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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. by errata led to ent une pelure, Fapon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 "«.4 I --i f . » ^ . - vv . ly^ ■* ' VT T^ •m' 1 - 'J - -'Ii'. . '-' H \'T Y > ixK Thifi r:^)VE-LrFE of dr kxse; COKTAfNOJ'? ^^lI;^^&«Ji^fiPON(DENOHL AND A DISI-QRY O!-' TJiK aj^'JEKT MAIHUAGE BETWEEN ■V f.- % % WfM ^^ lAH^^ARKT I'OX. Mi. - ■ lir^^' vork: --"T;. THE LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE CONTAINING THE CORRESPONDENCE, AND A HISTORY OF TUB ACQUAINTANCE, ENGAGEMENT, AND SECRET MARRIAGE BETWEEN ELTSHA K. KANE AND MARGARET FOX, WITH FACSIMILES OF LETTERS, AND HER portrait; '&: * NEW YORK : Carleion, Publisher y 413 Broadway, M DCCO LXVI. 16U295 Entcrod nccorrling to Act of Con>rroH«, In tho year ls65, by (JKo. V.'. CAULKTON. In the CMerk-9 OtTlco of th.> iMstrict Court of tho Unltcl States for the South.- u District of Now York. Introdhctk Memoir.. A New Excl Charnia of Visits.— N Marriagc- about Phi Future Mri Dr. Kane's A His Attenti Plain spea quette . . . t Mrs. Fox take Dr. Kane fc Loneliness \ Battler's Co goes to Host buying a Bo Visit of Mrs. ] and Letters 1 ton.— Dr. Ki complains o Behavior an Friend.— Dr. Her " Milk a graphic Desp B. ORAIOIIEAD, Primer, Sureoiyiwr, iiiid Kleelroiyper, Caxton iSutltJing, 8t. fl3. and 8ii Centr* Str**U Dr. Kane's Lett H Life of Dec —Dr. Kane f Retrospection , Love deplore decide if she i \ CONTENTS the 8outhf M Introduction 13 Mbmoih , 21 I. A New Excitement in Philadelphia.— Dr. Kane's First Visit.— Love at First Sight.— Charms of tiie Young Lady. — Her Freedom from Vanity. — Dr, Kane's repeated Visits. — Notes to Mrs. and Miss Fox. — " A Prophecy." — Dr, Kane's Proposal of Marriage. — Its Acceptance. — Good Advice and Promises of Devotion. — Drives about Philadelphia. — Visit to Laurel Hill Cemetery.— Introductions as " The Future ftlrs. Kane." — " A Story" In Verse by Dr. Kane 21 II. . Dr. Kane's Anxiety to remove Miss Fox from her Association with Spiritualist*. — His Attentions noticed. — Hla IndlfTerence to Mrs. Grundy. — Ills Discontent. — Plain speaking to hla "Maggie." — The Dream of Love. — Regard for Eti- quette 42 III. [ Mrs. Fox takes her Daughters to New York. — Residence In Twenty-sixth Street. — Dr. Kane follows them. — His Complaints of the Young Lady's Coldness. — His Loneliness without Her. — His burdensome Duties. — He proposes a Meeting at Battler's Cosmoramas. — Miss Fox refuses any clandestine Meeting. — Dr. Kane goes to Boston. — Letters written while Miss Fox was In New York. — Dr. Kane buying a Bonnet 51 IV. "Visit of Mrs. Fox and her Daughters to Washington. — Telegraphic Despatches and Lettera from Dr, Kane. — Mayor Seaver's Dinner at the Revere House, Bos- ton. — Dr. Kane's Lecture in Boston. — Dr. Kane admires his Lady Love, but complains of her not writing, and her Want of ardent Love. — Advice as to Behavior and Dress In Washington.— The Laces. — The Lover merged in the Friend. — Dr. Kane's Illness from hard Work, — His Longing for "Maggie." — Her " Milk and Water Love." — Dr. Kane craves " Her whole Heart." — Tele- graphic Despatches during Illness, — Miss Pox lost in Washington 69 Dr. Kane's Letter t,o Miss Kate Fox.—" The Spirits" in Boston.— Warnings against a Life of Deception. — A Sad Instance of Credulity- Cruelty in the " Medium." —Dr. Kane thinks " Maggie" esteems him too lightly. — Dr. Kane's Letter of Retrospection. — His own Destinies. — The " Little Priestess." — His falling In Love deplored. — Is she worthy so much AflFectlon? — Appeal to "Maggie" to decide if she really cares for him. — She is like Surrey's Geraldine 70 .IV CONTENTS. VI. Dr. Knne roiiiCH to WaxliIniJtton.— Ktltni«' — \Vii!«lilii^t "IT the Coii^li J^yruii.— Dilvt'H iiboiil Waxliirifflon. — Iiilliifii/.ii iiini 'rt'li'Kritphlc Di'Hjmtolu'i*. — Dr. Kiiiit-'s LftttTH from I'lillftdi'lpliiii. — Il<' claliiiH '* MajCKlo" hh her Muster —I,cii(llim Iht to bettor Ways.— Itetiirn of Mrs Fox and lii-r Daiif(liter8 to I'liiladelpliia. - Dr. Kane'H KnqulrieH after Schools.—" MagK'^'" muat g've up her prtftetit A»Hocia- tioiia and Ht-ttle down to School Life.— Tlie Lovers' Compact.— An hnniedlntu Union Inipogglble 80 Mrfl. Fox I Inj,'.— Ite for Mrs. — Crooki tening h The Com VII. Return of Mrs. and Miss Fox to New York. — Dr. Kane's Letters from WashlnRton. — His Visit to th»'lr Hotel. — His lUininlscences and Cautions. — The Prospect of a Home for Miss Fox durinK his Absence. — Dr. Kane's MlsulvlngH — He nnist >;lvf up Ids liove unless she abjures the Spirits.— (lloomy ForelKxIlnns. — Purity of Dr. Kane's Affection. — His Indignation at an unworthy Suspicion. — Miss Fox toct Bpttrlng of her Letters.— Dr. Kane's Kei)roache8. — Proposal of a Visit to the lltmie selected —" You are my Clilld now." 01 VIII. Dr. Kane's Presentiments. — Return from Washington. — He craves Love. — Tietlcr gent by Mr. (irinnell. — Dr. Kane's Fears lest the Kapplngs should be found out. — He would not know the Secret for Ten Thousand Dollars. — Letters in New York. — Dr. Kane's Disgust at Spiritual Circles. — He does not wish to be thougiit a Fool 1(13 IX. Dr. Kane's Illness at Mr. Orlnnell's, in New York. — Notes to Miss Fox. — Craves her Presence. — Offers to Hind himself In Writing to her, and urges her to do the same. — His Sufferings and Patience. — Miss Fox replies that he need not bind himself. — His Notes.— Kntreating her Affection. — He urges a Visit in her Sister's Company. — His Ueproaehes for lier Refusal. — Complaints of her Want. of Love. — He cannot be angry with her. — Misis Fox's Visit to Dr. Kane at Mr.'< Orlnnell's House lOti m Dr. Kane e; Girl's Lo New Yorl his Reti Account t Ills Retur Sailing of D Letter froi Advice ab —His Adv Sorrow aff Mrs. W — Mr. Grimi( Dr. Kane's L of him.— i> Knowledge Mrs. liayar X. Convalescence of Dr. Kane. — The Wife of President Pierce and Miss Fox. — Notes from Dr. Kane to Miss Fox. — Visit to the Theatre with Kate and Mr. (I. — Dr. Kintj's nocturnal Reflections. —Advice and Warnir^gs.— His Indignation at Mrs. ♦♦*♦. — He promises .MLss Fox her Freedom in a Week. — Entreats her Promise never to permit liuppiugs In her Presence again 11* XI. Dr. Kane's Consultations with Mrs. Fox about sending Margaret to School. — .Tour- ney projected to New Haven. — Letters from l)i . Kane to Miss Fox prepnru- tory. — Mrs. Fox accompanies them to New Haven. — The Sickness of a Kelativ. — The Vl.>*it to New Haven not satisfactory. — Preparations going on for the Arctic F.xp'-ditlon.- Dr. Kane's Visit after the Decease of Ml.ss Fox's Relative. - \IU solemn Vow in Presence of the Corpse. — Moralizing Letter. — Wariiiiigs an' Kiitrtaty for a Promise of a com])lete Separation from S])iritiialism — ^()lenlI I'roinisf of Miss Fox. — Dr. Kane's ciuiering Anticipations of IKt Kiit\ire Life.— Kefera to their expected Happiness In the Wed»ling Visit to Italy on lib Return 126 at Fnult — Dr. Kiiiu-'f* I'liilliig htT Iphlii.- Dr. it AmocIh- Imiiu'dlate W) Vashlngton. rospect. of a J niiiKt K'ivi- •urlty of Dr. llsH Fox t visit to tlu- CI OVP. — Tictier V fouiul out. ttiTS in Ntw o l)e tlioutrlit 103 Fox.— Craves 'I'S her to do 111' jH'tMi not Visit in lir. Kane's Aunt. — Letters has- tentng her I'reparatlonH. — Jeu d'KHprit. — " The Preacher" and " Manu'e." — The Compact iu Furou. — MImd Fax's Portrait. — Dr. Kuiie's tiuperstitlou 180 XIII. Dr. Kane escorts Mrs. and Miss Fox to Pldladelphia. — The Partlnpf. — Tlie younff Girl's Love and borrow. — Extract from her .Tournal.— Letter from Dr. Kane in , New York on the Eve of his Departure — His Reference to their Marriu^e on hU Return.— The Farewell.— .Mrs. Fox's Return from Philadelphia.- Her Account of Margaret's Orlef. — Dr. Kane resolves to pay her one more Visit.— His Return from CrookviUe and Recovery of her Bird 147 XIV. Sailing of Dr. Kane, May 80th, 1858 —Letters from Mr. Grlnnell to Miss Fox.— Letter from Dr. Kane, written at Sea — Another written at riea. — More KO"d Advice about School Matters and Studies. — Mr. Orlnneil's Accounts of Dr. Kane. — His Advice about the School. — Mrs. Lelper's Interest in the Young Lady.— Her Sorrow affects her Health. — Visit to New York. — Letters from Mrs. Turner. — Mrs. W 'a Letter. — Mrs. Turner's Reply.— Letters to Miss Fox at School.— Mr. Grlnnell forwards a Letter from Greenland 104 XV. • Dr. Kane's Letter from Greenland to Miss Fox. — Mr. Grlnnell's further Account of him. — Suspense. — Miss Gray's Letters.— Mrs. Turner's.- Mr. Grinneira.— Knowledge of the Engagement between Miss Fox and Dr. Kane. — Letter from Mrs. Bayard. — Mrs. Turner congratulates Miss Fox on Dr. Kane's Arrival.. 175 XVI. The Letters quoted show the Knowledge of her Betrothal among the Friends of Miss Fox. — Newspaper Articles. — The Family Pride mortified. — Miss Fox in New Y'ork when Dr Kane arrives. — She awaits his Visit. — He does not come.— Her Chagrin and Grief.— The Visit late at Night.— Not Dr. Kane, but Mr. Grlnnell — Dr. Kane*8 Visit next Morning. — Miss Fox refuses to see him. — Consents with Reluctance. — Trouble in his Family, and Oppo.sition to his Engagement.— He loves her, but must defer their Marriage. — She assents and writes the State- ment he requires. — Permits his Visits as a Brother. — Mrs. Lelper's Indignation at Dr. Kane's Conduct.— Visit of an Editor.- The Friends of Miss Fox interfere. — Dr. Kane entreats Miss Fox to •' stand firm." — His Notes. — Promises to be true to her 190 - XVII. PfLctter from Dr. Kane entreating Miss Fox to have no Association with Spiritualists. —More of the '' Preacher's" Moralizing.- A Fairy Story.— Miss Fox writes to her " Brother." — Dr. Kane's Reply — Mrs. Fox remonstrates, and requests him to cease visiting her Daughter.— He cannot comply. — Meeting of Miss Fo.\-'8 Friends -—Dr. Kane's Anguish and Dread of Separation, — He is forbidden to see or write to Miss Fox.— Her Farewell Letter.— Dr. Kane's Distress.- He entreats her to write to him, and promises Fidelity 201 T V\ CONTENTS. I ; XVIII. Conttniianct' of Dr. Khiio'm VI«!u.— Ho pliicen lil« Pute In MIhh Fox'h Iliindii.— She rt'fimt's to iimrry Jilin. — Defuiioc of hbt Conduct —He nilin on Mrs. Kox, when he ciinnot n»-e hiT Dautrhter. — He ciinnot give lier up.— Newnpftper KeporU.— Article from the N. >'. Trlhunti. — Tho Timen imtl the Liuly author of ItH State- tnent — Dr. Kane's Noten and Lettern to MIhm Fox —Her reprovhiK Letter — The (loud lifted.— Dr. Kane'n Health Impaired liy the >StruKKl*) of FeelhiK — MrH. Fox returnH hix Letter to her Daughter, and forhidx him to write to her again.— He writes Miss Fox a Farewell. — A formal Note, with his Portrait.. 214 XIX. Dn Kane's Renewal of his Kn^a^ement with MIhh Fox. — Injunctltns of Secrecy.— Shower of Notes. —ViMits every Day. — Dr. Kane's Hours of Fun and droll Inii- tatlon.<«. — Practical Joke on a SplrituallMt. — The Parlor Sanctuary. — Dr. Kane's Uecolleetlons of former Times in Self-Defence. — llefers to his oft repeated Pro- mise of Marriage 223 XX. Dr. Kane's Letter to Mrs. Fox In reply to a Reproof from her.— Brotherly Ijetter. — "The Royal Family." — Dr. Kane itslcs Pardon for a Fault. — His Abhorrenoc of Hpiritualisnu — He shields his Lady-Love from the sight of any " Munifestn- tiou." — His jealous Cure in Guarding her 240 XXI ML-'s Fox's Letter.— Brief Missives written In the Midst of Dr. Kane's Labors.— The Wonderful Stove. — Departure of Mrs. and .Miss Fox for Canada. — Letter of Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.— Dr. Kane's Letter written in "Maggie's" deserted Parlor In New York. — Tlie Lover and the Poodle. — Letters of Sll.'is Fox from Canada. — Dr. Kane keeps the Key of her Box containing his Letters. — He tells her she " has a Fortune In tliera" 250 , XXII. Return of Mrs. and Miss Pox to New Yor'if. — Dr. Kanr has watched for them, and welcomes them. — The Diamond Bracelet. — The nUlet ]>inned up In Miss Fox'h Parlor. — Notes and Verses. — Dr. Kane an indifferent Poet. — The Surprise. — The Ambrotype. — Despondency of Dr. Kane In View of Separation. — The Solemn though Secret Marriage of Dr. Kane to Miss Fox. — He promises thot the Mar- riage shall be made public In May.— His Note to his Wife 268 XXIII. Dr. Kane's sad Forebodings. — He does not now doubt his Wife's Love — The Envelope with a private .Mark. — Making his Will. — A Legacy left to Mrs. Kane.— "A Secret Trust.^'— The Adleux.— The Final Parting.— Distress of Both.— "Shnil I go, or stay?"