Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-08-23

tbllOnS. lutst puDlICullpu5 diC tdtIl
and all unworthy of notice. On one
occasion, after he had retired to
Wheatland, and when he had passed
the age ofseventy, he was shown by Il
friend n newspaper article, misrepre-
scntiug, rs usual, the details of this
affair. He then said, with deep emo
ton, that there were papers and relics
which he had religiously preserved,
then in Il sealed package in Il place Of
deposit in the city Of New York, which
would explain the trivial origin Of this
separation His executors found these
papers inclosed and sealed separately
from all others, and with n direction
upon them in his handwriting, that
they were to be destroyed without b.
ing read They obeyed the injunction
and burnt the package without break
ing the seal. 1t happened, however,
that the original of the letter address
ed by Mr.. Buchanan to the young
lady'5 father before her funeral was
not contained in this package. ltwas
found in his private dcpositarios at
Whcatland, and it came there in CON
sequence of the fact that it was re-
turned by the father unread and un-
opened,
1t is now known that the separation
of the lovers originated in misuu-
dcrstanding, on the part of the lady,
of n very small matter, exaggerated
by giddy and indiscrcet tongues, work
ing on a peculiarly sensitive nature.
such a separation, the commoucst of
occurrences, would have ended. in the
ordinary course, in reconciliation,
when the parties met, if death had not
suddenly suatchcd away one Of the
sufferers and left the other to life
long grief. But under the circum.
stances | feel bound to be governed by
the spirit OF Mr.. Buchanan's written
instruction to his executors and not 10
90 into the details of story which
show that the whole occurrence was
chargcablc On the folly Of others, aud
not on either of the two whose inter
c,ts were involved.
Among the few survivors Of the
circle to which this young lady be.
lougcd, the remembrance of her sud.
den death is still fresh in aged hearts.
The arrangement Of the lovers Was
but one of those common occurrences
that are perpctualIy verifying the say.
ing, hackneycd by everlasting rcpcii.
tion, that the course Of true love
never did run smooth"
But it ran. in this case, pure and
uubrokcn in the heart Of the survivor,
through n long aud varied life. 1t
became q grief that could not be
spoken Of; to which only the most
distant allu.ion could be made a
sacred, uucea-iug sorrow, buried deep
in the breast Of man who was formed
for domestic joys hidden beneath
manners that wee the most engaging,
beneath strong social tcndeucio. aud a
chivalrous old-iashioncd Difference to
women Of all ages and all claims. His
peculiar and reycrcutIal dcmoanor 10.
wards the sex, never varied by rank,
or station, or individual attractions,
was doubtless in a large degree caused
by the tender memory Of what he had
found, or faucied, in her whom he had
lost in his early days by such n cruel
fate. Ii her death had not prevented
their marriage, it is probable that a
purely professional and domestic life
would have filled up the measure alike
Of his happiness and his ambition 1t
is certain that this occurrence pre-
vented him from ever marrying, and
impelIed him again into public life
after be had once resolved to quit it.
Soon after this catastrophe he was
offered n nomination 10 a scat in Con.
gress. lie did not suppose that he
could be elected, and did not much
desire to be- But he was strongly
urged to accept the candidacy, and
finally consented chiefly because he
needed an innocent excitement that
would sometimes distract him from
Allf klttA AHhA WIS tfTAtHfA bfNAl W
leave him. Great aud uninterrupted,
however, as was bis political and social
success, he lived and died a widowed
and a childless man. Fortunately for
him, sisters child, left an orphan at
an early age, whom he educated with
the wisest care, filed to him the place
Of daughter as nearly and tcnderly
as such n relative could supply that
want, adorning with womanly accom-.
plishments and virtues the high public
stations to which he was eventually
called.
*These and other papers Of import.
ance were sent by Mr.. Buchanan from
Wheatland to bank in New York
during the Civil War, when Penusyl.
vania was threatened with an invasion
by the Confederate troops.
American Respect for Women