The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-03

ed to Shadwell with his law books and
violin, but the ever-present memory
of the sweet face of Belinda made him
restless and impatient to know his
| fate.
So he returned to the capital, re-
solved to settle the business without
delay. Belinda was not ovcrioyed 10
see MIN, and her manner made IL evil
dent to her young suffer. or course
she ought not to be accused OF short
sightedness or anything of the sort
at this late day. but one cannot help
plying her little that she was so
unlucky as to send jefferson away
empty handed. She married another
man soon afterward, a person of no es-
pecial merit, who proceeded to help
her to fall into obscurity as rapidly as
possible.
/ 1t was thus that Jcfferson.s youthful
romance was shattered. AT the time
he was of the opinion that his heart
mad suffered irreparnble INJURY, and
IL was about eight years before he
found that he had made wrong dag
nosis 1t was beautiful young widow
of twenty-five who convinced him OF
his error. the daughter OF one of his
associates at the bar. John Wayles,
who In her Sirlhood had married Il
man named SHELTON.
All accounts agreed that Martha
Shelton was woman of unusual
charm of person and manner. Masses
of auburn hair framed her delicate
and expressive features. Her tall.
1.-the figure and remarkable fairness
OF complexion indicated only too clear
ly her fragile constitution. She was
cultivated woman. too; sho sang d.
vinely and accompanied herself on the
harpsichord Altogether she was fit
companion for her clever husband and
perfect cure for the fair and frivol-
Gus Belinda.
''Ihe Great Little Madison's, Love
Affairs.
James Madison was thirty-two wears
of age and already one of the most
prominent men in America when he
became the hero of his first romance
From his earliest youth he had been
student, small-framed. pale. thought
ful-faced and with the shyness of a
bookworm. He had come almost to
middle age when he fell desperately
In love with Catherine Floyd, a pretty
girl of sixteen. whose arch, bewitch-
ing ways brought him to her feet
Madison asked for the hand of the
young woman. and her father, who
was one OF the signers of the Declara-
tion OF Independence, felt greatly
pleased and honored. So did Miss
Catherine at first. for she accepted Mr.
Madison's proposal. and everything
went swimmingly until a younger rival
appeared on the scene. Then the
young heart that was pledged to the
grave statesman wavcred in its loyal
~ and it's owner finally asked to be
released from her promise.
Mr.. Madison took his loss greatly to
heart. TO one of his years and tenn
permanent 1t was severe blow. In his
trouble he turned to his friend JEFF
ferson for sympathy; he was so mex
periencod In such matters that no
fancied his trusted friend might be
able to help him. Jefferson consoled
him the best he could, giving him
this parting advice: "Firmness OF
mind and nnrcmitting occupation Will
not long leave you In pain. Forget
what has happened" lie knew wherc-
of he wrote for had not he had the
little affair with Belinda?
1t was eleven years afterward, when
Madison was forty-three, that the love
that was to bring his lifes happiness
came to him. Again. 1t was widow
who turned out to he his real affinity,
Mrs. Dorothy Todd. twenty-five. ana
dainty as n cameo" They met on
the street in Philadelphia and before
the week was ended. Mrs. Dorothy
wrote to an old friend, Thou must
come to me; Aaron Burr says tho
great little Madison has asked to bo
brought to me to see me this even
Ing"
Mr.. Madison was taken to see her
that evening and for n good many
evenings afterward he went to call on
her without being takon. A few weeks
later Mrs Washington wrote to her
friend Dorothy asking whether or no
the rumors of her intention to marry
Jamos Madison were correct. Mrs.
Dorothy replied promptly, but she for
got entirely to answer the question.
That autumn. however. she. went to
Virginia to visit her sister. and few
weeks later the sweet-faced little