Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 1Thompson, Slason
General
Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 1
Thompson, Slason
Field, Eugene, 1850-1895; Journalists -- United States -- Biography; Poets, American -- 19th century -- Biography
_Sir_: Moments of deep consideration and much reflection have at
length caused me to see in its proper light the whole of my late
visit to Brattleboro. That I have been led by you and others to a
course of conduct which my own feelings, reason, and sense entirely
disapprove, is now very clear to me. I therefore write this to
inform you that I am not willing on any account to see you again.
Neither will I by any course you can adopt be prevailed upon to view
the matter in a different light from what I now do. I leave you the
alternative of forever preventing the public avowal of a disgraceful
transaction, of which you yourself said you were ashamed.
Mary A.
This veiled repudiation of the marriage at Putney was placed in
Roswell's hands by Judge Bikens and was instantly "pronounced an
impudent forgery." Being in the dark as to how far Mary's family had
been informed of their marriage, Roswell avoided any expression that
might reveal it to Judge Bikens, and refused to accept the letter as a
true expression of his wife's feelings and wishes. He at once wrote to
her, urging that their marriage should be made public and that thus an
end should be put to the suit of Jeremiah. To this Mary made reply that
the above letter "contained her real sentiments." Before this note
reached Fayetteville Roswell had started for Windsor. On the way he
halted his horse at Putney, where he learned that Mary's family was
fully informed of the marriage as performed by Justice Asa.
A very embarrassing interview followed between Roswell and the family
of his recalcitrant bride. On entering the room he advanced to Mary,
and, extending his hand, "asked her how she did." But she looked at her
mother and rejected his hand. A similar advance to Mrs. Susanna met
with a like rebuff. Being considerately left alone in the room with
Mary Almira by her mother and brother, who, with a sister, stood at the
door listening, Roswell had what he was not disposed to regard as a
private audience with his legal wife. In answer to his natural inquiry
as to what it all meant, Mary said that since she had come home and
thought it all over she found that she _did_ love Jeremiah; that
Jeremiah had been very kind to her, and she thought she ought to marry
Jeremiah.
Roswell inquired how she could do that, as she was already married.
"Why," said the fickle Mary, "you can give up the certificate; let it
all go and nobody will know anything about it." After some natural
remonstrances, Mary continued: "Come, now, you've got the certificate
in your pocket, and you can give it up just as well as not and let me
marry Jeremiah," at the same time holding out her hand as if for the
document.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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