Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-26
SO INEXPLICABLE.
The messenger" Which Favored q
Loving Couple.

Messenger" for the benefit of some WIS.,
itor, while my grandchildren listened
to its wcll-known mysteries with an in
tercst that seemed hardly lcssened by
familiarity. To-day some touch of youth
coming to old age warns my heart to
the world, and feel like giving my tale
TO wider circle.
My great-uncle, Colonel Anthony
Carter, during the later years of last
century occupied the house in which
now live. P was then one of the
most active in commerce of sccond-rank
provincial cities. The house stood in the
aristocratic quarter of the town, and
was built in the mansion style, light yell
low in color, with four very Hat white
pilasters up the front and white balus-
trade around the edge of the roof, from
whose center rose one great square
chimney. A considerable yard snr-
rounded it, and other mansions of like
sedate elegance stood neighbors to it
along the same select street.
My great-unclc, in brief, was Il chief
nabob of the town. He had seen the
world. and meant to enjoy life in solid
fashion; he was especially set in the
pursuit of any object upon which his
desire had fixed, being man whose
temper could bear no constraint or
thwarting. For many years he had been a
widower, and almost the only one of his
desires left ungratitied-fo he had pub
lie station and honor as well rs private
wealth-was the desire for a very hand
some young wife, clever, well-bred,
possessed of property, of good family
name, member in his church, and in
every way worthy of the station in
which he should place her. AL! these
qualifications he insisted on; he would
have nothing less. In the ordinary
course of events the chances We're almost
Infinite against obtaining such prize,
but the fortune that had favored him in
other things seemed to bless him here.
In one of the neighboring mansions
dwelt Mistress Mary Dwight, with her
niece, Ellen Edgeworth, and upon this
niece Colonel Carter had fixed his ewes.
He had watched her through the last
years of girlhood, until now she stood
before him charming young woman.
Lovely Ellens beauty was of that quail
ity which can not submit to the conven-
tional comparison with flowers. She
was all spirited vivacity, and her ad-
mirers seemed to see the blood circulate
in her veins. When the old man COM
plimented her on the street, she did not
hang blushing face, but answered
wittily back with brave, merry. but, oh,
how lovely eyes and well uplifted head
To every manly and worthy heart that
saw her she was n challenge to win her;
for those We're days of honest gallantry.
now must tell you fair Ellen Edge
worth's secret. A month before Colo
mel Carter began his courtship she had
met her fate and fallen desperately in
love in three days with young gentle
man whom she had known in child
hood, but who had just returned from q
long voyage, after years of absence.
deem that dangerous moment when
young children brought up familiarly
together rs children meet after separa-
ton to recognize in each other the
change to womanhood and manhood.
Ellen's lover was almost worthy of his
incompatible good fortune. In person
he was no other than Coloner Carter's
only son, young man whose veins
held much of his fathers lively blood
so that you see my tale contains all the
elements of troublesome domestic
tragedy. But lean promise that no blood
was spilled, and that the IneXplicablc
Messenger was neither kidnaper nor
sheriff. Godfrey Carter was young
person OF temperament as spirited as
fair Ellen's. 1t is needless, then, to say
that the love which had budded, bios
somed and confessed itself in so brief n
time was no tranquil affection. but an
absorbing passion that dominated their
free young natures like wizards mas
ter spell.
OF all this the red-faced, determined
colonel knew nothing until the day
when he announced authoritatively to
his son his intended marriage to Miss
Edgeworth, BY her aunt's permission.
Then young Godfrey, though dutiful
son, spoke bravely up and told his Sc
cret, begging his father to think twice
before laying siege to a lady twenty
years his junior who had already given
her heart away, and that to his own
son. These injudicious words stirred
the colonel to the foundations. Look
me in the face, sir!' he cried, after the
first exchange of words. II am in the
prime of life, and have never yet been
thwarted in purpose, and mean to
make that girl my wife. Find some
other sweetheart. / forbid you ever
meeting her again"
IL is not difficult to imagine that with
such elements in conflict the situation
in the two mansions soon grew very
tense; for elders in those days welded
an authority over youthful people that
they 10 longer possess. Miss Ellen was
compelled to receive the colonel's visit
every evening in her aunt's presence,
the colonel arriving in dress of irre-
ploachable splendor, carrying sword
cane, his constant companion on the
street, and wearing new cooked hat
that he rested on his knees while he
talked within. But he had his match in
black-eyed, rosy-cheeked Ellen, whose
spirit only grew the keener and more
buoyant under restraint, so that the
strong blooded colonel fat every nerve
tingling with desire TO conquer her
As they sat deoorously in the best room,
engaged with cards or with cake and
wine, this self-possesed, merry maiden,
without violating the code of politeness
one jot. made her sutor feel that she
was fenced about with shining swords
of wit, each one sheathed in gay
laugh. Her manner made little of his
condemnation of his sons attachment,
which he had bluntly expressed to her,
calling him "lrash young lad who
stepped before his elders" An un-
dauntcd faith in the star of true love
laughed in her eyes, which showed a
constant carelcssness OF his authoritive
presence that piqued and challenged
the colonel more than aught else.
Thus Colonel Carter visited Mistress
Dwight and her niece daily for the space
OF month, the two lovers meanwhile
being prohibited meeting. At the end
OF second month they were not al
lowed 10 leave their own homes, where
nrisiy servants kept them under sur
yeillancr. II had come about in this
w The colonel WAS counting on lhc