The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-27
A ROMANCE OF Two GENERA
TIONS.
from Harper's Magazine for APRIL

IlONSs
From Harpers Magazine for APRIL
On the 23d of December, 1888, the
floor of the senate chamber at An
napolis was filled to overflowing by
stately danes and gentle maidens,
who had flocked to the capital as if
the weight of state questions had
been for this one hour intrusted to
their wise deliberations. Washing
ton, the mighty yet unambltious
hero of the time, while still the idol
of the public heart, was on this day
to lay down his laurels by resigning
to congress his commission as COM
mander in chief of the brave little
army whose triumphs he had direct
ed and whose sufferings he had
shared. Accompanied by his
aides, Colonel BENJAMIN Walker
and Colonel David Humphreys,
and the officers appointed as escort,
Washington entered the hall where
the assembled congress awaited
him, every manly voice among the
spectators cheering, and every FEM
mime kerchief waving an enthusiasm
of approval and welcome; but the
cheers were hushed into breathless
silence by the first words
OF the great hero's dignified
address, to which General
Mitl1in, as president of the senate,
made an eloquent and appropriate
reply. On Washington's left stood
the valiant soldier, Colonel John
Edger Howard, of Maryland, and
facing Colonel Howard, conspicuous
among the foremost group of SEN
ators, was General Read, of South
Carolina, the hero of this short
legend of bygone love. How lit
tie did either of these young men,
strangers to one another, dream of
the day to come when a son and
daughter OF each were to become
husband and wife to the daughter
and son of the other. Many were
the men whose names were
already distinguished, or to
become historic, who were
present, either as members of con-
gress or spectators of the impressive
scene. Madison, jefferson, Monroe
Lee, of Virginia; Osgood, of Massa-
chusetts Morris, of Pennsylvania ;
McComb, of Delaware, and General
Ohio Williams, Generals Smith and
Swan, of Maryland. The WELL
known Charles Carroll, of Carroll
ton, was accompanied by his two
daughters, one of whom was after
ward. as Mrs. Cation, mother to the
celebrated trio of American beau
ties who became respectively Lady
Stafford, the Marchioness of Welles-
ley, and the Duchess of Leeds.
But absorbing as was the atten-
tion given to Washington by the
august assemblage of heroes and pa
triots, who recognized in him the
greatest hero and patriot of any, the
young Carolinian's eyes wandered
up to the gallery above, where Mrs.
Washington with her young
grandchildren at her knee was
seated in all the dignity and legiti-
mate pride of the wife who crowns
herself with her husbands glory.
Grouped around her chair were the
three Calvert sisters, Maryland's
beauty better maintained than by
the contrasting loveliness of the
youngest, Miss AriaDa Calvert, with
the more brilliant charms of her
elder sisters, who had been espoused
during all the perils of the war,
both on the same evening, the one
by Washington's stepsOn, Park
Custis, and the other by Mr.. George
Stuart, of Maryland. 1t is told of
these gentlemen that each received
the announcement of the birth of q
son-born on the same day q year
after the marriages-while on the
battlefield.
But it was not the rich bloom or
dark eyes. of the beautiful young
matrons which so riveted the atten-
ton of the young southerner that
even the sublime presence of Wash
ington was for a while forgotten.
To his eyes the youngest sister was
much the fairest and he gazed up
at the unconscious young girl until
the friend at his elbow. Mr.. James
MOnroe-too thorough Virginian
not to recognize the phenomena of
love at first sight-whispered.. her
name in his ear, and the offer to
present him before the lady quilted
Annapolis town for her home in
the country. The offer was CRATE
fully accepted, and ere the 'winter
was half over Miss Calvert was aft.
anced to her eager and enraptured
young lover; but not, alas with the
entire consent and appreciation of
her family and friends, and thence
arose the cloud which darkened tn c
horizon of this love legend. AS
usual, that passion youth defies, age
coldly ignored. The Carolinian was
wealthy, of prominent position and
good berth, and Of distinguished ed
ucation but the lady was threat
ened with decline. She was also
the Youngest darling of the house.
hold; her sisters had marred so
well, yet remained in their midst,
and her family grew more and more
reluctant that this comparative
stranger should bear away their ten
der and fragile flower to his for-of1
southern home to pine away,
and die perhaps, out of sight
and hearing of those who had loved
her from her cradle. and the an.
gered lover saw the feeble health OF
his lady love give way under the
conflict of duty with feeling, until
she became indeed seriously Ill.
But the passionate southerner was
not to have the woman of his heart
granted to his wishes. The sensi.
bility which could doom the gentle
Ariana Calvert to an early death
could not permit her to sacrifice
family affections 10 her own and her
lovers happiness. What bitter tears
and faltering words were exchanged
in their parting none can tell; but
the miniatures, given once as the
fair tokens of union, each still re-
tanned, to be sorrowful consolation
and reminder of q lifelong sepsra-
ton.
Members of the minor branches OF
two reigning families OF Europe are
reported to have sought in marriage,
and in vain, the hand of the eldest