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volume 1. 1 & jfamiltj Jictoanaiin: : Brfeotett to mtevatiure, Agriculture, JfUccftawics, Education, jforeisu anxi Dowc.otic tntciUflcnce, fce. j number 39.
BY C. R. HANLEITER.
P © E T CS Ya
“ Much yet remains unsung'’
For the “ Southern Miscellany.”
SONG.
f.
‘Tis sad tolinper here,
VVlicti Hope’s last star is clouded—
To muse upon the forms, so dear,
By the cold grave enshrouded —
To rove at eve, where those
Whom the fond heart has cherished,
Rest in their last repose,
Like buds that early perished.
11.
But sadder ’tis to mourn
O’er young affections blighted—
To know the flame still burns
Which once your pathway lighted ;
But, that its every ray
To stranger shrines is given—
’Tis this, which makes life’s way,
A weary path to heaven.
T^LHa
For the “ Southern Miscellany.”
A ROMANTIC LOVE SCRAPE,
FOUNDED ON TRUTH.
BY W . II . CAMPBELL.
It was in the cold month of January, of
the year 1839, when the story which we
are about to relate, originated ; and in the
town of Lebanon, Wilson County, Middle
Tennessee, some thirty miles east of the
city of Nashville, the scene claims its loca
tion. The names of the important individ
uals particularly interested, and to whom
nil the prominent facts of our narrative owe
their nri&in, were William Lawrence and
Caroline Stewart.
Had the scene been located at some oth
er place, less remote from home, any where
within the limits of our own native Geor
gia—as it is almost invariably the case, that
local prejudices have their acknowledged
influence, and almost all individuals possess
inherent partialities for the place that gave
them birth, or entertain feelings of acquired
predilection in favor of their own native
land—perhaps our readers would have been
much better pleased with the particulars,
and more delighted with the amusing facts
incorporated in our story, perused its lines
with feelings of deeper interests, curiosity,
and anxiety, and then felt themselves bet
ter prepared to place a more proper esti
mate upon the character of its romantic
peculiarities. But as time ever onward
moves in its rapid tide, regulated by its own
self-directed course, irrespective of men,
places, or circumstances, the peculiarities of
our story, the manner in which it originated,
the doubts and fears that attended its prose
cution, and the exciting causes that led to
its untimely termination, will more than re
store the loss of beauty, interest, or worth,
sustained from the fact, that the scene was
located in the State of Tennessee.
The writer having been personally ac
quainted with the parties concerned, having
a correct knowledge of all the leading facts
of the affair, and having been present at the
time and place where the circumstances
transpired, can freely, and with unrestrain
ed liberty, attempt a minute detail of the
matter, with much confidence as to the cer
tainty of the facts, and correctness of the
statements which wc are now about to af
firm.
William Lawrence was a native resident
of Georgia, a matt rather below the middle
stature, five feet six and a half inches high,
a few months in the advance of twenty-five
years, rather small, and apparently delicate,
yet vigorous and active. His head was the
largest proportion of his person, and tojudge
from the length, breadth, and general con
figuration of his cranium, together with the
character of his temperament, one would
readily suppose, he possessed great energy
and activity, but not much decision of char
acter. Honorable, generous, companiona
ble, mirthful, and communicative in his dis
position ; easily approached, but difficult to
understand. Warm, ardent, and enthusias
tic in his feelings; passionately fond of fe
male society, and whenever thus situated,
or placed in the company of ladies, gentle
manly, courteous, and polite. When excit
ed, ho was rash, fearless, impatient, and
precipitate; but under circumstances of a
calm and more .quiet character, cool, cal
culating, and deliberate ; more given to re
flection than fancy, and evidently more gift
ed to the discrimination of human charac
ter, than the mere observation of things.
