Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999 Page: 169
[68] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Writings of Fannie Amelia Dickson Darden
quent eyes, made him handsomer to the thinking
observer than his brother. But then Richard,
though two or three years her senior, was in
Madaline's eyes, a mere boy.
It is natural for women to wish to rever-
ence the man whom she is to call her husband,
so that we often find that the sedateness which
age imparts, and which gives a wise and oracu-
lar air to the possessor, takes the place of those
noble impulses of the heart which, like truth, hid-
den in a well, are not to be discovered by those
who form their opinions from mere external ap-
pearances. Edward and Richard had both de-
clared their love, and, in accordance with the
rules laid down above, Edward was the accepted
suitor. I, for my part, being the friend of Richard,
was indignant, and urged his higher claims over
those of his brother, to her regard. But Madaline
only laughed, and threw out some taunting allu-
sions to verdancy and juvenility which exasper-
ated me so much that I was ready, for the first
time in my life, to renounce all claims for
cousinhood, thenceforth and forever. Women
have always been great anomalies to me. I have
never understood them, and I suppose no man
ever has, or ever will, until time shall make all
things clear in the hereafter. They certainly do
not see as men do, that is, they are no judges of
our sex, for if they were, there would not be so
many broken hearts, pining spirits, and longing
souls-longing for the love which can never be
theirs in this world, but which it is hoped will be
poured out to them in the fullness of mercy here-
after, reviving their blighted hopes with eternal
beauty and beatific glory.
At length the day on which Madaline
and Edward were to be married was fixed upon,
and guests from all the neighborhood around were
invited to attend. Richard seemed enveloped in
the gloom of despair at the announcement, and I
must confess I had a feeling for him which bor-
dered on contempt when he came to unburden
his heart to me, while his voice trembled withemotion whenever he spoke of Madaline. I am
afraid I did not console him much, for I told him
he ought to have more manliness than to allow a
woman to make a fool of him; that they were
weak-minded creatures, after all, and that "there
were as good fish in the sea as ever came out of
it." But Richard could not be convinced; he evi-
dently thought there was but one woman in the
world, and that one Madaline.
However, fate had predestined that the
marriage should not take place at the appointed
time. Before that day arrived, we were called to
arms. It had been formally announced that Santa
[Anna] was on the march, and that the garrison
of the Alamo was preparing for defense. All was
now excitement and confusion. Enthusiasm per-
vaded all hearts. A company was organized un-
der Captain Mosely Baker, and in a very short
time we were ready to start to the assistance of
Travis. Madaline was all enthusiasm, and was
urging every one into the army. The morning we
were to start, she came to me and said: "Will-
iam, I wish you would bring Richard Woodville
to see me-I want to say good bye." I saw that
she looked pale and agitated, but she had just
parted with Edward, and knew she loved me very
much in a cousinly way which made it quite natu-
ral.
Richard went with me to say good bye,
but I saw that he had a great struggle to nerve
himself for the parting. She had a little souvenir
to give him-one of those little tricks that the
ladies are always manufacturing for soldiers (a
needle book or something of the kind), and which
they never once look into after they have started,
and as she handed it to him, there fell from the
ribbon which she wore around her neck a little
cornelian heart and it rested on the floor at
Richard's feet. I recognized it as one he had given
her months before. He looked very pale and his
hand trembled as he handed it to her. She did not
take it, but said, in a voice scarcely audible, "Keep
it, Richard. I have no longer any right to wear169
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999, periodical, September 1999; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151407/m1/41/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.