— Dr. Kane's Notes from England and at Sea.— His last Letter.— Mrs. Kane's Letters to Havana.- Death of Dr. Kane. — Extract from Mrs. Kane's Journal — Hlcks's Painting of Dr. Kane described. — Mrs. Kane's Appeal for her Husband's last Message to her. — Her abiding (Irlef. — Her Admission Into the Roman Catholic Church. — Baptism.— Letters of Condolence from Governor Tallmadge 278 It ii private seiitin^ moot t seems putatio that nc the leti conside spect, h were ad for any poverty years a^ that, to trust for for a ti sneers o gard for protect, most inji reached her fair tions ; yc even this PREFACE. It is customary, in publishing personal memoirs or private correspondence, to make some apology for pre- senting to the world that which was never intended to meet the public eye. In the case of love-letters this seems especially necessary, if one would avoid the im- putation of want of delicacy. Perhaps many will think that no circumstances could justify the publication of the letters contained in this volume. But, after long consideration, those whose opinions are entitled to re- spect, have judged differently. The lady to whom they were addressed has ever held these letters as too sacred for any eyes save her own to rest upon. She has borne poverty and privation, when their publication many years ago might have given her an independence ; and that, too, notwithstanding that the small sum left in trust for her by Dr. Kane has been (except the interest for a time) withheld from her. She has borne the sneers of the w^orld, and the neglect of those whose re- gard for the deceased should have induced them to protect, comfort, and befriend her. She has borne most injurious calumnies, which from time to time have reached her in her seclusion. Those slanders against I her fair name have been repeated in various publica- itions ; yet she might be willing to receive in silence ^even this bitterest portion of her cup of sorrow, and Vlll PREFACE. ! go down to the grave covered with unjust obloquy, were the choice left entirely to herself. But it has not been so left. After repeated threats that Dr. Kane's letters (her only treasure and vindication) could and would be taken from her by process of law, she reluc- tantly consented to have copies of thera made. After this was done, the judgment of friends overruled her objections, and the letters were incorporated in a memoir. Their publication, it was urgf>d, would vindi- cate the honor of both parties to the correspondence ; for both had severely suffered from the slanders spread abroad. In 1862, the volume was in press ; bat its publication, ac well as a suit in the Orphans' court, Philadelphia, for dower, on the widow's part, was stopped by a compro- mise with the brothers and executor of Dr. Kane. One of the brothers agreed to pay her an annuity equal to the interest of the money left her, in quarterly instal- ments, and the sum of two thousand dollars down, to repay the expenses she had incurred, provided she would discontinue the suit for dower, and would seal up the letters and copies, with the MS. memoir, proof- sheets, tj^'9^^'t^ j^fi^t,^ A R marriage) A^y^^c^,..^^ ^'^y^-^y^ ^"^^^^^-^ -^^^ /^b^Z2^ wv^ >yW-^ e^ /^^^Z,o^^ Ul^y<^^^<^-^ /»iC€.„^'~-^ ^--^^ '"""^ «r'^^^^»^/'-^ f -^S!^- /!i> ^^C^^ «50 ^^^^^^^^^^^^<.^r^ ^.;^^^ ^^^n ^^:zzz:z:y j £ <^<.J^^. ^^"^^L^t-x^^ ^4f^ ^ ^r,*.^:^ ^c^ ^^^* U) /n^ e^ »*- j::^i^^^uJ^ ^^^^^^^ >^^^^.e^^ />.c^,,A.^ ^^.^^^^ZZlT—.^^i!^.^ '-*''3?'"-»* --^ Z^^Z^lO v*'*:.^-^^/' ;;^<^ ?- .^ >• ^-<:- :^ ^'4>n^^y^^ r^i^iB^^"^ ^y^^^ \tLJLJ\ y^v ^^'^^-w. *o^ r^^i^ ^^--^^^ ^c^t*-^^ C^,0^^u.uy ^c^.y^4^^ ^Ji,,^.^^^ ^^cX ^^«*^-C-0 Z^^^ScD ./*iC,^-^y/' / ! 11!.. INTRODUCTION. A REVIEWER of Dr. Elder's Biography of Dr. E. K Kane, noticing the author's statement that he had access to the private correspondence of the great explorer, and claimed the credit of showing all the important points of his life and character — says : "It is because we are satisfied that Dr. Elder only had access to part of the Doctor's private correspondence, and because the book records only the exterior and gilded life of Dr. Kane, that we are obliged to look upon it as defective. There was a deep under-current in the navigator's life, which the distinguished bio- grapher knew nothing of, and which the family did not place at his disposal. We allude to the love-life of Dr. Kane ; the spontaneous feelings which pro- duced the extensive * private correspondence ' with a young lady in New York, in which his real inner existence is manifest. The biography would have been more strictly true, if it had revealed the fact ♦ I an engagement there, in which his feelings were fully enlisted ; but which he repudiated when he returned covered with the tinsel and show of glory, because u LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. I'i his friends thought it beneath him to marry one who had not t.. "tamp of dollars and aristocracy to add to his reno',, ». In this his courage failed, and he yielded his own higher feelings to the vain applause of the world ; while he insisted on keeping up a cor- respondence with the young lady after he went to Cuba, and until near the time of his death. Here is a phase of Dr. Kane's life which should be made public; and if the letters are ever published (an event not likely to occur, we learn), another impor- tant leaf can be added to the biography which has just appeared." There is certainly no kind of correspondence that so reveals the inner life and soul of a man as his love-letters. No experience, like that of -the heart, commands sympathy, because none so fully discloses and renders us intimate with the individual. The most detailed record of Dr. Kane's plans, adventures, and achievements, could not throw half the light on his personal character that a memoir of his love-life does. The loves of eminent men, through the world's literary history, have not only shared their renown, but have aided them to deserve it. Petrarch — the model after whom the early poets shaped their amo- rous fancies — does not the world owe him to Laura ? And does not Waller live in Saccharissa ? From Wyatt and Surrey — through the poetical literature of Elizabeth and the First and Second Charles — down LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 15 to the '* Grand Turk of amatory verse," Lord Byron, and the bards of the present day, the love-element has contributed vastly to the popularity of poetry. It id by the story of his love for the fair Geraldine — marvellous as a knightly romance — that the Earl of Surrey is held in remembrance ; it is for Stella's sake that we linger over the sonnets of Sydney. "Who thinks of Klopstock without Meta ? And who for- gets the tender sadness that breathes in Donne's com- plaints, in his laconic epistle — " John Donne — Anne Donne — undone I " The loves of Burns — numberless as leaves in Vallambrosa, or " the gay motes that people the sunbeams," — what would his poetry be without them 'i Letters between lovers are still more interesting, because they bring the actual life and feelings of the writers closer to our sympathies. The letters of Stella and Vanessa to Swift have embalmed their names. How many have sighed over the tender sor- rows of Abelard and Heloise 1 The correspondence of Goethe with Bettina will live as long as the most elaborate works of the great poet. The letters of love and friendship of a man of science and heroic adventure are the more valuable as they form almost the only outlet for his proper individuality. The learned man or the hero, in such outpourings of his secret heart, appears in an aspect contrasted with that of his public life, and the more affecting in proportion to the contrast. Thus we 16 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ':: ii become convinced — to use the language of the biogra- pher of Dr. Kane — that " our man of mighty enter- prise and world-wide notoriety had a heart and soul in him ; all nerve to the demands of duty, but in the deepest, dearest sense, all tenderness, devotion, and tact in the offices of affection." The brief and brilliant career of Dr. Kane was marked by more of both suffering and achievement than has been crowded into the history of as few years in the lives of the most remarkable men. It has been well said that "no human quantity of omniscience and providence would have been a full match for the duties with which this one man was burdened." "When we see the man thus pressed under his multitudinous obligations — " while his pen was running, his telegraphs flying," — while " he was worrying the Department, examining recruits, invent- ing cooking-stoves, pricing rounds of beef, rummaging the Medical Bureau at Washington — till he had suc- ceeded in begging some two thousand dollars' worth of outfit, all the while up to his elbows in a batch of Department dough, that was only souring while he was trying to make it rise," — when we see him at a milliner's choosing a little girl's bonnet, trying to catch an escaped canary bird in Philadelphia, or quitting his work on the very eve of embarking upon his great expedition, to go over a hundred miles to comfort a homesick schoolgirl in her country seclusion — we are all the more touched by his tendej-ness, and LOVE-LIPE OF DR. KANE. 17 wonder at the depth and ardor of the love that impelled him. So the little incident of his carrying the portrait of his beloved one strapped to his back, through the dreary Arctic wastes, gives us a better insight into a true and noble heart than all the anec- dotes collated by his biographer. There was a complication in this attachment of Dr. Kane's which does not belong to ordinary love affairs. The young girl to whom his heart was given, whom he so often called his " godsend," was inferior to him in social position. This may sound strangely in America, where, in theory, no social distinctions are recognised, and where ability and education every day elevate their possessor to supe- rior power and influence in spite of diflSculties. But it was not want of fortune nor want of education that alone stood in the way. The profession of mediumship for "spiritual manifestations" was from its commencement under the ban of public disfavor and suspicion. It was generally supposed that deception was practised on the credulous by artful persons who made money out of the delusions they created. That one so distinguished and highly esteemed as Dr. Kane should love and wed an untutored girl, with only beauty and virtue for her dower, was scarcely pardonable by a proud family ; but the added odium of the spirit-rapping association his family could not possibly bear ; his friends shrank from it ; he, himself, with all his tried bravery, trem- ii iM 18 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. !