The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-19

WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE
Probably the most amazing love ro-
nance history records is that of Charles
Dickens for Maria BeadnelI. 1t pro-
jects into the drama of Dickens life
two amazing "interludeS." The First
Interlude" terminated when the beauti-
full and wealthy Maria rejected the
youthful and then unknown but brill
liant Dickens, after three years of
ardent courtship. The astounding Sec
Ond Interlude" was begun twenty-five
years later. His love for Maria, Dick
ems had always carried deep in his heart.
He was now a world figure, wealthy
feted by royalty. Maria, still beautiful
had married a Staid sober business man
named Winter. She wrote to Dickens.
The old love famed anew and produced
a series of wonderful love letters in
Dickens own handwriting, one of which
literary authorities pronounce the
greatest love letter ever written"
Dickens now cOols and wishes to with
draw. but Maria has the compromising
letters. Maria now plays her last card.
IT requires no stretch of the i'm
Il agination to picture the train
of romantic hopes to which this
bit of news gave rise in the mind
of Mrs. Winter; that she discreet
" waited two months and half
for conditions to calm down, be-
fore undertaking to pierce Dick
ems with her last Cupid'S arrow.
Recalling how his emotions had
been stirred three years before by
her letter with its touching refer
ence to the old days at Lombard
street and also how her sister
Anne had always Sympathized
with Charles and had held his
friendship until she died. in May,
1886 three years after her we'd
ding day., the perSevering Maria
again tried to revive his tender
feelings by sending him a poem
written by Annette last re-
manning conciliatory weapon at
her command.
This method of reawakening a
lost love was not original with
Maria: it has been resorted to
thousands of times, before and
since.
In the letter accompanying the
poem she asked Dickens to meet
her in Liverpool as she was stay
ing at her fathers house nearby.
Instead of bringing the cold re-
proachful' answer she had made
to his last boyhood appeal, it
brought a warm, friendly reply,
with a touching reference to the
old past: that having Shrewdly
penetrated her designs he pleaded
that the press of business" made
him so self denying and heroic"
that he could not see her.
DUT with his letters still in her
ID hands. and his domestic erup-
tion fresh in the public mind,
Maria was still possible menace;
therefore. after discouraging her
all he could. he discreetly dropped
the hint that he hoped to see her
in London.
Gad'S Hill Place,
Higham by Rochester, Kent.
Monday. Sixteenth August, 1858.
NV Dear Mrs. Winter:
I have read poor dear Anne'S
prayer with great sorrow, and with
many emotions of sadly affection
ate remembrance. 1t was written.
no doubt. under a preSentiment Of
Death but it must always be re-
membered that such a PRESENT.
ment often exists when it fails TO
be fulfilled: and it is very COM
monty engendered in the state Of
mind belonging TO the condition in
which she composed the prayer.
1t would give me great pleasure
TO see you at Liverpool, if had
the least confidence in my own
freedom for a moment under the
circumstances which will take me
there. But have so much bust
ness 10 transact at times. and have
to keep myself so quiet at other
times, and have so many people