The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-30

Sir Walter Scott's AfTanced, and
Her Objection TO Must"

Scott's biographer thus describes
Charlotte Margaret Carpenter. after
ward Lady Scott. Without the features
Of regular beauty, she was ricli in
personal attractions: a form that
was fashioned as light as iay's;' a
complexion of the ciearest and lightest
olive eyes large, deep set and dazzling,
- the finest Italian brown. and pro-
fusion of silkeu tresse>, black as the
ravens wlng-her address lowering be-
tween the reserve of "A pretty young
Englishwomen who has not mingled
largely in general society, and a certain
natural archness and gayety that suited
well with the accompaniment of a
French accent. \ lovelier vision, as
all who remember her in the bloom Of
her days have assured me, could hardly
have been imagined.
1t was late in the summer Of l797
that Scott met, and became engaged to-
Miss Carpenter. The marriage took
place in December Of that year In Il
letter to friend Scott thus describes
his fiancee: ''Of her personal accom-
plishments | shall only say that she
possesses very good sense, with uncom-
mon good temper, which | lave seer
put to most severe trials n
may give you hint that there is no ro-
-mance in her composition, and thar
though born in France. She has the sen
timents and manners of an Englishwo-
man, and does not like to be thought
otherwise. A very slight tnge in hei
pronunciation is all which reveals the
foreigner. She is not a beauty
by any means, but her person and face
are very engaging. She is brunette :
sary she can be very serious. She was
baptized and educated Protestant of
the Church of England
Here is a characteristic letter from
the lady herself, written but few days
before that graceful love letter y
printed in Fiery OMer Saturday of
March l:
"CARLISLE, Oct. 2j.-Indeed Mr.
Scott, | am by no means pleased with
all this hitting. | have told you how
much / dislike it, and yet YOU still per-
sist in asking me to write. and that by
return of pest. O. YOU really are quite
out of your senses. | should not have
INDUCED you in that whm of yours, had
you not given me that hint that my ST.
lence gives an air OF mystery. | have
no reison that can detain me in ac-
T1uain6ng you that my father and
mother were French. OF the name of
Charpentier. He had a place under
government; their residence was at Ly-
ons, where you would find on inquiries
that they lived in good repute and in
very good style. | had the misfortune
of losing my father before | could know
the value of such parent. At his
death we were left TO the care of Lord
DoHnshire. who was his very great
friend; and very soon after | had the
aflliction of losing my mother. Our tax
ing the name Of Carpenter was on my
brothers going to India, to prevent any
littless difficulties that might have Oc
CURED. l hope now you are pleased.
Lord ID. could have given you every in
formation, as he has been acquainted
with all my family. You say you al
most love him but until your almost
becomes a quite, | cannot love you.
Before l conclude this famous epistlc. |
will give you a little hint-that is, not
to put SO many musts in your letters
1t is beginning rather too soon ; and an
other thing is that take the liberty not
to mind them much. but expect you to
mind me. You must take care of your
self; you must think of me, and believe
me yours sincerely. c. CO