Amidst the tumult and noise of crowds, or
commotion of agitated circumstances, or the
busy scenes of active life, frequently so
completely absorbed in reflection, or abstract
thought, that his friendsoften remarked that
he must be greatly given to absent minded
ness. These apparent marks of abstrac
tion, and inattention to surrounding objects,
however, were not at all attributable to ab
sent miudedness ; but evidently owing to
his extraordinary concentration of thought
and feeling. His manners, conversation,
and general deportment, indicated a man of
uniform habits, and good moral character.
His physiognomy never offered any corro
borative proof of extraordinary genius—no
strong expressions of intellect were imprint
ed upon his countenance—no highly color
ed tracos of an inventive mind wore impress-
ed upon his face—no brilliant manifestations
of remarkable vivacity sparkled from his
eyes—no vivid demonstrations of an exliu
berant imagination rested upon his brow—
no deeply indented lines of argumentative
powers, or great reasoning capacities were
legibly written upon the surface of his fore
head. His hair was black, his eyes blue,
his complexion fair and interwoven with
strong expressions of humor, good nature,
and much love of innocent, playful mischief.
Passably handsome, and the most of ladies
would call him quite a good-looking young
man.
Caroline Stewart was evidently the coun
terpart, if not the superior of this character;
perhaps destined, and, to say the least, cer
tainly worthy the companionship of his bo
som. She was a native resident of Tennes
see, a lady rather above the ordinary size,
twenty-one years of age, and just then fully
possessed of all the developments of mature
womanhood. She was a descendent of the
Pennsylvania Dutch, of a highly respectablo
parentage, always moved in the highest cir
cles of cultivated society; gay, sprightly,
and intelligent. Her education evinced a
thorough acquaintance with all the branches
usually taught in the schools of the west.
Her manners were easy, affable, and digni
fied ; her voice soft, persuasive, and affec
tionate, and when raised to the high tone
and harmony of music, fraught with a spirit
of sweetness, and all the beauty of enchant
ing melody. Devotional in her feelings,
warm in her friendships, ardent in her affec
tions, confiding and unsuspecting in a line
with the approbation herfrierids; but when
opposed in her will, unbending as to the
execution of settled purpose. Naturally rtf
a sensitive disposition, but having been long
disciplined by the voice of modesty, and di
rected well by the hand of prudence, she
was amiable, generous, and forgiving. Her
hair was colored light, and textured fine ;
her fore-head broad, elevated, and indica
tive of much native mind ; her brow form
ed for observation, and quickness of percep
tion ; her eyes deep blue, and as physiog
nomists say, expressive of much softness of
feeling, sweetness of temper, and a heart
fitly prepared for the indwelling of inno
cence, simplicity, and all the feelings of
well-studied propriety. Her features, coun
tenance, foim, and general personal charms,
were highly intellectual, strongly expressive
of candor and determination, symetrically
proportioned, and such as were well calcina
ted to give commanding tone, and lorig-felt
influence to female character.
Thus William and Caroline were consti
tuted, and thus they met in the town of Le
banon. But now to a more particular de
tail of the facts that gave existence and im
portance to our love scrape.
Two weeks previous to the'twenty-secoud
of January, of the year ’39—about which
time wo shall speak more particularly to
wards the close ofour narrative— William and
Caroline had never seVn. nor even heard of
each other. During William’s peregrina
tions throngh the western country he had
occasion to visit Lebanon, the place of Ca
roline’s residence, and from some circum
stances that transpired there, was induced
to remain some days longer than he first in
tended. On more than one occasion during
his stay, anterior to any personal acquain
tance, Caroline was permitted to see him,
and witness many exhibitions of his charac
ter and mental attainments, well calculated
to recommend him, not only to her good
graces, hut to the approbation of all, who
witnessed these displays of his accomplish
ments. No sooner had she seen and wit
nessed these high manifestations of moral
and intellectual culture, than a thorough
wrought change rushed rapidly over her
feelings, dashed fearlessly through her sen
timents, quickly thrilled the latent energies
of her finer sensihilies, and gently played
along the court of fancy’s painted stream,
rapidly winding its way around her affec
tions, in direction to the point where it soon
took possession of her unsuspecting heart,
then richly clad in all its native innocence
and purity. Never, until then, had she the
slightest acquaintance with the language of
experimental love, and which in a moment
seemed to result in heart-felt, involuntary
devotion for a William.
