The Somerset reporter., 1890-05-08

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THOMAS CARLYLE
my dear Isabella has succeeded In
healing the wounds of my heart by her
unexampled affection and tenderness; but
lam hardly in a condition toe1pose them.
My former calmness and piety are re-
turning. ] feel growing in grace and
holiness, and before another year l shall
be worthy in the eye of my own con-
science to receive you into my house and
under my care, which, till then, should
hardly be,
On her part, Miss Welsh, although
Carlyle was urgently pressing his suit,
seems not to have dismissed Irving en-
tirely from her memory, and to have re-
tanned Il lingering hope that she might
yet be united to him. Still she encour-
aged Carlyle to persevere. As Froude
says: "She had no thought of marrying
him, but she was tiattered by his attach
ment. 1t amused her to see the most re-
markable person she had ever met with
at her feet. His birth and position SEEM
ed to secure her against the possibility OF
any closer connection between them.
Thus he had trying time of it. In seri-
GUS moments she would tell him that
their meeting had made an epoch in her
history, and had influenced her charac-
ter and life. When the humor changed
she would ridicule his Annandale accent,
turn his passionate expressions to scorn.
and when she had toned him down
again she would smile once more and en-
chant him back into Illusions. She play
ed with him, frightened him away, drew
him back, quarreled with him, receiv-
ed him back again into favor, as the
fancy took her. Once, in the summer
of 1873, he imagined that letter which
she wrote him amounted to promise to
become his wife, and she fastened to UNI
deceive him. She said:
MY friend, love you. L repeat it,
though iind the expression rash one.
All the best feelings OF my nature are
concerned in loving you. But were you
my brother should love you the same.
No. Your friend Will be, your truest,
most devoted friend, while breathe the
breath OF life. But your wife never.
Never, not though you were as rich as
Crus'is, AZ honored ana renowned as you
yet shall be.
AT last, IN April, 1924, SIX months after
irving had been married, she consented
to half engagement with Carlyle. He
was IN Edinburgh busy bringing out his
translation OF Wiiheim Meister, and
she came to the city on visit to friend.
Ihey met, and, as usual. quafreled, and
on making up the quarrel she promised
that as soon as ms fortune was made she
would share IL with MIN. with tins crumb
OF comfort ne went TO London to prose
cute MS literary laoors, ana There renewed
his intimacy with irving, IN biisstul igno-
rance OF the relations between nm and
MISS "eisii' rs MS letters 10 her' iuii OF
.'''..''' 49, 's'~-'
by the beginning OF 1870 he saw his
way clear TO supporting WIFE IN the
mooest style TO winch he had himself
been accustomed 70 iive, and he began
TO urge upon Miss "eish the iuihlment
OF her promise. but she SILL hesitated.
ohe wrote 10 MN; IN requiring you to
oetter your fortune l had some view to
an Improvement IN my sentiments. !
am not sure that they are proper senti-
h.. $3.50, ;. e. 'ia" opn'
~. "u. s,,' " =. '..i' " n'e, ''iouiu oe
Ga.,.,o ana.o, ~ 49, ,,as ~ 49, w. ""en
N e' ~ no ~
hio W iCi HUN Pioblloc, buC
was uh"'i,'ng 10 give nun up one SAID
now co"'u par. from 'he ohiy iiV'ng
'ou' 'iia' u'ioers'anoS me- l woulu
marry you 'o-,horro" ra'"er' our part
ing wouio i'eeu W nc orouen. ABOUT py
ue"'h Ut some oisp ,t vi iroViuehce'
were you 10 VIII H. 70 part would no
longer oe o'e'er' Inc bitterness wouiu
De IN thihkihg you unworthy
anu again. 't'ie ia'er' she wrote TO
h'ih' l kno" ho' no" your spirit mas
gained such mastery over mine IN spite
Oh my pr'ue anu S'unoorhhess' but 30 IL
u. Ahoue" sell "i'ieu US NIUE WIN
o'hers, l am tractaole ana submissive
.o"aros you nearAe'' 10 your voice as
W ''e o'o'"'e' y. 7eoo"u oonsc'ehce'
hardly less awiui 70 me than that which
nature mas imp'ahteu III my breast how
comes IL, tnen, that you nave TINS power
over me' tor IL Is ho' the erect /" your
genius and virtue merely. Sometimes In
my serious moods l believe it is charm
with which my good angel has fortified
my heart against evil"
The relations OF the pair might have
continued on this footing indefinitely
but for the unexpected interference OF
well meaning but imprudent friend OF
lrving's. This was Mrs. Basil Montague,
with whom Irving had become intimate
when ne went 10 Lonoon 70 i've, IN 1885,
ana 70 "nom ne had conndeo ese secret
OF 1he a'tachmsht between A.1'aSeii ana
MISS "eish' mrs, montague opened
col,esPonoence oo.h WIN m'sS " e'sn ana
WIN oarIy'e, ~ nrs' with the os'ensiple
purpose oi Pu'.'ns All eha 10 any hhger'
ing rove winch mss -" eish inien' 'eei ior
IRVING ana OF recohc''ng ner 70 mar
rage WIN oariyle, ou' nnally writing 70
ner ie''er o'ssuao'hg her from tne mar
rage. as
rms ie',ei mss "eisii az olce mug
nanny .nelo'eu W nei .. sui.of' revea,hg
70 mn what s''e i'ao hi'ner'o concealed,
now nauon 'i,o mAu oaieu .ol ilvls, anu
s s"' ne'seii upon n's seneioSi'y W
t r9; wi, n.r ,ol ne. @ ,:
ms reply was 20 an y . anu 30 ser
uep'ooe nav Io'ueu ne. Sne
a m' o. at,e onoo ~ p"y n,1 AMY '.s,s;
"nu' a.e, ue '...;ss 10 anu
.na.ees -, pans ru.ns ""'on s s''e onoe
H n.y., o .n ~ ' a, mn. a"u u. W
.eieaoo iei VII" '"o ieou.s sno' oho ihai-