Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-05
MRS. JOHN TYLER.
SHE TELLS THE ROMANTIC STORY
 OF HER MARRIAGE.

OF HER MARRIAGE.
 Her First Acquaintance with President
 Tyler-A Rejected ProposaI-Her Fath-
 CTS Tragic Death-A Terrible BIow-A
 Quiet Wedding.
 ''Won't you tell mo how you met President Tylerg'
 "Well, to begin at the first was born on Gardiner's island, three miles from land. was descendant of the first white child born of British parents in the state of New York, and the child of the first white child born in Connecticut My name, as you know, was Julia Gardiner-with an l." she added "Gardiner without an is like Thomson without a D. There I grew up until my schooling was finished, and then my father took my sister and me to Europe, for the finishing touches, as it were. While we were in Paris we heard of the death of Presi- dent Harrison, and we American girls all wore crape around our wrists in mourning for long time. President Tyler we knew was the successor, and had little canary which I brought back with me, that I named 'Jonny Ty,' in honor of the president, John Tyler.''
 "Did you not know him then?'
 "No. But on our return my father took my sister and me to Washington that we might have the benefit of the society there We met the president and became great friends, but I never thought of loving him then. I was not yet 20 and he was easily 5 years older than I, but thought him very nice and was very gay and frivolous and of course was flattered by his friend ship"
 "How did he propose to youT'
 yyil Hx,ba tell you about it,n Mrs. Tyler said, her gray beaming at the recollection. 1T often think now how frivolous I was then. There was a grand reception held in the White House on Washington's birthday. All people of note were there and it was very brilliant. had been dancing with young man who was not pleased with the attentions the president had been paying me. We had just stopped and were walking about when the president came up, and drawing my arm through his, said to the young man: I must claim Miss Gardi= ner's company for awhile.' The young man drew off and looked as if he would like to say, Well, you are impudent,' but he didn't. I walked around with the president and he proposed then. had never thought of love, so I said: No, no, no,' and shook my head with each word, which flung the tassel of my Greek cape into his face at every move. It was undignifed, but it amused me very much to see his expression as he tried to make love to me and the tassel brushed his face. I did not tell my father I was his pet, yet feared he would blame me for al- lowing the president to reach the proposing point, so I did not speak of it to any one.
 "How were you dressed the night the president proposed!"
 HER FATHERS TRAGIC DEATH.
 II wore a white tarleton. It was very pretty and very becoming. On my head I wore crimson Greek cap. was very gay and young or I never would have dared to toss the tassel ill presidents face. On the 18th of February Commodore Stockton gave party on the Potomac. Everybody was there and we had lovely time. I told my father when started that he must keep with me all the time, but 1 did not tell him that it was to keep the president away. was with my father and the young man who l told you was jealous of the president, when a gentleman came to me and said, Miss Gar diner, the president wishes to take you in to the collation. which is just served.' I sup pose 1 will have to obey orders,' replied with Q laugh and, asking my father to fol low me, I started down. Just then the wind caught my veil and blew it up. Father | caught it with his cane and brought it down, saying, Take care of your streamer.' They were almost the last words I ever heard him speak"
 "When we got down the the president seated me at the head of the table with him and he handed me glass of champagne. Father was standing just back of my chair, so handed the glass over my shoulder, say ing, Here, pa He did not take it, but he said: My time will soon come.' He meant his time to be served, but the words have al ways seemed prophetic to me. That mo 1 ment some one called down for the president to come and see the last shot fired, but he said | he would not go, as he was better engaged, I My father started with some other gentle men, and turned to the young man who had | followed me down, He whispered to me and asked me to marry him, and when said more noes to him than had to the president he said be feared that was ambitious. Just | then we heard the shot and the smoke began to come down the companionway. Some thing must be wrong,' said to tho young man, and he started up to see. He got to the door, and he turned around and gave me suct look of horror that I shall never forget it That moment heard some one say The sec retary of state is deadr was frightened and IEtried to get up stairs. Something has happened. Let me go to my fatherp 1 cried but they kept me back. Some one told me that there had been an accident, tho gun hat exploded, but that there was such a crowc that it would do no good for me to try to gel there. cried that my father was there anC I must learn his fate. 1 was told then tha he was wounded. That drove me frantic. begged them to let me go to help him; tha1 he loved me and he would want me to bt near him. One lady, seeing my agony, said My dear child, you can do no good. Youl father is in heaven
 HOW PRESIDENT TYLER PROPOSED.
 "Yes," Mrs. Tyler continued, "he had beer killed. There were five killed, among whom were the secretaries of the navy and state. tainted and did not revive until some on' was carrying me off the boat, and then struggled so that I almost knocked us botl off the gang plank. I did not know at th time, but I learned afterwards that it wa the president whose life almost consigned tt the water. All the five who were killed wer buried from the White House in the con gression cemetery. remained at the Whit House until after the funeral, and then re turned to our city home, No. 43 Lafayett place, New York. The president and cor responded then and he paid me many nic