.
Charles Chandler preached in behalf OF
the Indian Missions (l think on the
W hlte Earth Reservation : he collect
ed Sl40O, eight hundred of which were
given by this lady.
''Who is she? Well that was the
question. and this was the answer:
The woman for whose sake Presi-
lent BuchannOn never married
Here is the story as we'll as [ remem
Der: Some twenty years before the
Master of Wheatlands was ruler of a
great republic he was a suitOr for the
hand of one of Washington faIrest
daughters "a not unsuccessful suiror
for she engaged herself to him | think
they were very happy for a while, but
though the lover was loyable, and ar
dent he a. atriHo overbearing. and
able which waa aslE9as acEiaasssa aHd 5SI
for the fair maids father was very am
bilious for his beautiful daughters and
desired this especial one to marry a
young French nobleman an attache of
the French legation. The lady, how
ever, preferred the young PennsyIvan-
ian, and had her way, though the faith
er's preference was no secret.
Al Il l.
foreign lover did not despair of ulti
mate success. and showed no abate-
ment In his devotion.
One night oh, fatal night where
in two lives were wrecked, and left to
wither in that tororn half-life that fol
lows estrangement and separation be
tween true lovers.
On that eventfll night, Mr.. Buchan
non carried his sweetheart to ball
given at the White House to the foreign
legations The lady's French adorer
was one of the guests, and offered hel
some attention, which naturally she ac
cepted, for no woman in society can
sacrifice civility and common sense to
the iealc us exactons of the most adoreC
of lovers.
do not know that he gave the un-
reasonable Mr.. Buchannon any legiti-
mate excuse for getting vexed and
taking hinself aloof from the lady he
had escorted But such was the state
ne allowed himself to get into.
The farther he fell back, the nearer
the Frenchman. like a man Of sense
placed himself lf-and set in sharp con
trast his polished grace and tender de
votion to the i'll tempe and discourtesy
of his rival
The lady, one of the tenderest, wa
also one of the proudest, and most ser
sitiye. Neither by word nor sign die
she seek to recall her sulky cavalier
He grew more vexed, and unreasonable
and finally left the room. Passlns
through the card room he heard anC
needed the lie wagers of sone e gentle
men that the ia hers wish would carry
the day, and the foreign alliance b
made.
| THU K he became 80 possessed 0
the demon OF jealousy that he left tn
ball, and his sweetheart to the care 0
his rival. A sleel less night and mucl
meditation on his grievance did no
soofhe his wrath, and early the mex
morning he went t. the large old fash
Toned double house Oh II street and de
manded an interview.
When his fdncec came in, he at one
began to upbraid her for her inconstan
cy and evident pleasure in the atten
tions Of another-and much that jeaI
Gus unreason prompted. The lady ar
swered him as became her, and he IN
sisted as proof Of her fidelity that sh
should break off her acquaintance witt
Monsieur She told him his deman'
was unyarrantable, and an insult
whereof as prompted by doubt tina
had no right to exist.
From bad to worse went the lover
who now babe her take her choice
either give up her acquaintance wit
the obnoxious French bone of conter
ton, or release him from their engage
ment. Quick as a fash his ring va
r slipped from the slender white fnge
, and laid on the table beside him wit
: the quiet words, Il have made IL
: choice, and bid you good bye, sir.
: Then went the rustic of silken sklr
D through the doorway, and half stunne
e and wholly furious our misguided love
was lett alone.
In state of frenzy he rushed fortl
took the first conveyance that lett tt
| city for New York, and the first ou
e ward bound ship carried him away
the old country. He was gone thr