■! ill ;i i bled to encounter it. This dread of public derision, of the censure and pity of those he esteemed, of the lowering which his reputation might suffer, caused the struggles apparent in many of his earlier letters, between his regard for the world's opinion and the love that had entwined itself with every fibre of his being. How deep and strong must that love have been, to come ofl" victorious from such a conflict ! His affection waa not strengthened in its first growth by any fervent response from its fair object. She was in years almost a child, in experience wholly one ; surrounded by the disciples of spiritualism, who regarded her as a chosen apostle of the new belief, and by kindred most unwilling to give her up to a destiny that would remove her far from them. There was opposition, rather than favor, among her nearest relations, to the suit of her lover. She was proud, too, in her gentle way, and perhaps not disposed to open her maiden heart unreservedly to one who despised her associates, condemned her calling, and often thought himself bound in self-respect to give her up for ever. The consciousness of his own supe- riority seemed ever present, even in the warmest expressions of his regard ; and she was too young to perceive in this unwilling condescension the strongest proof of the power of her own attractions. This state of things should be borne in mind while reading letters that appear strange on the Doctor's side, or cold and reserved on hers. It was, in Dr. Kane's LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 19 own words, " a mutual dread" that trammelled both; — this fear of the censures and the misconstruction of those around them. Never was a " course of true love " pursued under circumstances more unpro- pitious. In both, the affection proved strong enough to triumph over adverse circumstances. The young girl abjured "the spirits" for ever; suffered herself to be separated from kindred and early associations, and gave herself irrevocably in a life-consecration to the chosen of her heart. Her coldness was changed to a devotion which death itself has had no power to chill or destroy. The lover, after a severe conflict with the tyranny of Prejudice — that absolute sove- reign of the American republic — returned to his allegiance to his soul's first and only idol. Faithful to death was he, and the victory thus gained in the strength of a noble nature, does him as much honor as any achieved under the banner of science. The account given by Smucker in his Life of Dr. Kane, is incorrect in the statement that the engage- ment, of Miss Fox and Dr. Kane commenced before the Doctor's first Arctic Expedition. It was shortly before his last one. Nor could the young lady be considered as of " inferior " birth. Her father was a reputable and well-to-do farmer, who owned a fine estate in Canada, where Margaret was born, and con- siderable property in the western part of the State of New York. His ancestors were highly respectable 20 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Germans, the name being originally Voss. [Mrs. Fox was of the Rutan family, of French origin, and of ancient and honorable lineage. Some of her relations of that name still reside near Montreal, possessors of a magnificent estate, and esteemed among the wealthy aristocracy of the country. Mr. Fox unfortunately lost his excellent Canadian property, but retained a small farm in New York. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church in good standing, and were always respected by their neighbors. II j'j: M' MEMOIR. m -•-♦- I. Late in the autumn of 1852, Mrs. Fox and her daughter Margaret were occupying rooms at Webb's Union Hotel, in Arch Street, Philadelphia, for the purpose of giving receptions to those who wished to investigate the phenomena of what was called " Spiri- tual Manifestations." Some years had elapsed since this marvel had originat i in the famous " Eochester knockings," in the family of Mr. Fox. Public atten- tion had been drawn to the strange occurrences which were reported in the newspapers; committees of inquiry had visited the house of Mr. Fox, and had conversed and tried experiments with the little girls in whose presence the sounds were heard. No one could penetrate the acknowledged mystery; although, when exhibitions were given in New York, many gentlemen distinguished for scientific attainments had examined the matter repeatedly. The attention drawn to it spread rapidly throughout the United States and throughout the world. Invitations to visit the principal cities poured upon the family, sometimes half-a-dozen telegraphic despatches being 22 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. EANE. H :,!!liiiiii received in a day. In compliance with these urgent and importunate requests to allow the curious an opportunity of investigation, th^ mother of the youthful but already celebrated " mediums " deter- mined to make a short sojourn in Philadelphia and Washington before taking up her residence in New York. It is at all times easy to create a sensation in Phila- delphia. The number of Quakers who live there, the social habits of the people, the absence of public amusements generally patronized, render the popula- tion — especially the higher and more educated part of it — peculiarly susceptible to any excitement stir- ring their neighborhood or their quiet city. Such a wonder as " spirit-rappings " would naturally cause a prodigious commotion. It is not surprising that the receptions were thronged, and that the "medium" and the " manifestations " were the subject of gene- ral comment. Mrs. Fox had left her youngest daugh. ter, Katharine, then a mere child, at school in New York ; and Margaret, then scarcely thirteen years of age, was the one through whom " the spirits " held converse with those of this world who sought com- munication with their ghostships. The rappings made in her presence were startlinj/ly loud, and the invisible agents seemed to derive great power from her organization to make their various demonstrations. She herself never had looked deeply enough into the mystery to have any belief at all as to the phenomena. 1 11 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 28 The most prominent and fashionable people of the city came to hear the mysterious " knockings," and to have their questions answered. Clergymen and doctors, scientific and literaiy persons, the lovely and the learned, the sentimental and the stern, were daily in attendance ; and yet the wonder grew. One morning, about ten o'clock, Dr. E. K. Kane entered the magnificent " bridal parlors " which were appropriated to the spiritual sittings. It was his first visit ; and, seeing a very young lady sitting by the window with a book in her hand, he imagined that Tie had knocked at the wrong door. "I beg your pardon, madam," he said in a low voice to Mrs. Fox, " I have made some mistake ; can you direct me to the rooms where the * spiritual manifestations ' are shown ? " The lady informed him he was not mistaken, and invited him to take a seat at the table, to which the youthful medium was presently summoned. The Doctor paid little attention, however, to the spirits. He entered into conversation with Mrs. Fox, now and then glancing at Margaret, who still held the book of French exercises she had been studying, and by stealth read the lesson whenever the conver- sation permitted. She was intent on her studies, and little dreamed that the gentleman she now saw for the first time would exercise such an influence over her future destinies. Dr. Kane afterwards said repeatedly that his deter- 4 24 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. K :'!; mination was formed on this first interview to make Margaret his wife. Little as she suspected his feel- ings, he loved her at first sight. Her beauty was of that delicate kind which grows on the heart, rather than captivates the sense at a glance ; she possessed in a high degree that retiring modesty which shuns rather than seeks admiration. The position in which she was placed imposed on her unusual reserve and self-control, and an ordinary observer might not have seen in her aught to make a sudden impression. But there was more than beauty in the charm about her discerned by the penetrating eyes of her new* acquaintance. The winning grace of her modest demeanor, and the native refinement apparent in every look and movement, word and tone, were evi- dences of a nature enriched with all the qualities that dignify and adorn womanhood ; of a soul far above her present calling, and those who surrounded her. To appreciate her real superiority, her age and the circumstances must be considered. She was yet a little child — untutored, except in the elements of instruction to be gained in country district schools, when it was discovered that she possessed a myste- 'rious power, for which no science or theory could account. This brought her at once into notoriety, and gathered around her those who had a fancy for the supernatural, and who loved to excite the wonder of strangers. Most little girls would have been spoiled by that kind of attention. The endurance II '^ LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 26 of it wiuhout having her head turned, argued rare delicacy, simplicity, and firmness of character. After exhibitions given in different cities, to find herself an object of public attention, and of flattering notice from persons of distinction, would naturally please the vanity of a beautiful young girl ; and it would not be surprising if a degree of self-conceit were engendered. But Margaret was not vain, and could not be made self-conceited. If she had any con- sciousness of her exquisite loveliness, — if it pleased her to possess pretty dresses and ornaments — her delight was that of a happy child taking pleasure in beautiful things without reference to any effect they might enable her to produce. Perhaps no young girl ever lived more free from the least idea of coquetry or conquest. She heeded not the expres- sions of admiration that reached her ear so frequently. She had seen enough of the world at this time to be aware of the advantages of a superior education, and it was the most ardent wish of her heart to make herself a well educated woman. Thus every moment she could spare was devoted to study. She never appeared in public without some older lady, and in the sittings was invariably accompanied by her mother. Young as she was, and thus secluded from familiar approach, it is not likely she had ever thought of beaux, or the admiration of the other sex. When Br. Kane had left the rooms on the occasion 2 / I sl i I LOVE-LIFE or DR. KANE. just mentioned, Miss Fox expressed herself pleased with his manners and conversation. The next day he came again. * This time he took little or no heed of the spirits, but addressed his conversation to the young lady, and spoke seriously to her of the course she was pursuing. " This is no life for you, my child," he said, plainly. He pointed out the dangers of living so continually in the public eye, especially to one so young. " You ought to go to school and remain there some years, till your education is com- pleted," he continued. His words found an echo in Margaret's own wishes, and she listened to him with Btill increasing respect and attention. Sh« had, in fact, no pleasure in her professional life, and could not but perceive that she was regarded by many with distrust, and that others openly charged her with deception, supposing that she had some occult machinery for making the raps, and for answering the queries of the deluded. Poor girl I with her simplicity, ingenuousness, and timidity, she could not, had she .been so inclined, have practised the slightest deception with any chance of success. Dr. Kane became a daily visitor, and sometimes came twice or thrice a day ; introducing many of his friends and relatives to the wonderful rappings— much as in his heart he disliked them — for the oppor- tunity they afforded him of seeing and talking with tfee fair young priestess of those mysteries. One day, when there was a "circle," he wrote on a slip of LOVE-LIFE or PR. KANE. 27 tcased :t day ) heed to the course u, my angers ecially ol and is corn- echo in im with had, in d could f many red her occult [swering ith her could bed the letimes of his ^pings— oppor- Ing "with >ne day, slip of pnper and handed to her the question — " Were you ever in love ? " The young lady blushed, and wrote her reply, playfully bidding him " ask the spirits." Notes like the following, received every day, testi- fied that the writer kept her in mind. [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Fox.] " Dr. Kane will call at three o'clock p.m., for the purpose of accompanying Mrs. and Miss Fox upon an afternoon drive. "Renssblasb, Dec. 7tb, 1862." [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Dr. Kane leaves for New York on Monday; might he ask Miss Fox at what hour she would be disengaged before his departure ? "GiBABD Stsebt, Dec. lOth, 1852." [Dr. Kane to Mies Fox.] " My Dear Miss Fox : — ^The day is so beautiful that I feel tempted to repent my indoor imprison- ment. If you will do me the kindness to change 28 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. your own mind, and take a quiet drive, I will call for you at your own hour. " With respect, very faithfully your servant, " E. K. Kane. "Phila., Dec. 12th, 1852." In the following note to Mrs. Fox, Dr. Kane refers to Miss Katharine Fox, then at school in New York, and residing with a lady medium — a relative, whose "establishment" for spiritual manifestations was in Twenty-sixth Street : I f I [Dr. Kaae to Mrs. Fox.] " My Deak Madam : — I left New York this morning, and return again to-morrow. If you have any messages to send to your daughter, I should be happy to convey them, as I take a large party of my lady friends on Saturday to her establishment. " I will call between five and six o'clock this after- noon. " I could not resist the temptation of sending the accompanying little trifle of ermine, for Miss Marga- retta's throat. As I know you to be carefully fasti- dious as to forms, permit me to place it in your hands. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 29 "Pray pardon the pocket-worn condition of the enclosed note. "Very faithfully your oVt'serv^ " E. K. Kane. •'GiBARD Stbeet, Dec. 18th, 18B2." Not very long after his first visit, Dr. Kane brought his favorite cousin, Mrs. Patterson — a very lovely woman — to see Miss Fox. A day or two afterwards Mrs. Fox received this note. [I)r. Kane to Mrs. Fox.] " My Dear Madam :— The day is so beautiful that I will call with Mrs. Patterson, at half-past two, in hopes of persuading Miss Margaret to take the vacant place in her carriage. " Tell Miss Maggie to dress warmly. " Faithfully your ob't serv'nt, " E. K. Kane. "Mrs. Fox." These are but few notes among very many of the same kind. One day while sitting near the table where there was a circle. Dr. Kane wrote the following lines, and handed them to the young medium. 80 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. « A PROPHECY. " Now thy long day's work is o'er, Fold thine arms across thy breast ; Weary ! weary is the life By cold deceit oppressed. " Thee shall harrowing care and sorrow Fret, while journeying to the tomb ; Triumph lasts not till the morrow ; Beauty shall feast the worm. Dreary, dreary, ever dreary, Sad and same — and ever weary ; Dreary too, from night to morn, Thou shalt live and die forlorn." Some time afterwards Mrs. A)x expected her youngest daughter from New York. She received the following note frpm Dr. Kane in relation to that young lady's expected journey. [Dr. Kane to Mn. Fox.] ** My Dear Madam :^It has just occurred to me that your daughter would have to change from cars to steamboat at Camden or Taconey. This would not be very pleasant to a young lady unaccompanied by a friend. If, therefore, you will send me word when your telegraph arrives, I will be happy to meet LOVE-LIFK OF DR. KANK. 81 Miss Kate on the boat and give her the aid of my escort. " Very faithfully your ob't servant, "E. K. Kane. "GiBJiRD St., Jan. 10th, 10 a.il " Mrs. Fox, Philadelphia." Such notes as the next would accompany some little present. [Dr. KAoe to tin. Fox.] " My Dear Madam : — Although I am still skep- tical as to our friends in the other country, I am a firm believer in my friends in this. As such, know- ing that we must soon part, I have taken the liberty of presenting to Miss Margaret a little memento of our short acquaintance. May I ask you to accept also of the accompanying trifle from " Your ob't serv't, " E. K. Kane. "Jan. 12th, 1853. "Mrs. Fox." The few notes quoted above will serve to show the early relations of the parties. One day, after the company had retired. Dr. Kane, who had now established himself on the footing of a friend, lingered in the parlor, and drawing Miss Fox aside, conversed with her in a low tone, while her i' !l;i, 32 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. mother was occupied in some other part of the rooms. He again spoke of the melancholy way in which she was living — pursuing a calling which the world thought ambiguous at least, and deplored the fact that deceit was generally attributed to those who engaged in such matters. He reminded her that she was fitted by nature for better things : for the highest destiny of woman. He asiced earnestly if she would be willing to quit for ever her present life, and devote herself to acquiring an education, with such habits as would efface the memory of the past, and fit her for an entirely different sphere. " And when you are thus changed, Maggie," he said, " I shall be proud to make you my wife. Can you resolve to leave all that surrounds you — with that end in view ; to begin your life over again ; to forget the past, and think only how you may become worthy of one whose existence shall be devoted to you ? " The young girl answered that she could. But Dr. Kane saw that the regard he had been able to inspire was not as deep as his own love ; how could it be, in one less than half his own age I He wished to see her less of the child, and more of the woman. " Are you able to feel, Maggie," he said, " how sacred, how binding, is a promise of this kind ? It is a plighting of your troth : a solemn surrender of yourself — ^heart, soul, and life — to another. Do you feel that it is so ? Think long and deeply upon it, LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 33 and make no promise rashly ; for once made, it must be inviolable for life. You must not engage your- self to be my wife unless you can give me all your love — your whole heart ; unless you can sacrifice for me all other anticipations and prospects." Much more he said on the subject, and gave a his- tory of his own past life.; a brief and barren history, so far as matters of the heart were concerned. He told her that his father had wished to see him united to a lady who possessed wealth, but had no attractions to fetter his love ; and that he had heretofore been willing to give up his own inclinations in compliance with the wish of one to whom he owed obedience. But now the case was entirely altered. He loved for the first time in his life ; he loved deeply, ardently, and so long as the object of his love continued worthy of it, his affection would be unchanged. He could not now bestow his hand where his heart could not be given. He would immediately release himself from any supposed obligation on his part to do so. He would inform his father that his union with Miss was an utter impossibility. Thus he was free to pledge himself to the bright and blooming and guile- less young creature whose sweet dark eyes had capti- vated him, and who alone should be his in the most sacred of all ties, when she had set herself free from trammels of another kind. Margaret listened to all this, and accepted the vows of the lover to whom she looked up with admiration and respect, and with 84 LOVE-LIPE OF DR. KANE. ill growing regard. It is manifest, however, that she felt as yet none of the impassioned fervor that marked his attachment to her. She was still a child in heart. Immediately after this memorable interview the tea-bell rang, and the young lady, fluttering with her new happiness, was summoned to take her usual place next her mother. It may well be supposed that she did not much justice to the viands on this occasion; but she found opportunity to whisper to her mother — " I have great news to tell you." The secret was communicated in their own room. Mrs. Fox of course could not be insensible to the advantages, to her daughter at least, of the alliance proffered ; but she knew Dr. Kane could not marry till his return from the Arctic seas ; that he was even then making preparations for the expedition, and that it must be uncertain whether he ever would return. She did not wish to part with her daughter, in view of these contingencies, for the present, and was not quite willing to place her immediately at school, as Dr. Kane wished. He had many long and earnest conversations with her, before he could bring her to think of a separation. Some time after Dr. Kane's declaration of his attachment, one of the visitors to the " spirits " said to Miss Fox, " Do you know that gentleman who is so constant an attendant on your levees ? It is the great Dr. Kane." Margaret was familiar with his name, of course, LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 35 by this time ; but not having the least knowledge of his past life or his achievements, she was utterly ignorant of his " greatness." This may serve to prove that worldly ambition had no share in the favor with which she regarded his suit. She knew that he was not wealthy ; in that respect, and in the distinction derived from fashionable accomplishments and sur- roundings, he was inferior to many gentlemen whom she saw every day. It was his frankness and sin- cerity, and his brotherly tenderness for her interests, that first attracted her regard. She knew him to be in the right in his views of the life she was then submitting to, and secretly longed for deliverance, that she might enter the gates of that new existence he had pointed out as alone worthy of her powers. Dr. Kane often invited her to take drives with him, always in the company of some older lady, for he dreaded the tongue of rumor or scandal, and was as anxious to protect her fair name as if she had been his own sister. Mrs. Patterson frequently accom- panied them on these excursions. The drives around Philadelphia are very beautiful, and the young lady greatly enjoyed seeing so many new objects of inte- rest. She had a very charming way of expressing her delight in novel and striking scenes; it was so ingenuous, so sweet, unstudied and child-like ; so sparkling and irrepressible, yet so marked by a mo- desty that was almost timidity. It was the buoyant glee of a child, held \n check but not dashed by the r 36 LOVE-LIPE OP DR. KANE. I liill .': 'I'l m '■: fear of breaking bounds, and possibly giving oiBfence. In her most joyous moments her clear eyes at once sought sympathy, and seemed to ask if the joy might be indulged. Perhaps the continual necessity of practising self control, which her professional life imposed on her, was the cause of this peculiarity of manner. Her nature was impulsive, often impetuous, though so in all gentleness and sweetness ; her emo- tions had ever been those of happiness only ; still, she had learned self-command from being frequently in the presence of persons uncongenial to her, and the blending of this habit of reticence with a natural gaiety which almost defied restraint, made her, as Dr. Kane expresses it in one of his letters, "a curious study." He appears to have endeavored to awaken in her a love for the beauty of natural scenery, as well as the treasures of literature. Meanwhile her duties at " the spiritual rooms" continued to occupy much of her time. On one occasion the lovers went with a party to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Miss Fox slipped at the entrance, and Dr. Kane expressed his regret at such an accident, saying he was slightly superstitious, and " would not for the world it had happened." Leading her to the family vault of the Kanes, which was then unfinished, he knocked on the iron door and repeated the lines from Longfellow's " Psalm of Life :" sermon. J .«* m ■i' LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 37 '* Art is long, and time is fleeting ; And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave." Adding, " Here, Margaret, will be your last resting- place 1" He then spoke with deep feeling of " Willie," his deceased brother, who had suffered much in the delirium of his last illness ; an^ added, " Maggie, you are a godsend to me," ^^s another worthy object of affection to fill the place of the lost one. They walked about and looked at the finest monuments in the cemetery. Every place worth visiting in or around Philadel- phia was shown by Dr. Kane to his betrothed. On one occasion Dr. and Mi*8. Patterson accompanied them to the fa ily country-seat, " Eensselaer," now " Fern Eock." When Dr. Kane stepped out of the carriage Mrs. Patterson whispered, " Miss Fox, Elisha loves you; I can see* that I" After the ladies alighted Dr. Kane gave his arm to Margaret and led her around the grounds, stopping at one of the tenants' houses a few moments to view some curiosity. Or. their return, when they would pass a church. Dr. Kane would sportively propose to go in and preach a sermon. From this, and his habit of telling his lady- Icvf^ of any fault he observed, she playfully called him " preacher ;" a sobriquet he affixed to many of his letters. While they were in the carriage Dr. Kane took 38 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. it- ■! ; ; ■ i ' ill Hi 'IP hold of Mrs. Patterson's hand, pulled down the glove, and showed Miss Fox a beautiful ring set in black enamel. After taking home that lady and her hus- band he accompanied Margaret to her hotel, and when they entered her parlor, snatched her ermine and muff, and came stepping daintily in with, "Here comes Johnny with the tea-things I" He remained to spend the evening, and the next day brought three rings for his lady-love's selection of one. Putting aside a splendid diamond set in pearls, she accepted one set in black enamel and wore it as her " engagement ring," On another drive they passed the Girard House at an hour when the windows were crowded ; yet, not- withstanding this. Dr. Kane insisted on stopping in front of it to show its magnificence, while he bowed to his acquaintances as if proud of the beqiutiful girl by his side. He had good sense enough to separate her from the profession it was still her fate to exer- cise; and at this time the rappings were not so unpo- pular as they became afterwards. Sometimes ladies of his acquaintance came to the sittings, who used very learned language — unintelli- gible, of course, to the medium. Dr. Kane always amused himself with their affectation, laughing hear- tily when they were gone. One of them, an old friend of his, once leaned her arm on the back of his chair, when he immediately rose and begged her to be seated. His sensibility to decorum in social inter- course was very acute. He never failed to reprove LOVE-LIFK OF DR. KAN2. 