This might be called fulling in love at the
first sight; some, however, would question
the possibility of such an occurrence, hut I
am bound to believe that such is the fact in
many instances.
Now in possession of these newly-born,
devotional feelings for William, the first in
quiry that seemed to present itself to Caro
line’s mind was the manner and means by
which toobtain his acquaintance. On Thurs
day, the seventeenth of January, a select
uarty of gentlemen and ladies convened at
the hotel where William was boarding.—
Caroline was one of the number, and he
was thus afforded an opportunity of spend
ing a few pleasant hours in her society.
No particular conversation passed be
tween them during that evening. William,
however, occasionally engaged her attention
for a moment in the way of talking, and as
often caught her eye fixed upon him with
some degree of apparent admiration, but
nothing calculated to excite suspicion in his
bosom as to the certainty, or even probabil
ity of the fact that her object was to secure
more effectually his acquaintance, and then
the ultimate possession of his heart. If
such were her motive, it was happily con
cealed from his observation on that occa
MADISON, MORGAN COUNTY, GEORGIA, SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 24, 1842.
sion. The evening passed pleasantly away,
and about ten o'clock the company dis
persed.
During Friday and Saturday nothing
transpired that gave existence to any im
portant feature in the character of our love
scrape. On Sunday evening about 2 o’clock,
as was usual in almost every section of the
country for families to visit on that day,
Caroline’s mother and Mrs. Hines, her sis
ter, unaccompanied by Caroline, visited the
family with whom William was boarding,
and in whose society he spent a pleasant
Sabbath afternoon. During the progress of
the evening various topics were introduced,
and anecdotes related, calculated to interest
for the time being, and among the rest the
subject of love. Whilst discoursing with
regard to the little innocent Cupid, William
took occasion to inform the ladies that he
belonged to the unfortunate, ill-fated frater
nity, denominated old bachelors. With
some surprise Mrs. Stewart received this
intelligence, and then hastilydemanded why
he had never married. William replied in
his usual good-natured way, he had never
found any lady willing to link her destiny
with his for life, and as such was compelled
to remain in a cold and insipid state of sin
gle blessedness.
“ What kind of a lady would suit you,
Mr. Lawrence 1” rejoined Mrs. Hines.
The interrogation received William’s re
sponse, and the description of the lady giv
en answered the character and personal ac
complishments to which Miss Stewart was
entitled. Mrs. Ilines then forthwith re
marked,
“ Caroline is a youngs lady whose quali
ties, attainments and personal accomplish
ments would suit you.”
William readily sanctioned all that was
said, and at lire same time observed lie had
never seen Miss Caroline more than once,
hut would be happy to see her again, arid
form a more cultivated acquaintance with
her. This communicated intelligence of
acknowledged paitiality for Caroline in a
moment dashed rapidly over the counten
ance of the ladies, who, with one united
voice in the language of looks well pleased,
expressed a decided willingness that he
should be favored with her society. The
evening then had well nigh passed, and in a
moment the ladies bid William good even
ing, and repaired homeward.
Immediately after tea of the same even
ing Mrs. Hines, accompanied by Caroline
and a few others, revisited the family with
whom William was boarding; forwhatpur
posc the writer never knew, unless to afford
hint an opportunity of devoting an hour or
two to the enjoyment of Caroline’s society.
At any rate, so soon as he had been inform
ed of their return he repaired to the parlor,
politely approached Caroline who was sit
ting upon the sofa, and presumed to take
his seat close by her side. This was the
second time he had ever seen her, and the
first time he had ventured to approach her.
