The sun., 1891-07-12
IIshed during 1914 in Hoods 5fdonrine. and that
the Pied Piper Of Hamelln" hal been written
two years earlier.

two years earlier.
1t seems that during his Intercourse with the
Browning family Mr.. Kenyon had often spoken
OF his invalid cousin. Elizabeth Barrett (prop-
srly Elizabeth Barrett Moulton- -Barrottl. and
had given them copies OF her works. From
sojourn In Italy the poet returned to England
In 1914 and saw volume containing " Lady
Geraldine's Courtship." which had appeared
during his absence On hearing him declare
his admiration OF IL. Mr.. Kenyon heegsd him
to write 10 Miss Barrett and himself tell her
how the poem had impressed him. for" he
added. my cousin Is q great invalid and
sees no one. but great souls Jump at sym
pathy." Browning cid write. and \ few months,
probably, after the correspondence had becn
established. begged 10 be allowed to visit her.
She at first refused on the score OF her delicate
health and hnbitual seclusion. emphasizing
the refusal with words OF touching humility
and resignation. There is nothing" she
wrote. ito sec In me. nothing to henr In me.
am wood 1T only for the ground and dark
ness" But her objections wero overcome. and
their flrst interview sealed Browning's fate.
1t is not OF course. to DO imagined that in
the course Of ha thirfy-two yenrs Browning
had never met with women who had to some
extent attracted him. Iu. such feelings as
others had elected were but the ncnnt-couriers
OF love. She. whom he now saw for the hrst
time. had long been to him one OF the greatest
of living poets. She was also learned, rs wo-
mon seldom were In those days, or. Tor that
matter. are in ours 1t must have been APP
parent on the most fugitive contact that her
emotional nature was as exquisite In generos-
ity and sympathy as her mind was oxcep-
tional She locked much younger than her age.
which was six years beyond Browning's and
her face was filled with beauty by the
large. expressive eyes. The long imprisoned
love within her must unconsciously have
leaped TO meet his own 1t was only natural
that he should swiftly grow into determine
tion to devote his life to her. His offer OF mar
riage was made under sudden overmaater.
ing i'm, ulse. and II was persistently repeated
until he obtained q conditional assent. No
sane man in Browning's positton-and Brown
ing was certainly as sane as any man can be
who is In love-could have been ignorant OF
the responsibilities hs was mourning. He
knew that Miss Barrett received him.
lying down, and that his very tgno-
rance OF her. condition loft him with
out assurance that she would ever be able to
stand. Miss Barrett. indeed, had made her ac-
ceptance Of MIR. BrowninG's proposal contin-
gent on her improving in health. nor will 1t
surprise those who have studied the physiol-
ogy OF the affections to learn that under tho
influence OF her new happiness she did
gain some degree OF strength. They saw each
other three times n week: they exchanged let
tors constantly. and . very deep and perfect
underst anding soon established itself between
them. In this way the months slipped by until
tho summer OF 1846 was drawing to its close.
and Miss Bnrrstt's doctor then announced that
her only chance OF comparative recovery lay
in spending the coming winter in tho South.
Her father refused to sanction such a
Journey. not believing. probably that she
would benefit BY the proposed change There
remained to her only one alternative-to break
with the old homo and travel southwark as
Browning's wife. When she had definitely
made up her mind to this course she took
preparatory stop which must have startled
those about hcr: she drove to Regents Park.
and, whom there, stepped out OF the carriage
and on to the grass Mrs. Orr does not know
how long she stood-probably only for mo.
ment-but she can we'll remember hearing that
whom. after so louR an interval. Miss Barrett
feIt earth under her feet and air about her. the
sensation " as bewildering and strange.
Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning were
married in strict privacy on Sept. II. 1S46. at
st. Pancras Church. Far from having obtained
Mr.. Bnrretts sanction to their marriage. tho
engaged pair had not even invoked It No
doubt the clandestino character thus forced
upon the union was repugnant to Brownin2's
pride. but IL seems to have been dictated BY
the deepest flial affection upon the part OF his
wife. She was determined to give herself to
the man she loved. But she knew that her
father would never consent to her doing
SO. and she preferred marrying with
out his knowledge to acting In de-
fspcs OF q prohibition he would never have
revoked. aud which would have weighed upon
her all her life, like portent OF evil. She aven
kept the secret Of her engagement from her In
timate friend. Miss Milford and her second
father. Mr. Kenyon. that they might not be in.
volved In responsibility. When subsequently
Mr.. Kenyon spoke to her father about the mar
Iiage. then ON accomplished fact, tho latter re-
piled: I" I have no objection to the young man.
but my daughter should have been thinking OF
another world" and went on to express bis
conviction that Miss Barrett's state was nope
less. For some days after their marriage Mr..
and Mrs. Browning returned 10 their old lie.
Tho only difference In their habits was that he
did not see her; he recoilsd from the hypocrisy
OF asking for her under her maiden name. and
during this passive interval he bore . weight
Of nxlety and depression which placed 1t
among the most painful periods OF his exist
ence. In the lAto afternoon or evening OF
eept. N. 1876, Mrs. Browning. attended by her
maid and her dog. stole away from her fathers
house. The family was at dinner. In which
meal she was not In tho habit OF joining.
and there was no difficulty In her escap.
Ing but that GRATED by the dog, which
might DO expected TO bark is consciousness OF
the upusual situation. She took him into her
confidence. She said: "Oh. Flush. II you make
a sound. am lost" And Flush understood. as
what good doE would not2 and crept after his
mistress in silence. Mrs. Orr docs not remem-
ber where her husband Joined her. but we may
take for granted that 1t was rs near her homo
ss possible. That night they took tho boat ior
Havre on their way to Paris.
The ciandestino marriage ana elorement ex-
cited not only wrath In tho Barrett family but
CONSERVATION In that OF Mr.. Browning. Not
only had the poet committed crime In the
eyes Of his wifs's father, but. In the judgment
OF his own parents. he had beon guilty OF
one OF those srrors which are worse than
crimes, hundred times the possible advan-
tages Of marrying Mas Barrett could never.
In their eyes. have cOuntcgbaanccd tho risk