39 Margaret for any piece of carelessness, however tri- vial, and sometimes gave her a lecture on the manners of young ladies. He belonged, in fact, to the old school, and held chivalrously sacred the delicacy of the fair sex. At one of the sittings an elderly fool asked if " the spirit of St. Paul was present !" Dr. Kane instantly took Miss Fox by the arm and led her out of the room. He did not choose to permit such irreverence in her presence. On one of their drives they stopped at a country inn, and the landlord was introduced by Dr. Kane to Miss Fox as " the future Mrs. Kane." This was done also in Washington to the lady of theirboarding-house. Many times the Doctor said to Mrs. and Miss Fox, that he regretted that his family were in the bustle of a removal, otherwise the ladies would be invited to visit at his father's house. He did not appear to entertain, at that time, any doubt that his friends would be received with welcome by his relatives. About this time he wrote the following verses, which expressed a disquiet daily increasing in his mind. The " sinful art " referred to is of course the rappings. "A STORY. " Thoughts lohich ought to be those of Maggie Fox, I. " Once a raaiden sat and thought, Her hand upon her brow ; * Tell me, conscience, have I sought , The life that greets me now ? ''iM 40 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Dreary, dreary, dreary, Passes life away, — Dreary, ever dreary, The day Glides on, and weary Is my hypociisy. n. " * I wish I was a laughing girl Before my father's door, As merry as the sunbeams That danced upon the floor. As happy as the running stream Beneath the moss-grown trees ; And frw as fly the swallows Upon the evening breeze 1 When I was happy, happy, Loving the livelong day : Happy as the kisses That chased my tears away. Happy as the hopes "Which filled my trusting heart, Before I knew a sinful wish, Or learned a sinful art.' in. " Then the maiden sat and wept, Her hand upon her brow ; ' So long this secret have I kept, I can't forswear it now. It festers in my bosom. It cankers in my heart, Thrice cursed is the slave fast chained To a deceitful art! LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 41 Dreary, dreary, dreary, The parish sunbeams play ; Dreary, ever dreary, The day Glides on, and weary Passes my life away.' IV. " Then the maiden knelt and prayed : — * Father, my anguish see ; Oh, give me but one trusting hope Whose heart will shelter me. One trusting love to share my griefs, To snatch me from a life forlorn ; That I may never, never, never Thus endlessly from night to mom, Say that my life is dreary With its hypocrisy ; Dreary, ever dreary. The day • Glides on, and weary Passes my life away.* " Preacher." 42 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ) ! ' 11. • Dr. Kane very often conversed with Mrs. Fox upon his affairs ; the duty before him of going to search for Sir John Franklin, the impossibility of his marriage before ' is return, and his desire that Margaret should complete her education before that event took place ; " She must be fitted," he would say, " to occupy a high position in society." He believed her natural abilities sufficient ; and he required that she should cultivate them, and acquire all those ladylike accom- plishments he had a right to expect that his wife should possess. Above all things, he desired to have her removed from the peril of daily association with the miscella- neous crowd who attended the spiritual sittings. Even the presence of.such persons was dangerous to the deli- cacy with which nature had so richly endowed Mar- garet ; how long could it hold out agaiast daily con- versation with them I On this point lie spoke very frequently and with deep feeling. Books, and music, and flowers — the richest and rarest — were sent and brought by Dr. Kane every day, and sometimes several times a day, to the object of his affection. Or^pe, presenting her with a camel- lia, he said, "Like you, it must not be breathed upon." His attentions by this time — with all his LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 43 precautions — could not fail to be noticed in Phila- delphia. Miss Fox always took his arm in their walks, which a young lady rarely does unlcas engaged to the gen tleman ; and the question, — " 'Lish', what pretty girl was that driving — or walking — with you?" became of almost every day occurrence. The letters received from Lady Franklin by Dr. Kane, were sent for Margaret to read. On one occa- sion, referred to in the following letter, he sent his brother John to bring them back. He was to wait upon the young lady in the spiritual circle; hence the cautions given. ^ [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Wrap my letters up carefully and give them to this young gentleman. Do write me a long answer, Maggie, giving me all the news. "I tell you in confidence (do not mention it to him) that he is my brother, and he thinks the package of letters relates to Sir John Franklin and the * spi- rits.' If you have company he will not introduce himself. If your mother has come, lie will make her acquaintance. . ( . "I was unwilling to call upon you to-night for fear of talk ; but I told my brother if you had com- pany to show my ring, so as to avoid mentioning names. Do not let him suppose that you have any- thing more than mere spirit business with me. I say this on your own account. ' 44 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. "You have a fine chance of mailing my brother tell you all about L , that interesting lady who is a candidate for matrimony. " Dear Maggie, I feared you would be lonely ; so I sent down my favorite brother to you, in all this snow and rain. Nothing but my real love for you keeps me from coming." They often carried on a little private correspondence when Mrs. Fox was present. Slips like these would be handed to Margaret as " questions," by the Doctor. " But I fear that you will not write to me letters of Zcwe." " I will return if possible ; if not, good-bye. When this party leave, raise both window-curtains." " Write to me this evening, to Delmonico's, New York ; telling me your movements." "Good-bye." The peculiar signature of the following letter is worthy of attention, as intended to show the writer's independence of " Mrs. Grundy." LOy£-LIF£ OF DR. KANE. 45 tea; [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Thank you, dear Maggie, for your kin^ I have rode in this cold wind nearly cightec but this afternoon shall see me in your comp.. j . " What say you to to-morrow for our holiday ? Ask your mother. Do not be afraid of 'thinking too much ' of me. For even if the drear old Polar winter should make me a perpetual exile, the memory of a dead affection would be better than a recollected coolness. "If you think me afraid of letters, here is my contradiction. E. K. KANE! U. S. Navy 1 1 No. 86 Girard St 1 1 1 Philadelphia 1 1 1 1 Here is the reply of Miss Fox: [Miss Fox to Dr. Ean« ] " I am delighted, my dear friend, to know that I will have the pleasure of your company this eve- ning. " But I fear you will be too much fatigued to ride, —will you not ? 'M. 46> LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. " Now, Doctor — be candid I — am I not correct when I say you are an enigma past finding out ? " You know I am. Many thanks for the music. " Yours very truly, " Maggie. "Stoidat MOENINO, Januair, 1853." The following missive harps again on the theme that so often caused complaint : [Dr. Kano to Miss For.] " I have received your excellent letter, dear Mag- gie, and I need hardly say am gratified to find that you write so ably. You have more brain than I gave you credit for. " My parlor is full of gentlemen, and I cannot get .away from New York to-day. I will, however, go to-night to New Brunswick, and hire a coach on to Trenton, bO as to re^ch you by one o'clock of Sun- day. This great eflfort will show you how much I regard your wishes. There is nothing that y^u can ask, that, if in my power, I would not give. " Look at the Herald of this morning. There is an account of a suicide which causes some excite- ment. Your sister's name is mentioned in the inquest of the coroner. Oh, how much I wish that you LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 47 would quit this life of drear* sameness and suspected deceit. We live in this wofld only for the opinions of the good and noble. How crushing it must be to occupy with them a position of ambiguous respect I " I will not deliver the kiss. Such follies I confine to those for whom I have something more than my lips. I don't kiss everybody, Miss Maggie I " I must stop. ' » Good-bye I " Saturday, 1 p.m." Here is a missive indicating some faltering of pur- pose, but it hardly amounted to anything. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " I cannot get away from New York, nor see you on Saturday. I wrote by mail to tell you of this unlocked for detention ; but fearing that the letter will not reach you, I send another by a private mes- senger. " As soon as my time is free, I will hire a carriage to New Brunswick, and perhaps be able to reach Philadelphia in time for a Sunday afternoon's ride. Maggie, do you think many friends would take all this trouble for you ? Never doubt me any more. "Your letter surprised me. I had no idea you 48 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. wrote or thought so well and ably. Indeed, you were born for better things than the annoyances of your present career. " You say ' that you do not understand me' — * I am a riddle ' — * an enigma,' and all that nonsense. Dear Maggie, you understand me very well. You know that I am a poor, weak, easily deceived man, and you think that you are an astute, hardly seen- through woman, managing me as you please. Now tell me the truth — don't you ? " If you do, you are half right and half wrong. I am a man rather of facts and stem purposes, than of woman thoughts and dreamy indolence. My life is only commencing as far as regards the weary road ahead of me, and, if Providence prolongs it, I will leave after me a name and a success. " But with all this, I am a weak man and a fool ; weak, that I should be caught in the midst of my grave purposes by the gilded dust of a butterfly's wing ; and a fool because, while thus caught, I smear my fingers with the perishable color. "Maggie, dear, you have many traits which lift you above your calling. You are refined and love- able; and, with a different education, would have been innocent and artless ; but you are not worthy of a permanent regard from me. You could never lift yourself up to my thoughts and my objects ; / could never bring myself down to yours. This is speaking very plainly to my dear confiding little friend Maggie LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 49 Fox, who sometimes thinks she loves me more than a friend. But Maggie, darling, don't care for me any- more. I love you too well to wish it, and you know now that I really am sold to different destinies ; for just as you have your wearisome round of daily money-making, I have my own sad vanities to pursue. I am as devoted to my calling as you, poor child, can be to yours. Eemember then, as a sort of dream, that Doctor Kane of the Arctic Seas loved Maggie Fox of the Spirit Eappings." [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " I will see you, if time or money can achieve it, by Sunday at one or two o'clock ; you will ride with me. " Answer to Girard street, as I will go there first if I get back, dear Maggie, and we will talk the thing over. *' The Herald will tell you of this horrid self-murder. How disgusting that the name of the sister of my friend should appear thus in newspaper print ! " I send you the ' Haunted Ground.' It haunts me to see you perched over a twopenny song with * Mar- garetta ' in great big print underneath you. " Maggie, will you promise me not to say anything of this letter to your mother until you see me ? Not one word ; I have reasons for it. But write at once, 3 n 50 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. that is, by ten or before of Sunday morning, saying if I can see you by two o'clock, and if you think you can ride. If you say so I will bring Mrs. to prevent any doubts with your excellent mother. I always want to treat you both with respect." ■! Ill 1 i' Ir ii: , .1 'i: Before the engagement, when Dr. Kane called to pay his respects on New Y ear's day. Miss Fox asked him to walk into the back room, a splendid apartment furnished with blue damask, to see a cake that had been sent to them. The room had r, bed in it. Dr. Kane drew back, and gave the young lady a lecture on the impropriety of inviting a gentleman to pass through a sleeping apartment. So scrupulous was he in matters of etiquette, and so anxious to impress on the young girl the importance of fastidious attentioa to such things. • % J LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 51 III. In January Mrs. Fox left Philadelphia and went with her daughters to New York, where they took up their residence in Twenty-Sixth street. The younger sister was obliged occasionally to sit in the spiritual circles, though under the direction and charge of ano- ther and older person, who was also a medium for the "manifestations." Dr. Kane soon followed them from Philadelphia. The following letter was sent during the Doctor's absence, while Miss Fox was in New York. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] Sunday Nwht. " Maggie Darling : — ^Why do you not write to me ? Have you forgotten your friend ? Or does your new life drive from you the recollection of old times ? " I go to Baltimore on Tuesday, and then to Wash- I ington to see the President. Oh, dear Maggie, when I think of you in your humble calling, and of myself with my toiling vanities and cares, I only feel that I am about to leave you ; and feeling thiS; how very, [very, very much I love you. " I am a fool for this, yet I know that you have Isome good reason for not writing. Send me a lock 52 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. of your hair ; for unless it comes I will not come on to see you. " Kiss Katy for me, and tell her 1 am your friend, and therefore her own. If ever trouble presses his cold hand — colder, Maggie, than the spirits, come to your one friend, for he alone has no coldness. Ee- member his warm hands, his glowing kisses, and his steadfast, trusting heart ; and then you cannot forget him. " Write to me how I can see you if I come to New York. How can I meet you, dear Maggie, away from suspicion, away from Mrs. ? Do you ever walk out alone ? " God bless yoii I " if i The "suspicion" he feared was that of spiritualist friends, who fancied they had f ^ deportment, would •■■^ theme, on wShTo ~i:tr *°^'°'- '^^"^ speat, would command thTV • "^'" P'*P»''ed to wit;.ut the ver, pTe^ntXtrof h^° ^"*^"- He spoke of thp fof .^^ ^^"^ ^^^^s manner. •^arehes; andgaveanZ^ V ^ ^' *°^ °f «"oh the Grinnell ExStfonTn""!"' ^""""^ «^«»<« of 'he long drift o?the Ad '^ "'^ Particularly of the ice. *' ^'^^^''ce and the Rescue in *-"3s the p.,bfble fete rs? 71 ''"^"' ^« -" «-"o' fail of a crowd dho„?/°'" '^^^°^^"- He 62 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Dearest Maggie: — After my hard day*s work is over, I come home to my I otel rooms an4 think of you. Your friend is hardly woijked, for science knows no rest to its votaries, and my toil cannot have an interruption. Looking ahead, I see no pros- pect of meeting you in Washington for at least a fortnight. Oh, Maggie 1 do you feel as sorry for this compulsory absence as I do ? " My lectures here have been most successful, drawing around me aJ^ the wealth and beauty of this great city; but I speak for humanity, and not for money. When I think of you, dear darling, wasting your time and youth and conscience for a few paltry dollars, and think of the crowds who come nightly to hear of the wild stories of the frozen north, I some- times feel that we are not so far removed after all. My brain and your body are each the sources of attraction, and I confess that there is not so much difference. * * * # « " For me, a grave man of science and hard labor, to write thus to you, would be thought very strange by the meddling world ; 1 ^it, dear darling Maggie, where I love, / confide ; and where I confide, I never think of caution. Do be careful of me and my repu- tation, for I would die rather than injure yours. " The laces will come to you by'express ; — one, an LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 63 under-handkerchief of Hbmion, with sleeves to match ; the other of French work, for morning wear. Do be careful and dress well about your neck and arms, for I want my Maggie to appear as a lady wherever she is. " One of the very first things that drew me towards you, was your ladylike manner and deportment. A little affectation about it, but still very gentle and quiet, and modest, and retiring, as a lady's should be. Keep up this, dear Maggie, and never indulge in any spirit joJces with the Washington people. " In fact, I would never allow myself to be jocular with * the spirits,' unless before ' cousin Leib ' and myself. People will be suspicious if you do. Keep a grave face, and decline replying to jesting questions. " You have not written, at least had not up to Monday night. I love you too well to complain. I do all the writing, all the talking, and I fear, all the loving. Never yet have you said upon paper, — 'Cousin Peter, I love you.' It is always 'dear friend.' Very well; — 'dear friend.' Better that than nothing. Take care 1 1 "When I come on, Maggie, we will have nice times, riding every day, and living like old times in Philadelphia. " Kiss Katy for me ; tell her she owes me a letter. She is worth two of you. " Bye bye. "Preacher." '( f i ;.J 64 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ■ I I m [D" Kane to Miss £'oz.] " How does Washington come on ? Many beaux ? Many believers? Many friends? Answer these questions, you wicked little Maggie I "Do you want some advice? It's a very cheap article. Never venture out in Washington except in the very best company. K you can. get a real gen- tleman, grab him ; but. have nothing to do w'ith the vulgar members of Congress. If you have not had an opportunity of seeing the sights, wait tiU your friend comes ; he ha3 ballast enough to steady you, and is not ashamed to escort you anywhere. " Wear your undersleeves and spencer always when you have company. I sent a rich ladylike set for morning wear, and another of Hon^'ion lace for eve- ning occasions. Do wear them, Maggie, and tell Kate that as soon as I get back to Philadelphia, I will send her a real appliqxde. My sister got one, and they are a very rich chaiacter of lace. " I am anxious that you two girls should be well dressed ; in fact, dear Maggie, you can hardly realize how much I care for you, and how often I think of you. Now that I know you do not love me, I feel as if I would like to show you how good, and true, and disinterested a friend you have lost. No, dear Maggie, lost is not the word ; you have only lost a lover. I will always be your friend. iiii I 1 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 65 " I am very sick, and it was only last night that I made the discovery of not possessing your love. I will never hold up my hand again — for I would rather have remained in ignorance ; but the thing is done, and can't be helped. I shall not come to Washington now, for I am ashamed to say that I care so much 'br you that it would increase my unhappiness. Good- bye, then, my still dear Maggie, and if there be any- thing in my power to give you, always remember that you have at least one person who, knowing all, cares for you unb..Ifishly and truly for yourself alone. I shall always be your friend, and perhaps you are glad to get rid of me in. the other relation I " God bless you." Pr. Kane to Misa Fox.] " Maggie — I am sick — sick at the hotel — sick with hard work, and with nobody to nurse or care for me. You saw how wretchedly I looked when in New York ; I am far worse now, and without any chance of resting. Is i^ any wonder, then, that I long to be with you, to have again the lazy days, and sit by your side talking nonsense I "Is it any wonder that I long to look — only to look — at that dear little deceitful mouth of yours; to feel your hair tumbling over my cheeks, as I write l\ 66 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. : 1 1, the spirit messages from another world — ow world, Maggie— the world of love 1 "It is Sunday, and I am just back from a large dinner party. To-morrow, if I am well enough, I lec- ture, and I fear will have to stay throughout the week in this miserable rainy town of Boston. " Kain — rain — rain 1 When it rains the lovers in heaven are quarrelling. I expect they quarrel for ever in the Boston paradise. Did ever Christian man see such an incessant leaking from the skies ? " Maggie, if I had my way with you, I would send you to school and learn you to live your life over again. You should forget the r — pp — gs (I never mention the name now), and come out like gold puri- fied from the furnace ; a pure simple-hearted trustitig girl. Once that, Maggie, and you would love me; not the sort o^ half-affected milk and water love which you now profess, but a genuine, confiding affection. Your eyes would be opened and you would see me as I am. Seeing me as I am. you would have to love me. " Now to you I am nothing but a cute, cunning dissembler; a sort of smart gentleman hypocrite, never really sincere, and merely amusing himself with a pretty face. This is because you view me with the suspicious, distrusting eyes which your short inter- course with the world — your world — has forced upon you. You flatter yourself that this is penetration^ and that you can read motives and character. LOVE-LIPE OF DR. KANE. 67 " i:*oor girl I Take care that you do not lose the only friend you ever had in your life ; for until you look deeper you will never hve me ; and unless you love me I will soon cease to love you. " Do, dear Maggie, learn that my ' acuteness ' is only the result of the life which in my station I am forced to lead. That it covers a warm manly heart, that I can never say to you an untrue word. That in trouble I would be your refuge, in joy your sympa- thizer ; that I do this unselfishly, looking only to your happiness, and never thinking of any thing which could lessen you in your eyes or me in my own. " Learn to believe all this, and think what you will fling away if you do not love me. Believe me, Mag- gie, I can tell when it is present, and you know that you do not love me. I rather like you for this, because if you were entirely artful and selfish you would pretend to love me for the sake of your own interests. I am glad that you don't pretend, but until you look upon me with trust and brotherly confi- dence you can never love me. You will have to do this soon, Maggie ; for some morning you will wake up and find that your friend is for ever lost to you. I do these things in a very queer way. Some day or other I will say to myself, * Am I not injuring my dignity by thus throwing away upon a person in a walk of life dijBferen*^ from my own, feelings which she can never understand and of which she is not wor- thy I' This question I will answer for myself, and if ^ I - I. ) m r I -■•^> ' -m, e% LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. hi t" the answer be against you, Maggie, you will see me no more. " Excuse this cruel way of writing ; but it is better that you should understand me. If I did not so love that dark-eyed little Maggie of mine, I would not write to her thus. That Maggie Fox must see me in my true character or she will never see me. Do then, dear, dear, dear darling, give me your whole heart and soul I You may have mine in return ; and once fc ivinced that you are really mine in love, there will be no end to my confidence and affection I I am very sick, Maggie, but I hope not cross. Don't be hurt at what I say, but write to me by every mail. I cannot leave Boston for a week or more. " God bless you !" During a serious illness Dr. E^ane sent several tele- graphic despatches. [Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.] "My dear Dr. Kane : — I received both the despatches, and this afternoon received your letter; many thanks. I am grieved to hear that you are ill. You say that you will telegraph every uay. Do not forget to do so, for I am uneasy about you. This afternoon I went out to do some shopping, and lost my way. I grew so frightened that I was obliged to LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 69 ask a lady to show me the way home. When I entered the room I cried aloud; and looking up I saw General Hamilton, who asked me what was ae matter. I told him I had lost my way, and that I did not like Washington at all. He laughed heartily, and insisted upon it that no young lady could ever lose her way in Washington unless she had some ' affaire du cceur^ I did not deny the charge. Doctor, there is a rumor — so the General tells me — that you and I arc to be married before you go to the Arctic. Last evening I saw a large jmpany of officers. I believe they took me for the * sj it,' for they looked at me so incessantly that i nearly fainted; and I heard one gentleman ask his friend sitting next to him ' if Miss Fox did not attend the ball.' His friend did not seem to know ; when ne very coolly asked me, • if I was not at the ball given by Mrs. B ,' I told him I was not there. He said if it was not myself it must certmnly have been my apparition. He was a Frenchman.. " Ever most truly yours, " Maggie." 