Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/394

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THE INFIDEL LOVER.

BY A. W. NONEY.

" Do you see that lady who is just crossing Fifth street ?" asked a rather elderly looking gentleman of his companion, as they sat gazing listlessly upon the crowd, passing and re-passing up and down Chesnut street.

"What ! that red-haired old maid, uncle, in a dark dress ?"

Pshaw, Charles, do not speak in so disrespectful a tone of one in whom the very fact of her being an old maid is a virtue, and a bright one among many others of pure and radiant lustre.”

" You know her then, do you ? Pray, who is this very virtuous maiden lady ?”

66 Her name is Charlotte Hamilton."

66 Well, uncle ! will you not continue, like an author of romance, to tell me her past history ?"

"If you wish it, Charles, I will endeavor to relate a short story of the circumstances, which doubtless formed the principal reason of her present unmarried condition in life."

"Miss Hamilton, when I first became acquainted with her, was not far from eighteen years of age. She was at that time somewhat better looking than at present, though never very celebrated for beauty, as the sweet and modest expression, which ever graced her pleasant features, formed their principal attraction, although each, when viewed separate, might have seemed to be almost perfect in itself. Yet their arrangement did not exactly harmonize, and then her red hair (though in olden time such was a favorite hue ) did not in the least add to their effect. Her figure, you might have observed, is even now full and graceful, and was much more elegant in her youth. For sweetness of disposition, for intellectual capacity, and for purity of soul, however, she was, and is now eminently distinguished among those who know her ; and these worthy qualities, in connection with her large fortune, rendered her an object of regard, particularly to the young unmarried men of her acquaintance.

"You smile rather distrustfully at this. Why, Charles, although she is now an old maid, I can vouch to the fact of at least six capital offers of marriage, made by different worthy young gentlemen, and each proposal pressed upon her acceptance with all the ardor of true and fervent passion. But then her heart was not her own, although her hand was free, and she hesitated to dispose of the one unaccompanied by the first, even while the possessor of the treasure of her young, pure love was all unworthy of either. Yet such is the nature of woman. Her heart is as true and constant in its affection, when once formed, to even the meanest of creatures, as when its devotion is reciprocated by the idolatry of a high and noble nature.

"Still I do not wish to be understood that the envied object of her love was in any manner degraded, in the common acceptance of the term, although utterly unworthy the possession of such an angel as was, and doubtless is Charlotte Hamilton. To illustrate this fact, it is scarcely necessary to state more than that she is a pure-hearted and professing Christian, while he was utterly reckless of his own principles, and careless of her solicitude and anxiety after the welfare of the immortal part of one so dear to her as himself ; and yet he passionately loved her, and she knew it, although others might have imagined his affection to be of a more mercenary nature than it really was. 66 ' But, before I proceed with her story, I will just describe to you a circumstance in relation to my first acquaintance with her. I attended, one evening, at Dr. B.'s Church, and listened to a lecture of deep and peculiar interest. The subject was upon the beauties of true Christianity, pure and unadorned, as inculcated by the doctrines of its divine founder, the meek and lowly man of Nazareth. The learned and reverend doctor likened religion to a young and lovely femalebeautiful exceedingly, and endowed with every elegant attribute which imagination could devise, or fancy portray. And truly, did she seem a goddess worthy the love and adoration of an enlightened and unenthralled world. Simple, artless and unassuming, clothed in modesty as with a garb of light, and shielded by the dovelike innocence of her nature from rude assault, for

'It is said the lion will turn and flee From the maid in the pride of her purity ;' she moves along, winning with her smiles the reluctant admiration of even those who would oppose her blissful progress, and subduing all hearts by her native goodness, her artless simplicity, and by the divine truth and poetic beauty of the inspired sentiments she utters in a voice of Eolian softness. " Who can refuse to worship at such a shrine ?' asked the speaker, with thrilling emphasis, as he finished his glowing metaphor : ' and insensate and cold indeed must he be !' I doubt not was the voiceless response of every beating heart around. 66"The church was crowded to overflowing, and in the press and confusion attendant upon the egress from it, a claiming its protection, while passing through the mass then pouring like a flood out of doors. I gave a hasty glance at her personal appearance, and then elbowed our way with an air of increased importance, into the street, where I could but suppose, my voluntary protegee would, after thanking my gallantry, modestly decline all farther escort, even though I might then freely offer it. To my increased surprise, however, such did not seem her intention, for she still clung as familiarly to my arm as if she had been acquainted with me for years,
 * young lady placed her arm within mine, as if innocently