ELLEN DURAND.
BYEUPHEMIA BARNES.
CINCINNATI:
MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO.,
NO. 25, WEST FOURTH STREET.
1855.Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO., In the Clerk's office of the District Court of Ohio. W. OVEREND & CO., Printers, CINCINNATI.
TO
MRS. N. H. RIDGELY,
OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS,
IN GRATEFUL RECOLLECTION OF KINDNESS,
WHICH
THOUGH RENDERED YEARS SINCE,
Yet Remains Warm in the Heart of
THE AUTHOR.
ELLEN DURAND.
INTRODUCTION.
IN that part of the city of Baltimore designated, in those days, as "the New Quarter," lived, in one of the more beautiful of the pretty residences which lined the street, the family of Caldwell; a name which, though respectable in itself, had yet derived its "éclat," principally, from an alliance with the DURANDS, the immediate descendants of a French gentleman, who, giving up the fascinations of rank and title, and largely sacrificing his fortune in consequence, emigrated to the United States, that he might assist in carrying out a principle, which he had now despaired of ever seeing adopted in his own country—a free representative form of Government.
It is with the unmarried sister of Mrs. Caldwell, ELLEN DURAND (a lady celebrated for her beauty, intelligence, and a grace of manner lovely as it was rare), that these page: vi-vii[View Page vi-vii] simple "heart histories" have to do; a lady, who, though she had now arrived at an age that was considered "uncertain," yet remained the theme of speculation and curiosity, that one so gifted by nature, and favored by every "outward circumstance," should have remained so long a time single—and who even now, when she made her appearances in society, which were rare, drew after her the silent homage and admiration of the opposite sex.
There was a story that was familiar in everybody's mouth, of Miss Durand's affections having been shamefully trifled with, a year or so after she had made her debut into society, by a young man, a Mr. DULANY, of fascinating exterior and of considerable pretension, who came from the south, and who had made quite a "stir" among the belles of those days—that she seemed never to have recovered from the wound which that arch-coquet (Dulany) had inflicted upon her heart. Be that as it may, it is of those days that we write, and of the feelings and motives which swayed the actors, which will be best unfolded through the own heart thoughts and reminiscences of Ellen. It is when her heart sinks—sick—sick—that we take up the recital of that which—she may not know.
It was at the close of the summer of 1832, a year which will always be remembered, as marking the advent of the Asiatic Cholera on our shores, with which disease we have nothing to do, excepting as it affected the health and oppressed the spirits of Ellen Durand, who, as she lay alone in her room, helplessly weak from a severe attack of the prevalent disease, weary, listless, having exhausted all the means of amusement that her weak eyes would permit, was, by the accidental discovery of an old "rack," or "basket," filled with cards, plunged into a dreamy review of the "past;" each card, as she glanced at the name engraved there, or written in pencil, recalling the history of some friend till now nearly or quite forgotten, connecting their past with their present state, reviving early friendships (though not early love, that had been omnipresent), and awakening her to the interests and to the duties of life. The train of reminiscences and of thought which this simple circumstance had given rise to (whether the result of accident, or designed by an all-wise Providence, to fit her gently, soothingly, for the change that was coming), gave new life to her being, and caused her to break away from the selfishness which had wrapped itself round her as a mantle, and which comprised the one great fault of ELLEN DURAND.
page: 8-9[View Page 8-9]ERRATA.
- On the 41st page, the eleventh line from the top, for "red" read real.
- " 123rd " " thirteenth " " " " "settled" read seethed.
- " 134th " " fifth line " " " "then" read there.
- " 222nd " " top line, for "dress" read dues.
- " 123rd " " third line from the bottom, for "even" read ever.