Caroline seemed infinitely more interesting
than on the former occasion. Her looks,
manners, conversation, and general personal
charms were altogether engaging, and well
calculated to command the affections of him
whose heart before had never felt the influ
ence of love, nor evinced a willingness to
acknowledge himself the mere play-thing
of woman’s power. Nor was he ignorant
of the character and extent of that influence
which he exerted over her, by constituting
himself the object of her affections. For
indications of her devetedness and deep
seated regard for him were told out ir. eve
ry look. Her smiles, manners, and conver
sation, all conspired to exhibit that recipro
city of feeling, unanimity of sentiment,
and congeniality of soul, which should ever
characterize the affections of those whose
hearts ate united in view of the ultimate
consummation of their conjugal union.
It was on this occasion, by way of elicit
ing a more decisive expression of her es- ;
teem for him among the many propositions ■
and suggestions made, that William inform- j
ed Caroline of his contemplated visit to j
Kentucky to be absent for several months,
and perhaps never to return.
“ When will you leave 1” asked she.
“ To-morrow,” he replied, in a tone cal
culated to awaken melancholy feelings in
the heart of any lady when in the act of
shaking the parting hand, in view of leaving
the object of her affections, and that per
haps forever.
This intelligence produced an excitement
in her countenance radically averse to his
intention, arid a change in her looks demon
strative of her decided disapprobation to
such a course: to which she added in the
most persuasive and conciliatoiy manner,
“ You must not go; stay with us a few
days longer ; perhaps you could spend your
time as pleasantly in Lebanon as you would
elsewhere.”
“ William readily admitted the reasona
bleness of her conjecture, and then appris
ed her of his determination to abandon that
cold and misanthropic state of single bless
edness in which he had lingered out twen
ty-five years of his l : fe, and engage in the
more substantial pleasures, and higher, so
cial, and more companionable enjoyments
of life, so soon as he could find any worthy
one of the opposite sex willing to link her
destiny with his,
“ It is altogether possible, I presume,”
said she, “ for you to find such a being even
in this section of the country; some worthy
uue to whom you might intrust your affec-
tions with perfect safety, and with whom
enjoy that amount of happiness looked for
in a married state.”
“ Do you now recollect such an one, any
where within the extent of your knowl
edge 1” inquired William, with some seem
ing anxiety.
Caroline smiled with a modest blush that
gently spread the ’appearance of excited
love over the surface of her brightened
countenance, indicative of hope hold in high
exertion in view of the golden scenes of
happiness that lay hid in the bosom of the
prospective future, which would soon cul
minate in brightest realities, and spiead
themselves out wide extended o’er the bliss
ful fields of joy at her command ; os if the
personal pronoun found in the nominative
case first person singular number were the
definite one embraced in her allusion ; and
yet all the time she remained profoundly
taciturn.
“Would you exert your influence in my
favor, were I to attempt the prosecution of
such an enterprise 1”
“ Most assuredly, sir, to the extent of mv
ability.”
William then gave her his obligations not
to leave, pressed and kissed her hand, hade
her good evening, and promised to see her
again on to-morrow.
During the following day, to prevent sus
picion as to what existed between them,
William secured the services of the land
lord’s daughter, Musidora Morgan, a sweet,
red-faced, black-eycd, little girl, about sev
enteen years of age, whose soul was as full
of love and magnanimity as her body was of
blood, to visit Caroline, and induce her to
come and spend that evening with her, by
saying, “ Mr. Lawrence wishes to see you,”
which Musidora accomplished more effectu
ally than he anticipated.
The lovers met in the parlor at the ap
pointed hour, each greeted the other with
looks of mutual gladness, as if months had
measured their absence, and, after the com
mon courtesies had passed, seated them
selves together upon the sofa, side by side,
in close proximity, to devote the evening to
the enjoyment of such pleasures as general
ly distinguish associations of that character.
A recapitulation of what had passed be
tween them, however, occupied the most of
the afternoon, and of course but little was
said in reference to the either realized pres
ent, or prospective future.
After supper Caroline and Musidora, ac
companied by William, called to see Mrs.
