Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-15
AARON BURR AND Els BEAUTIFUL VICTIM
INTEREST THE STUDENTS
The Story Of Fatal LOvs-A. Woman Who
Trusted and Disd-A Man Who
Brilliantly Dscsived-Ths Two
Graves at Prineston.
Philadelphia Pses,.


humble mound does not receive It's
decoratiation. just how this idea
originated isa puzzle. 1t is curious
example of the effervescence OF the
college boys sentimenttality-and
pretty one. The grave Of Aaron Burr,
which is also in Princeton, is not, 1t Is
needless to say, similarly honored-
although IL is an object OF interest to
the students.
The story that links these graves to-
gether is romance OF the early days OF
the republic, and it is sad and tragic In
its way as any OF fiction.
TWAS in 1863 that Aaron Burr made
his first appearance at Princeton. 1t
was in the year when Whig hall was
founded and before the Boston tea party
had been thought OF. He was only
fourteen years old. His father had
been president OF the college, and
Jonathan Edwards, his grandfather
was president when he entered. His
intellect was wonderfully developed for
his age.
He LED a lonely life, caring little for
the society of his fellow students, much
for that of his books In religion he
was a skeptic; in morality, OF loose
principles wide contrast to his Cal
Yanistic ancestors.
In this solitary way he passed his
first two years of his college course. DE
was then ready to graduate, but the
faculty refused to allow him TO do so on
account of his extreme youth, His SEN
Tor year was, therefore, passed with
little TO do in tho way OF college studies.
He spent his time in reaping aud In
taking long walks about the town.
HE NET CATHERINE BUCLLoCK.
1t was some time in the spring OF
1872 that he met Catherine Bullock,
the daughter OF a farmer whose land
abutted the town, How or when he
met her is not related. She was
Young, ignorant and beautiful girl,
slightly older than Burr, blooming in
riotous beauty, full Of life and passion.
He was also very young, well formed,
With face full of manly beauty and
and intelligence. Already his manners
had much Of that suave grace which
made the titled women OF Europe love
him In after years when he fed his
country a despised aud rejected out
cast. He was full of ideas, and en-
bodied his ideal in the passionate rustic
beauty Of Catherine Bullock.
Each loved the other-he with the
brief fierce passion that kills the OBJ
iect Of its love; she with the steadier
flame of alteration that burns on and on
through sorrow and shame until Ii too,
DESTROYS the heart in which it burns.
He told her OF his love in the flower
strewn helds as they walked together
in the grand old forests, where then
the progress Of civilization had made
no impression. He swore the old, false,
sweet vows that have cursed many Il
woman's life before and since. And she
listened all too willingly, forgetting
her stern farmer father, her lowly
position, the rank and fortune OF her
lover.
Then came the commencement, and
Burr went away, promising to return
and TO keep the VOWS he had sworn.
He departed, but he never came
again. The mad current Of life in New
York, the exciting events preceding the
revolution caught and swept him away
away into wider and broader life
in which she had no part. She waited
on patiently, silently, enduring the
thoughts of the shame that must soon
come upon her. never faltering In her
love. Perhaps once or twice badly
spelled tear-staiDed notes came to dis
turb the pleasure OF the miscreant
lover. But doubtless, also, he never
paid any attention TO it; for women
were always kind to Aaron Burr, and
many a victim fell beneath the charm
of his address. The country girl, with
the radiant cheeks and the glowing
form, was remembered with some re-
morse, with more impotence.
The summer came, and Princeton
took on it's fairest dress. The shout
of the student, the quick ring OF the
chapel bell, the hum and bGstle incident
to college life-all were hushei. The
town slept beneath its leafy bower. But
the peace and outlet Of town and coun-
try side but intensified the wild strug-
gle of the lonely girl with her burden
of sorrow. Her stern and religious
parents would look npon departure
from the straight and narrow path as a
crime past all forgiveness. She had no
| conhdants, none whom she could trust.
DIED OF HER SHAME.
With the autumn came the revelation
OF her secret, the bursting OF the wrath
about her, and with 1t all the birth OF
the nameless child. Slowly but surely
Catherine faded away. The bright
color left her cheeks. Her eyes, long
| since bereft OF their sparkle, now were
llstlass and dead. And ever heavier
and heavier bore the weight OF her
| shame. The kindly face Of her father
regarded her but with frown, and
mother eyes filled with tears at sight
! of her, while the white hairs were sown
thick on the heads OF both.
At last death gave her release. Moth
er and child passed away into the silent
realm where no dream OF sorrow dis
1 turbs the sleeper. Brief aud troublous
was thif life-full Of shame aud grief
and sadness. Right dearly had she
| bought the love she priced so highly.
! Basely was she betrayed.
In the meadow OF her fathers farm,
where she and Burr had wandered to-
rether beneath the myrid stars, tread
lag the sweet, cool grass beneath their
| feet, so swift to run in the inviting
byway OF Illicit love, there they laid
| her. And in the same grave. says the
legend, they laid her child also. The
| headstone tells when she died and
when she was born, but tells nothing
/ more.
Its a lonely spot, in the rear Of
President Pation's house. But there is
a well-worn path to the grave, made BY
| the students.
HERE LIES BURR.