Year: 1870

al.


More than thirty years ago, in the far fam
ed school of that prince of teachers. John
Kingsbury, was one Of the fairest of all the
fair daughters of Providence. celebrated far
and nigh, as that city has ever been for its
lovely girls. Her school education finished,
she went with her friends TO Europe, not.
however, before having given her youthful
affections to young man whom she had met
in a sister city. But before marriage had
consummated their happiness, adversty came
upon him. and he found himself in no situa-
ton to marry. He was not willing she should
waste her youth and glorious beauty in wait
ing through long years for the day to come
when he could call her his own, SO be releas-
ed her from her vows, and they parted. she
going, as said before, to Europe. There
she met George Peabody. then, comparative
| ly speaking, Il young man, but one who was
already me king his mark, and whose wealth
was beginning to pour in on every side. He
saw her and was struck las who that ever saw
her was not? J with her grace, her winning
ways, her exceeding loveliness, and. after a
while, he proposed Her heart still clung
to her loved one across the wide Atlantic, but
after some time she yielded, perhaps to the
wishes of her friends, perhaps to the prompt
ings of worldly ambition who can tell? Who
can fathom the heart of young and beauti-
full maiden? After little interval she came
back to this country, and soon after arrival
met her first love, and after events justify
me in saying. her "only love- AT sight of
him, all her former affection came back. if,
indeed, it bad ever left her, and Mr.. Pea
body, with his wealth and brilliant prospects
faded away, and she clupg with fond affec-
ton to her American lover, and was willing
TO share moderate income with the chosen
of her heart. All was told to Mr.. Peabody,
and he, with the manliness that character
lied his every action, gave her up. and in
due time she was married and settled in
city not more than 800 miles distant from
Providence. What she suffered in coming to
final conclusion was known to but few.
Her fair cheeks lost their roundness, and
grew wan and pale, her lovely eyes had a
mournfu wistfulness that touched every
heart. Some blamed her, others praised her.
Those who were ambitious of worldly honors
pronounced her 'mad, - "foolish" to throw
off a man like George Peabody, whose ever
increasing wealth would bestow every luxury
upon her, and place her in position in Lon
don that would make her lot an envied one
to many man who might never have more
than limited income to live upon. Others,
and shall say the nobler part justified her
in thinking that love, true love, was more to
be desired than wealth or earthly fame. The
painful conflict was at length ended. Her
true womanhood vindicated itself, and she
wavered no more. / well remember, when
in London, 2S years ago, hearing of this talk
ed over in a chosen circle of American friends,


and also, at brilliant dinner party given by
General Cass, in Versailles, it was thorough
ly discussed in all its length and breadth.
Whether, in his visit to this country, Mr..
Peabody ever met his afianced bride, | can
not say, neither do know whether, when
she heard of his more than princely wealth,
her heart gave sigh at the thought, "nll this
mi ght have been mine." After several years
of welded bliss, death took her husband from
her side, when the glorious lovelness of her
youth had ripened into the full luxuriance of
perfect matronhood.