Hines at her residence, where they remain
ed until ten o'clock. During the time ma
ny delightful pleasures were added to the
entertainments of the evening, and various
amusemetits placed at their command ; and,
among the rest, Mrs. Hines performed sev
eral interesting airs in accordance with the
science of music; after which William re
quested Caroline to take a seat at the piano,
and, for his special benefit, play “I’ll freely
give my heart for thine,” and “ We now de
clare our love.” Witli this request she rea
dily complied, when William took his seat
in close approach to her, in front of the
piano, and asked if she could adoptthe sen
timents contained in what she had just sung
and played. She answered in the affirma
tive. He then made a positive declaration
of his love to her, and, by the authority of
what she had just said, claimed a candid ex
position of her feelings towards him. To
which she gave the following response :
“ I always make it a point of honor to
obey my word, or fulfil any promise of mine
involving in the slightest degree any princi
ple of moral obligation. lint it seems to me
that a gentleman of your discrimination and
judgment of female character, might easily
secure the sentiments of a lady, and thereby
determine the character of her feelings to
wards him, indejiendent of any direct verbal
communication. You will, therefore, per
mit actions to control your judgment in re
ference to the character and extent of my
j feelings towards you.”
This, William assured her was satisfneto
’ ry, and in connection with such solicitied
permission to apjuoach her upon the all-ab
sorbing subject at issue in view of marriage
connexion with her, to which she replied
in the most unpretending manner,
“ In this land of liberty, and age of moral
enlightenment, it is a gentleman’s undispu
ted and discretionary prerogative to act, or
not act, with perfect impunity in reference
to such.”
The evening being now far advanced,
they returned to the hotel. Soon after they
were seated around the fireside in the par
lor, Musidora left the room, and, of course,
they were then alone. Sitting at, a conveni
ent distnnee he kissed her hand as he solt
ly pressed it in his, displaced herrings from
her fingers, and then asked if her regard for
him was sufficient to authorize her to place
one of them upon his left foi e-finger, as a
solemn pledge of their mutual love in pros
pective view of a speedy consummation of
marriage engagement between them ?
“ My attachment to you, Mr. Lawrence,”
said Caroline, “ although prematurely form
ed, is sufficient to justify a willingness on
my part to entourage such an enquiry, but
our acquaintance is certainly too limited to
warrant decisive action just now. I can,
however, place the ring upon your finger,
and you may retain it until our next inter
view.”
“ To-morrow evening at two o’clock,”
said William, “ I will call at your father’s
residence, and give you my history. You
may confidently trust from the most solemn
assurances, that what I tell then, explanato
ry of my life, will he told in the strictest re
ference to truth and without the slightest
exaggeration of facts.”
Musidora now returned, and found Wil
liam standing by Caroline's side, with her
hand affectionately grasped in his. and in
appearance anxiously wishing to kiss her
animated cheek ; hut modesty forbade. The
clock struck twelve. Propriety now taught
retirement, but sleepless love plead hard for
a longer stay. William, however, hade the
ladies good night with his heart deposited
in Caroline’s possession, his best wishes
with Musidora, and then retired to his lodg
ing chamber. The night to him was a long,
dreamless night that slowly glided away,
with the sleepless current of wakefulness
and restless anxiety for the approach of day:
when the long wished dawn, Aurora, slow
ly came and with her brought the icy morn
of a cold winter’s freezing day, whose airy
breath and chilly winds that keenly blew,
and swiftly spiead o’er all the earth the twi
light dawning of a gloomy day ; hut behind
it stood the prospects bright of better days,
and times more joyous, portending good and
fraught with the hope of bliss, and smiles of
joy that lay not far distant in the approach
ing blissful future.