70 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. V. The following letters are preserved, among others, written about this time. This to Miss Katharine Fox is evidently designed to excite the jealousy of her sister, if that could be done. [Dr. Xane to Miss Kate Fox ] " Dear Miss Incomprehensible Kate : — I have never yet written you a long letter ; but your sister has doubtless told you that I have formally resigned every thing but her friendship ; so that henceforward you are both of you alike in my eyes ; and I do not see why you should not take half of my correspond- ence. As a friend, I think you will like me quite as well as in the other relation ; and I am sorry to say that your sister will like me better. Oh, Katy, could you not keep a little fire in the ashes of my memory ? "Why did you let that fickle, wicked little Maggie forget me ? I'm glad, however, that I found it out in time ; for the discovery goes hard enough with me as it is. "Well, now for talk. Boston is a funny place, and * the spirits ' have friends here. , You would be surprised if I told you what I have heard. There is one gentleman here, high in position and intellect, i 1 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE 71 who keeps a medium in his house. This is no great hardship, for she is very pretty ; but do you know that he only visits her twice a day, with a list of questions as long as my arm? He governs every action of life by the answers, and is worse than a dozen Dr. Notts or Mr. Longfacc Kennedys. " There is a very refined lady here who took me to see the thing. I kept one of my grave faces, and was appropriately patronized. Chairs danced about the room, and clothes were twitched to an extent far ahead of Mrs. . By the bye, 1 will teach you this last mystery, for I believe that you do not know it. Believing as implicitly as I do in the spirits, of course I am excusable for finding out the twitching. " There are some things that I have seen which I think would pain you. Maggie would only laugh at them; but with me it gave cause for sadness. I saw a young man, with a fine forehead and expressive face, but a countenance deeply tinged with niclan- choly, seize the hand of this medium, whose name — as I never tell other persons' secrets — I cannot tell you. He seized her hand, and begged her to answer a qAiestion which I could not hear. Instantly she rapped, and his face assumed a positive agony ; the rapping continued, his pain increased ; I leaned for- ward, feeling an utter detestation for the woman who could inflict such torment; but it was too late. A single rap came, and he fell senseless in a fit. This I saw with my own eyes. I i 72 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. " Now, Katy, although you and Maggie never go so far as this, yet circumstances must occur where you have to lacerate the feelings of other people. I know that you have a tender heart ; but practice in any- thing hardens us. You do things now which you would never have dreamed of doing years ago ; and there will come a time when you will be worse than ; a hardened woman, gathering around you victims of a delusion. Think of that, Katy 1 " The older you grow the more difficult it will be to liberate yourself from this thing. And can you look forward to a life unblessed by the affections, unsoothed by the consciousness of doing right I For you^ no innocence with the blessings of a kindly home is now in store. When your mother Jeaves this scene can you and my still dear Maggie be content to live that life of constant deceit ? Do, dear Katy, think of all this I " A few weeks ago I would have put forth my arm to save you ; I would have been to you and your sister that which, from a gentleman in niy position, you will never have again ; but, dear Katy, this has passed. I am not now willing to make the sacrifice which that would have demanded; for it Would be unaccompanied by a corresponding confidence. I do not blame poor Maggie, for I am still her best friend; but she esteemed me too lightly for me ever to be anything more. I cannot now, dear child, take you with me. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 78 " But for all that I am still the best friend that you and Maggie hnve, for I am disinterested; and although your education haa taught you suspicion and distrust, you know that I am a man in whom you may confide. Now cannot I help you and Maggie ? Is there nothing that I can do to make you more worthy of this world and the riext f Do, Kate, i ry and think over it, and call upon your friend if he can help you, " I have taken the liberty of getting you, also, a Iloniton set. I will be in Washington soon, and although I cannot perhaps see you, will send it to your establishment. Do not think it strange if I should not call, for I am a person of strong will ; and after having made up my mind do not like to subject myself to temptation. Besides, you know, Katy, that I am right, and that Maggie deserves this." i [Dr. Eano to Miaa Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — I know that you will be tempted to open Kate's letter, so I send it through you in order that I may trust in your honor. " If you want to see it show Kate this note, and tell her that I wish you to see the contents. I say nothing except that we are only friends and giving her a friend's advice." 74 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. XANE. y.iaa Maggie's reply to this letter complaining of her want of affection, shows what a simple child she was. [Miu Fox to Dr. Eona] "My Dear Friend: — Your letter was received this morning ; strange, strange letter. " Then I have lost, forever lost, the friend I loved so dearly ! Often, while reading your letter to Kate> an involuntary tear started to my eyehd. I could not check it. Oh I how I have longed to be with you, but can hardly expect to again. " I will look back with pleasure on those hallowed hours- 1 have passed with you. " Should we never again meet in this world we will in another. Then you will know I have loved you, and love you still. " Farewell. " Oh, how sorry I am to hear you are ill 1 I wish I could be with you I " As ever, yours, " Maggie." Miss Kate was again favored. [Dr. Kane to Misa Eato Fox.] " Dear Miss Kate : — I hope that you are well aud LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 76 happy, and that you have not forgotten 3^our promises to your friend. " Take my advice and never talk of the spirits either to friends or strangers ; you know that with all my intimacy with Maggie, after a whole month's trial, 1 could make nothing out of them. Therefore they are a great mystery. " So never fcpeak of them lightly even to your best friends. " If ever I can be of use to you call on me, as well on your sister's account as on your own. I would be glad to serve you. " Good bye." [Dr. Kane to MIbs Fox.] " Maggie Darling : — Go quietly to the solitude of your room before you read this ; for I have never yet written to you, 09 myself^ and I am now for the first time about to pay you the compliment of a good, honest letter of simple truth. " Your last letter — the only one received since my sickness — that in which you speak of the malignant influences of ' rainy days ' — has shown me that you possess more mind than I gave you credit for. Try then, dear Maggie, to comprehend what I am about to say ; to see me shining through my words like the gildings of the mists upon which you have discoursed such pretty music. 76 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. " "Who am I ? Answer tliat question first. Ponder over it, and see what are my prospects as regards worldly wealth, intellectual character, public estima- tion, and family name. That, dear, dear little Maggie, ask yourself. What are to be my destinies : and talk- ing to you in the pure simplicity of confidence, I will answer that question myself. First, I am better, nohhr in moral tone than I have seemed to you. My conscience urges me to a crusade of rescue for our lost men, now wandering in an icy wilderness ; and for it and them I am about to sacri- fice the thousand dear things of life, home, luxury, and love. " After spending from my private means, that which would to you be Vi fortune^ I am about to spend the treasured years of a lifetime, perhaps life itself. " This, dear Maggie, speaking to you plainly, is your friend. Born in circles of pleasure, and sought wherever he chose to seek, he one day, to pass an idle hour, called upon a something which he had heard of, in half sneering parlance, as the * spiritual rappings.' " There he saw a little Priestess^ cunning in the mysteries of her temple, and weak in every thing but the power with which she played her part. A sen- timent almost of pity stole over his worldly heart as he saw through the disguise. Don't be angry, dear, dear Maggie I ' Can it be that one so young, so beau- tifuj, so passionate, and yet so kind hearted, can be destined for such a life ?' These were his thoughts. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 77 " Thereupon he went to work and did all that true kindness could do to get her confidence. Never, in the many hours that followed, did he leave a wish of hers ungratified, or say or think an unkindly word. His sad destinies in behalf of humanity forbid him to dwell in the regions of hve — and then like a fool he went on loving. " Why was this, dear little Maggie ? It was because you had, knowing all the circumstances, said and written * love on I' and therefore, dear darling, I forgot my high calling and let myself down to hve. " * And now why all this nonsense ?' I think I hear you say. * Why, I knew all this before.' "Maggie, I've an object in writmg. Eead on. " The fool so far forgot himself as actually to care for you. When absent he dreampt of you and recalled the dear hours of pleasure which he had lost. There was D'^thing that he would not have done ; and in spite of his public duties and the adulation of the world, his thoughts constantly reverted to the out of the way little corner of one Maggie Fox. At the very dinner table of the President he thought of her. Wonderful to relate, he even banished . You never comprehended him, Maggie ; you held him too cheaply. " One day he was thinking it all over. He felt her "\varm kisses on his lips, her long hair sweeping his cheeks. There was nothing at that moment that he would not have done for her. He would raise her 78 LOVE-LIFE OF Div I'^'/.S^i-J. above her calling, even to hi-^ own lev -J; he would cultivate her mind, give her a competence ; her sister should CO his care. Maggie, there is nothing that he would not have done. *****. When for the first time came the thought, what am I about to do for thia woman ? Does she love me enough Lo make it right that I should sacrifice so much for her? Not the money — for she is beyond money in my eyes — but the love ; does she love me as I should be loved ? " Then I thought it all over, dear Maggie, all the little evidences (you know how cute I am) of affection. I saw that you loved me, but not enough. Dear child, it was not in your nature. You would give me everything when near me, but H^rget me when away. So I made up my mind, and in p. moment you became my friend. "Don't be hurt or angry, dear, sweet Maggie, for you have by this time leariiod to know me. Our intercourse will be as a dream, coming back to you in the quiet reveries of life's summer time, when I am buried ii, ju Polar snows. " Strange are the mysteries of the heart ; and now that it is too late, you will love me as before you did not. You will never be able to recall any thing about me little, or mean, or selfish ; and you will have upon you, like a momentary nightmare, the sad conviction of what you have lost. " Don't think, Maggie darling, that I am blaming yon, or that I am suspicious, or cross, or peevish ; I LOVE-LIFE OF DR. ICANE. 