Vermont Phœnix

ROMANCE IN REALITY.

If we remember right, we copied, some time ago, from a Western paper, an account of a runaway affair, in which a brave girl, and a coward lover were the principal characters. The scene was a ferry time, mid-winter; and the point of the story was, that the fearful lover had not courage enough to trust his precious person to the ferry-boat, and the dangers of the ice-encumbered stream, although stimulated by the exhortations and example of his intended, for whom angry waves and floating masses of ice had no terrors, when matrimony and the residence of a clergyman on the opposite bank were all in view. She was willing to dare the perils of the voyage, but his nerves were weak, and at length, with a just contempt for a lover so cowardly, she gave him his dismissal on the spot, and with her bridesmaid returned, unmarried, to the house of her guardian, whose opposition to the match had driven her to the choice of an elopement.

Another number of the same 'far west' paper in which the story first appeared, has found its way to the Atlantic borders; and in it we find the sequel of the tale, which we give in the language of the writer; who, by the way avers with all solemnity, that it is no coinage of the brain, but strict though quite poetical reality. The story is related by a correspondent of the Backwoodsman, published somewhere in Illinois.—N. Y. Com. Adv.

You will remember enclosing to me, about two months after the story appeared in the Backwoodsman, a letter from a young man in Boston, earnestly requesting to be made acquainted with her name and 'residence,' if, as he expressed it, 'she has a local habitation and a name, and the account is not the coinage of some fertile imagination.'

I gave him the information he requested and the whole affair entirely passed from my mind, except when recalled by seeing the story copied into the various periodicals of the day.

Shortly after business called me to Galena, where I remained till within the last four weeks. I was descending to St. Louis with a cargo of lead, and delayed the steamer nearly an hour at the landing where the lovers crossed the Mississippi last winter. While taking on board and landing freight, I received a note signed by a lady, who requested me to call upon her in the cabin of the Fulton, another boat, which was also receiving passengers and freight. I accepted the invitation, and to my surprise was met at the door by my old acquaintance, the heroine of the runaway match. Seizing me eagerly and affectionately by the hand, she introduced me to Mr. —, as her Husband! I was taken by surprise, but in a moment recovered my self possession, and cordially accepted the proffered hand. I instantly recollected that his name was that of the young gentleman of Boston, whose letter of inquiry I had received from you, and answered.

I will spare you the incidents of their first acquaintance. It is sufficient to say that he came to Illinois immediately after receiving my letter—obtained an introduction to Miss A.—and presented to her guardian unquestionable evidence of his good character, the high standing and wealth of his family. In short, he won her heart and hand, with the full approbation of her prudent guardian.

I sportively asked her why she did not wait till the ice run in the river, when she could make trial of the courage and disinterestedness of her cara sposa. She cast a look filled with tenderness and confidence, upon her husband, and said in a playful manner,

'I urged Edward to wait till winter, but he would not.'

They were on their way to Boston.