This was the twenty-second of January
of the year ’39, about which time we prom
ised our readers to speak more particularly
towards the close of our narrative. Two
o’clock came, and found William, in com
pliance with his obligations, at Caroline’s
residence. So soon os the intelligence of
his arrival had greeted the ears of the fami
ly, he was met by Mrs. Stewart with evident
coidiality, and marks of warmest friendship,
who politely escorted him to the parloi al
ready prepared for the reception, and en
tertainment ofhis expected company. Leav
ing him here he was soon greeted by the
appearance of Caroline who suddenly enter
ed the parlor, locking the door as she pass
ed it by. Each approached and gladly shook
the others hand, and after the usual saluta
tions had passed, they together—happy two
j —with gladsome hearts and bouyatit spirits
in view of Hymen’s tales of love’s delighted
Jiour, seated themselves around the cheerful
fireside, and after the elapse of a few mo
ments devoted to thought!ullness and unin
terrupted silence, William thus approached
her—
“ I presume, Caroline, your expectations
are heightened in reference to a knowledge
of my life and character 1”
“ Your promise, sir,” she said, ‘‘is to that
effect.”
William then proceeded to give her a his
tory of Lis life, embracing his nativity, pa
rentage, residence, moral character, pecuni
ary worth, personal standing, and profession
al avocation. At the conclusion of which,
he asked if she reposed confidence in what
he had said ?
“Os the most implicit character,” was her
answer.
“ I assure you, Caroline,” continued he,
“ what I have just asserted explanatory of
my life is strictly true, and now in point of
fact you are as well acquainted with me as
my most intimate friends in Georgia, except
that your acquaintance is not of so long a
standing.”
Havfng now secured her entire confidence
as to his moral honesty, and removed all
doubt and fear as to the character of her ac
quaintance with him, ho ventured to ap
proach her again in the following manner:
“In view of all that I have just told you,
of what you now see, and the many untold
uncertainties of an unknown future which
ever stand clustered dark and thick around
the brightest of human prospects, are you
willing, Caroline, to link vonr destiny witli
mine for life and become the wife of him
who loves you dearest of all on cartli 1”
Caroline sat in profound silence for sev
eral moments, as if shocked into that twi
light state of being or insensibility, where
consciousness is not permitted to play upon
surrounding objects, and reason dethroned
leaves hernative seat to wander wild through
the tracless range of misdirected fancy, and
he forever lost in the labyrinthian mazes,
and frantic workings of heated imagination.
He again attempted to elicit an acknowl
edgement of her approbation, or disappro
bation in favor or against the suggestions
laid before her, hut without success. He
urged his claims, he pressed his suit, he ap
pealed to her reason, her common sense,
I and then to the throne of love, where Cupid
reigns ami rules, with absolute sway over
all held subject to his power, hut no response
was made. Nothing hut the noiseless sound
of the lisplcss voice of silence was heard to
whisper senseless tones, ami mutter doubt
ful sighs in the language of unmeaning looks;
the correct interpretation of which, the most
discriminating mind could not have given.
In a few moments more, Mr. Lawrence the
third time endeavored to secure an express
ion of her determination witli regard to the
matter, but failed in the effort. Her trem
bling lips, her busy eyes, her agitated looks,
and palid cheeks, “together with an excite
ment that rushed rapidly over her colorless
countenance,extendingfrom her snow white
temples down to her yet whiter, softer,
sweeter breast, told out that her mind was
then laboring under the influence of strong
est emotions, and that her heart possessed
feelings (pa deep for human utterance.—
William then offered her his hand, and with
it made the following request —
W. T. THOMPSON, EDITOR.
“ If you are determined Caroline, to iden
tify ycur interest, and prospects with mine
for life, by reason of marriage association,
you will now let me know it, by giving me
yom right hand ; but if not, you will mani
fest it, by refusing to comply with this re
quest.”
Caroline immediately gave him her hand,
as an evidence of her detcimmation to ac
cecd to his proposition, and which in a mo
ment seemed to release her from that men
tal embarrassment, and oppression of feel
ing which invariably attend the excitement
of blushing modesty in the character of a
lady ; and in which, in fact, are incorported
all the native elements of woman’s moial
worth. ’J hey then talked the matter over
together, and a mutual understanding was
agreed upon as to the time appointed for the
consummation of the marriage nuptials—
which was the evening of the following
Thursday, hut two days subsequent to the
date of their engagement.
