Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-03-26
WESLEY'S ROMANCE.
THE SWEET, SAD LOVE STORY OF
 THE GREAT PREACHER.

The Struggle Between His Affection For Sophia Canston and What He Believed
 to Be His Religious Duty-Partisans of Each Side Took Active Parts.
 It was at tho house of Governor Ogle- thorpe in the oarly days of Georgia, says a writer in tho Boston Herald.
 In tho evening Sophia Canston was there, and the general had her sing for -shem some old love songs of England and Scotland, and snatches from the operas of London. She danced, too, and recited, and completely overwhelmed the pious youth with her beauty and accomplishments.
 That night, under the palmetto trees near the governor s house, with the dark eyed, handsome girl beside him, and with her entraneing voice in his ears, with the Cypress wine and Grimaldi's decoction hot in his blood, John Wesley became aware that he loved her.
 The revelation was shock to him, for he had been preaching celibaey since he was q small boy. He had felt him. self welded to the church, to his great faith and mission ill life The strife of spirit threw him into a fever.
 Miss Canston did the only thing that a young lady i'll her state of mind could Io She nursed him, and he allowed her to- This circumstance was sufficient proof to their friends that marriage was certain. If more proof was needed, he raved of her i'll his delirium. Miss Can ston brought her aunt to hear him, and between them they fancied him quite decided to marry Sophia He asked her many times if she would or could marry him, and if he should indeed marry her. He went through with the mar riage ceremony of the Church of Eng land, for the benefit of imaginary cou- pies who stood at his bedside
 After his recovery Wesley's friends came to congratulate him on his engage ment. But ever since his miraculous rescue from fire in his childhood he had been convinced that he had been singled out by his Maker for some special pur- Ebose, and now he was prostrating him. self before an earthly idol and forget ting his mission.
 Alarmed for his soul, he rushed to the bishop and tho Moravian mission aries for advice. They had the same hard, unrelenting convictions which tor mented Wesley, and they advised him to give up his idol and turn to his God. Wesley knew not what to do. He wan dered i'll the forests praying aloud for
 
 knelt under the blooming grape vines, and shielded by the long, gray moss from any living eye sought wisdom and comfort
 That night he asked advice a second time of the elder.
 I've have considered your case, said the bishop. twill you abide by our de- eision?"
 II will abide by your decision. "
 Then the bishop said, We advise you to proceed no further in this mat ter U
 ''So be iti" said Wesley, and that was the end.
 Poor Sophia was heartbroken. Her relatives were ineensed and compelled her to marry a MT. Williamson, though she begged Wesley to intercede ill her behalf. Even after she was married she wrote to Wesley and cast pitiful glances at him until in his desperation one day he forbade her to attend holy commun- ion He explained this afternoon on teohni cal grounds, but the tide had turned and tho people of Georgia were against him. 4 charge of islander was instituted, but tho assailants, knowing that they had small chance of success, delayed the trial from week to week until life in Georgia became unbearable. He made arrangements to leave the col ony But even in this tho Canstons thwarted him. He was forbidden to leave the province.
 He never went out that Sophia did not pass and repass him several times and often she was known to look Ill sSapon him when he was at prayer ill his Swn house.
 During all these trials he continued to conduct his parish as usual, although he was Q sort of prisoner at large. At 6 o'clock one evening the little flock gathered ill the church for prayers. Wesley led as usual Delamotte was there with the friends who still re- mained loyal After tho service Wes- ley was seen to return to his home. But the faithful Delamotte had planned an escape from this slow torture. Three faithful friends led tho young clerical through the darkness to the pier. There an Indian skiff bore him down the river. A sailing vessel was in waiting, and soon John Wesley was leaving tho land of his love forever.
 A Mrs. Shakespeare.
 Shakespeare. who was born in April,