Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-08-15
A RARE LOVE LETTER.
Sir Walter >cOtt's AfiianCed. and Her
Objection TO "NuAt..'
Every Other Saturday.

Every Ojher Saturday
Scots biographer thus de cribes
Charlotte Margaret Carpenter, alter
terwa.d Lady Scott Without the
features Of regular beauty, she was
rich in personal attractions: A form
that WAS fashioned as light as a fay's;"
ompleAion OF the cleare ard ght
est olive; eyes large, deep set and
dazs ling, of the finest Italian brown,
and II p oiusion of si!ken tres e., black
as the ravens wing her address hover
ing between tie reserve of q
pretty young nglishwoman who has
not mingled largely in general society.
and certain natural archness and
gayety that suited ell with the accom-
paniment OF a French accent. A love
lier vision. as all who remember her in
the bloom OF her days have assured ME,
could hardly have been imagined.
1t wa late in the summer of 1797
that Scott met, and became engaged to,
Miss Carpenter. The marriage took
place in December of that year. In a
letter to a friend, Scott thus describes
his fan ee. "Of her personal accom-
plishments l shall only say that she
possesses very good sense, with uncom-
mon good temper, which l have seen
put to most severe trials.
NAV give you hint that
there Is no romance in her
compost on, and that though born
in rrancn, she has the sentiment,
and manners of an ngl,shwoman. and
does not like to be thought otherwi e.
A very slight tine in her pronuncia-
t.ol is all which reveals the foreigner
She is not a beauty, by any
means, but her person and face are very
engaging. She is branette-her man
ners are lively, but when necessary she
can be very serious. She was baptized
and educated q Protestant of the
Church of England"
Here is a characteristic letter from
the lady herself. written but few
days before that graceful love letter"
printed III livery Otter Saturday of
March l..
"CAELIsLr, Oct. ~. Indeed, Mr..
Scott. am by no II cans pleased with
oil this writing. | have told you how
much dislike it, and yet you still per
sist III asking me 10 write, and that by
return o: post. q, you really are quite
ont of YOUR senses l should not have
indulged you in that whim of yours. had
you not given ME that hint that my
silence glv an air of mystery. have
no reason tint can detain me in ac-
quainting You that my father and
mother were rench, of the name of
Charpentier. He had place under
government; their residence was at
Lyons, where vou would find on in
qLiries that they lived in good repute
and in very good style. had the mis-
fortune of losing my father before
could know the value OF such parent.
At his death We were left to the care of
Lord ! ownsbire, who was his ve.y
great friend; and very soon after | ha
the at teton of los ng my mother. III
taking the name OF Carpenter WAS on
my lrother's going to India, to prevent
any little ditlicult es that might have
occurred. hope nov yOu are pleased.
Lord a.. could have given You every in
formation, as he has been acquainted
with all my family. You say you al
most love h m; but until your almost
becomes quite, cannot love Won. Ie-
fore | conclude this famous ep.stle,
will give you little h;nt-that is, not
to put so many musts in your letters.
1t is beginning rather too soon: ami
another thing is that take the liberty
you to mind me. You nust take care
of yourself; you must think of ME. and
believe me yours sine erely. c. c."