In view of the accomplishment of any im
portant object, involving the creative causes
and prospective assurances of human hap
piness, the hope of reward flings gaiety
and gladness, around the buoyant heart, and
bids the expectant man rejoice amidst the
merry scenes of earth. But the fear of dis
appointment, fraught with uncertainty and
blind suspense, darkens the character of his
prospects, spreads the mantle of gloom over
his brightest expectations, and stifles fatally
the spirit ofhis anticipated enjoyments.
1 he hour for tea had now arrived ; soon
after which the light hearted couple repair
ed to the parlor, and conversed freely with
regard to the propriety of consulting paren
tal authority in relation to the consumma
tion of their connubial connection.
About nine o’clock, from an invitation by
Caroline, Mrs. Stewart entered the parlor,
when William informed her of the determi
nation upon which Caroline and himself had
settled, in reference to their future expecta
tions, and wished to know if she could and
would consent to a marriage union between
them. Mrs. Stewart answered by saying,
“ Caroline and yourself, Mr. Lawrence,
are almost entire strangers, and your knowl
edge of each other is certainly too unculti
vated to elicit with propriety my approba
tion in favor of such a union at present. I
will, however, see Caroline,” continued Mrs.
Stewart, who had just left the room, “and
if she should express the same sentiments,
and contend for the execution of the same
purpose which you do, then I shall he bet
ter prepared to give you my views in rela
tion to the matter, than what I am just now,”
Mrs. Stewart had an interview with Car
oline, who assmed her she was not only sin
cere in her pretentions, but entirely willing,
and even determined to unite her destiny
with his for life, come weal or woe, or let
the result he what it might.
Now being satisfied with regard to that
determination, and sincerity of that love
which professedly existed between the two
congenial spirits, Mrs. Stewart forthwith in
formed her husband, and they consulted to
gether in relation to the matter, when the
old man declared in the most uncompromis
ing manner that no such union should take
place. Caroline learning the result of pa
rental consultation, returned to the pallor,
possessed William of the facts, and then
said,
“ I assure you, Mr. Lawrence, it is per
fect folly to say any thing more to my pa
rents, for they have positively fi-rbid our
union, and are determined to employ all
possible means, right or wrong, to prevent
its existence.”
The unkind manner in which they were
opposed in their marriage, and violence with
which such unjust opposition was urged, not
only inspired them with feelings of mingled
disgust, regret, and indignation, but an un
yielding determination to execute their de
signs regardless of all consequences, and all
parental disapprobation to the contrary not
withstanding. The scene upon which they
were now about to enter was of the most
solemn, and impressive character. The
awfulnes9 of Caroline’s feelings, the agita
tion of her looks, and tears from deep seat
ed grief that rolled down her palid cheeks,
told that her hope was gone, her heart was
sad, and she resembled the picture ofwretch
edtiess and despair, when she communica
ted the sad intelligence to William, that all
was lost, and buried forever in the unfeeling
bosom of parental authority, unless some
more effectual plan should he speedily adop
ted to arie9t the violence evinced in the op
position thrown before them, and secure to
them the enjoyment of the right of choice
exercised in the consummation of their mat
rimonial engagement.
William’s heart now melting beneath the
influence of mingled anger, revenge, sym
pathy, and devotion, he knew not what
course to pursue, nor plan best to suggest.
He thought of this, that, and the other plan;
hut finally, amidst the wreck ofhis hopes,
and convulsion of his feelings, he proposed
an elopement, unpermitted by her father,
and unknown to her mother, as the last and
only alternative, to which Caroline readily
consented. Here blended the strongest
feelings, and deepest sympathies oft wo con
genial souls into one common sentimental
idetitily. Here they looked with anxious
care, with deep toned sighs, each upon the
other gazed with flowing tears, and os she
wept he pressed his lips to her pensive
cheek* and said,
“ Caroline, we met in Lcbattou as strong.