70 I am never said an unkind thing to you m my life. I only tell you in manly straightforwardness that which your own heart acknowledges, ' that you had not the depth of affection to be worthy of me.' " Change is a principle of our nature ordained by a law of God, and impressed upon every living thing. The humble lowliness of the budding plant expands into the painted glories of the flower, and the oak of the spring-time is not the oak of winter. "We all change, dear Maggie, and novelty is the mother of one half of our blessings. Do not think that I blame you for obeying an instinct of your nature. "Your lettCi, the only letter up to Tuesday the 16th, makes me write to you thus. "Now hear my conclusion. Put your little hand upon your heart, and say — ' He places confidence in me and tells me the actual truth ; shall I reward his candor by deception ?' And then sit down at once, dear Maggie, and write to me, and I will believe you. If it be that you really in 3'our deepest centre care for me, say so ; if it be the feeling of a friend only, say so ; and in the one case I will see you again ; u the other, never. " Direct your letter at once to Delmonico's. I leave Boston on Saturday. " Think over this letter I ! r Like Surrey's Geraldine — , " She had not years to understand The grief that he did feel." *■■' ' H !'• 80 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. VI. When Dr. Kane and his brother came to Washing- ton, they were unable to get rooms at a hotel, and took them, accordingly, in Mrs. Sullivan's house. Their parlour was on the floor above that occupied by Mrs. Fox. But, though lodging under the same roof, Dr. Kane jealously observed the same formal etiquette with the ladies, as if they had been in their own man- sion. He once spoke seriously to the younger ones on the impropriety of calling to gentlemen, or knock- ing at the doors of their private parlors. Miss Fox had too much intuitive delicacy to make such cautions necessary; indeed, she would have been called prudisli by most A merican young women. " The Preacher's " homilies, however, did not pre- vent his own dereliction sometimes. On one occasion, after knocking at Mrs. Fox's parlor door for admis- sion in vain (a private circle was in session), he sent in the following slip : n ; i " Maggie, you are a d d humbug ! I refused a dinner at the French Minister's the Count de Sar- tiges- for the pleasure which you now deny me. D n Waddy I- send your mother, at least." LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 81 bing- , and .ouse. 3d by I roof, ^uette . man- r ones cnock- 8 Fox lutions irudisli >t pre- [casion, admis- le sent fused a le Sar* ly me. at." At another time, impatient of the sittings — while one was going on, he sent in a note, beseeching his "Dearest Pel" to " Come out for a moment from those coarse people to your friend waiting for his little Maggie. Surely you can rest a minute I Come, dearest flutter- ing bird I Come I" M' On one occasion, after a large company of gentle- men had left the spiritual rooms, Miss Fox heard the familiar knock of her friend at the door ; and being inclined for a little girlish mischief, concealed herself in the wardrobe, which had been placed in the room for the purpose of exhibiting some extraordinary- manifestation when the medium was within it. Dr. Kane opened the door, and advancing to the table, took up and read the questions that had been written in the circle. Then he soliloquized aloud. It was such a pity ! — It was so repulsive — so abhorrent to refinement — to be exposed to such associations! It was so wounding to his feelings, to have one he held so dear, compelled to mingle in such society ! "To think of my Maggie listening to such questions I" The lesson was not lost on the young lady, who heard all in her hiding-place. At another time the Doctor entered the parlor just 4* 82 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. lifer as poor Maggie had accidentally pulled down a cup of cough syrup from the mantelpiece over her head and neck. The lover hurried to her assistance, and carefully washed her hair, face, and neck, delighted to perform any kind office for her, and snatch tho opportunity of kissing the disarranged locks and wet forehead. It could hardly have been a lover's quarrel that called forth such notes as the following ; one of a hundred : " So, Miss Maggie, you have given me up. Well I " Good-bye." Carriages were very expensive in Washington at that time, yet Dr. Kane procured them for his friends without regard to cost, and Miss Fox was taken to see all the lions of the Federal City. The Doctor tried his voice in the Smithsonian Institution, with a view to a lecture. Once, when driving out, at sight of some cows, the young lady expressed a desire to drink a cup of fresh milk. He insisted on procuring it for her at a house by the road side. Her slightest wish was realized by him, and anticipated whenever it was possible. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 88 Miss Fox suflfered from influenza in Washington, while Dr. Kane was absent ; a telegraphic despatch, bearing date March 11th, 1853, sent while he was in Philadelphia, was in these words : " Are you better ? " Shall I come to you ? "E. K. Kane." One dated the day previous was as follows : "March lOth, 1863. To Miss Maboabet Fox, F. Street, 3 doors west of 13th Street, Washington. When do you leave ? Answer by bearer. E. K. Kane. 36 Girard Street" These letters followed the despatch ; [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] •Miss M. Fox. "Phil'a, March 10th, '53. "Very, very sorry, dear darling, that you are sick. Sick in gloomy Washington, with nobody to sympa- thize with you, except fusty old Tallmadge, and fool- 84 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ish Waddy Numbskull. Do you not miss the kind welcome, the greeting smile, the warm kiss, and the resting breast of * cousin Peter ? ' Do, dear Maggie, hurry and leave this wretched life. Come, dear little one, and nestle in my arms. But for the Polar Ices they should be your home. " Keep up your spirits, and when the vulgar crowd permit you, write to the one person in all the world who ' holds your destinies ' in his hands ; that trusted and well-beloved friend and master^ who yet controls not heavily, but leads you to better ways by the cords of hve.^^ {Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Deab Darling Child : — I am more than sorry at your sickness, and but for your telegraph would have come on to you. If at any moment I can be of use send for me, and regard me as in every Hiing at your service. " Sign your telegraphs F. Webster. " I will write again and longer. The mail is clos- ing. Learn to understand me, and remember that you are to live hereafter as one born to a nobler and better life. " God bless you, little one." LOVK-LIPK OF DR. RANK. 85 The following despatch was sent as the party waa about leaving Washington. "Phila., March 14th, 1863. " To Miss Margabbt Fox, "F. at 3 doors west of 13th at, " Mrs. Sullivan's, Washington. " Do you leave at five ? " Telegraph your health by bearer. " E. K. Kane." The frequency of these despatches showe* *he Doctor's warm and impetuous nature. Sometim»;s three or four in a day would be received by Miss Fox. The following note awaited Miss Fox at the hotel in Philadelphia. , ' [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Have you arrived? I went to the cars for you with a carriage, but missed you. " If you come in time go to Madame Barati's, Eighth street below Walnut, for your dress. " Send word when you wish me to call." The follow- ig formal note intervening, was sent open by a friend in Philadelphia. It forms a curious contrast to the others, and shows that there had been IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) / O > 1.0 I.I 11.25 Li us |2.5 £ Itt 112.0 12.2 1.4 urn 1^ Hiotographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 r O IL 86 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. no p vowal among Dr. Kane's friends of his engage- ment. [Dr. Kane to Mlas Fox.] " My Dear Miss Fox : — I hear with regret that you visit our city during my absence in New York. If you remain in Philadelphia beyond Wednesday, have the kindness to favor me with your address, as I should much like to present you to my father, and reciprocate your courtesy by the hospitalities of our quiet village. " In haste very faithfully " Your friend and servant, '-' "E. K. Kane." The above was immediately preceded by the fol- lowing. [Dr. Kane to Miss For.] " Dear Maggie : — Like a good boy I have been twice to the cars, and twice telegraphed you without an answer. If you should come in to-night, this letter will at least show you that you have one true and devoted friend. " I have been busy inquiring into schools, and have much news for you. " Go to-morrow morning to Madame Barati's. Fran- LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 87 CIS will call at about ten o'clock for your orders. Tell him at what time to have a carriage for you, and make use of me and mine as if I were your brother. Kcmember that from this time forward you belong to Forget the spirits, and live for better and hap- me. pier things. Send word by Fro icis about your move- ments. And if you don't want to write — for you never write — why take no trouble with cousin Pet£r. " Love to Kate. Eemembrance to Mother Fox." [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Mag : — I have been inquiring after schools like a good fellow ; seeking out many, that my little Maggie may have a choice. I have also written for a fine Newfoundland dog — a big, brave, steadfast friend — who will keep love of me alive in you. " Dear Maggie, how happy and proud you will make me if you study well to improve in all things, that your life may be a blessing instead of a curse, and that, in this heartless world of misconstruction, I can lay the flattering unction to my soul of having done good to you. " But I cannot help telling you how much depends upon you^ how little upon myself. I will give all that man and friend can give, but what is that in compa- rison with what is allotted to you 1 „ 88 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ill: "Listen, Maggie; instead of a life of cherished excitement you must settle down into one of quiet, commonplace repose. Instead of the fun, the deli cious merriment of * * "'^ * (we wont trust this to paper), you will have the irksome regulations of a school, the strict formal precepts of a lady abbess, a schoolmvitress. - " No more Waddys, no more Greeley s, no more wiseacre scientific asses, and pop-eyed committees of investigation I No more sympathizing evenings with your one true friend, nor dinners, and drives to quaint old country ipns ! ! " Yes, dear darling, you must give up all these, and draw upon your self denial and energies to sustain you ; but then what a return I " How pleasant, very pleasant, to find yourself developing a new flower — better, a new woman— the girl merged in the new career, and a life of useful- ness decked with hope and blessings spreading itself before you I - . " Do, dear, sweet pet, * sugar-plum,' try hard, strug- gle hard, fight hard, and be a reward to me. Oh, how happy we will be I "Amen I :r . * • v " Oh, how I love you since our ride I You know me just as I am : my good and my bad — for from you I have no concealments. And I know you even to your secret faults, and knowing you, love you. What more can you desire ? LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 89 " