Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-09
CHE Sturp Teller.
A SIGNAL TRIUMPH.

Colonel John Marston's house was the
largest and finest in town; his wife, a very
intelligent and ardent abolitionist, and the
residence the rendezvous Of active abolition.
lists of both sexes. Among these, resident
in the neighborhood, were number OF we'll
bred young gentlemen. Mrs. Marston,S
beautiful parlors, with her wonderful read
ing and conversation, were so attractive tC
these young gentlemen, that they not only
attended her reading club, but dropped in
often to sympathize with her in her sympa-
thy for the slave. It was very delightful to
help her sympathize with the poor negro
All this time there was trouble brewing.
The colonel, nearly thirty years his Wl1e's
senior, strong man and successful manu-
facturer, was not an abolitionist, and saw no
urgent occasion for the frequent coming OF
ali the handsome young gentlemen of the
neighborhood to help his wife sympathlze
with the slave. He argued if these young
men feltsuch longing for the negro's hDer-
ty, the best place for them to operate was
down south, and not in his parlors. knew
nothing of this, until one night during the
baby,s Group experiences, Mrs. Marston
urged me stay an hour or two to watch the
little one, and in one of those gushes of con-
fidence, born of sick-room sympathles, she
told me of the trouble. Colonel NJ. threat
ened to write the young men forbiddlng
them the house. She was greatly distressed
at the thought of a scandal. She particular
ly feared her fathers indignation. He was
fond of her, but she knew that he entertain
ed very strict notions about the duties or a
wife. If her husband should complain to to
him there would be trouble. If he should
write to the young gentlemen there would
be not only trouble, but no end of scandal.
But she closed our conversation by saying
"My husband is a proud, honorable man,
and trust will not take such perilOus step.
If had agreed to be kept under lock and
kew, 1 will pay the bond, but when Colonel
NJ. urged me to marry him, 1 spoke earnest
ly of my deep interest in certain ideas, and
of the social life which this interest was sure
to involve. He only laughed and said he
foresaw all the possibilities, and that SO far
as the young gentlemen were concerned, ne
should be delighted to see them as often as
they chose to come.
'When l urged that he was man OF bu-
siness, and without interest in the reforms
which absorbed my very being, he said
he had no doubt he should be converted to
my ideas. In any event he should never
be so tyranical and foolish as to Interfere
with me- After giving up my church, the
church of my sainted mother, after giving
up old Hannah, so dear, so dear to me since
my mothers death, after giving up. these
and more in Difference to my husbands
wishes, he now demands that four young
men, two of whom are my cousins, and all
of whom have been my companions from
early childhood, shall be forbidden our
home. Their society has always been dear
to me, and still more dear since my mothers
death. They are all that is left to me OF
the happy circle of dear mothers library
/ have sacrificed pretty much everything
to please nv husband, and now after plead
ing with him not to interfere with my
social liberty, | have warned him that II
he does shall go out of his house never to
return"
All this and much more this young wife
said, with compressed lips and pale face:
1 proposed to go to her husband and plead
for her, as I would plead for my life she
neither consented nor objected. Appalled,,
Ms counting room found him in bau
mood.
"Colonel, l wish to speak with you about
matter which deeply concerns your future
happiness" 95 @ ,,oo+ ,,o,, oo,,o from INV wife
l shall decline any discussion of my domes-
tic affairs. l am able, think, to conduct
my home without assistance"
''Colonel, | shall not urge myself upon
your attention, but knowing what do, [
cannot refrain from saying that you are
making a fatal mistake"
"My wife has sent you, presume"
81 shall take no offence at anything you
may say to me, because l am dying to do
what may to save dear friends from Ca
lamity. Mrs. Marston did not send me.
She has not expressed the slightest wish
that should come to you. l proposed it,
but she would not by word, nod or look,
give her consent. [ have never met a
human being so dominated by any one pur-
pose. 1t frightens me-"
s'And pray what is this awful purpOse"
"To abandon you forever if you interfere
with her social liberty" ,
"And / suppose you approve ofthis; that
you have counselled and advised this in
surrection?"
"Colonel Marston, this is hard to bear,
to take the step she threatens. / have had
no occasion to give such advice. She mere
ly announced it as her irrevocable purpose !;
she has not troubled herself to ask my
opinion"
eff she had, no doubt you would have
cheered her on"
"No; YOU mistake me. If she had asked
my opinion I should have begged her to
consider long and we'll a step which might
wreck her whole life. This much l should
have felt to be my sacred duty, and in part
because | was in your house as your family
physician. If | had approved Of her resO-
luton, should have come directly to YOU"
"Well, now you are here, what do you
think of her conduct? can't get into my
house before midnight for the crowd of
young men. The whole town is laughing
at me. I have borne it as long as | will.
My wife must soon see it as do, and tell
them to quit, and save me the scandal OF
ordering them off,"
81 have no intention to argue this ques-
ton, Colonel, though I must think you
will be glad to learn that no scandal is atiOat
in regard to Mrs. MS relations with the
young gentlemen. AS physician, visiting
more or less two hundred families, | am
sure to hear all such gossip, and have not
heard breath of it. You are mistaken IN
regard to the scandal"
81 can only say if people don't talk about
it, they ought to-"
The Colonel said nothing to the young
men, but at length appealed to his Wite'S
father. After long interview in which
the father not only did not defend his
daughter, but fairly stormed at his son-in'
law for not using his authority more effect
lively, the father went Staight at his daugh,
ter and opened the paternal batteries.
I learned about this when l called tc
see Mrs. NJ. professionally. I found hel
alone, weeping, very nervous and pale. In
low, moaning voice she described the scene
with her father. | waited for her to ask my
opinion and advice. At length it became
The next morning Mrs. NJ. told me thai
she had arranged a meeting with her father
for the evening of that day. Her husband
IrOr1ld ba present and she desired me tC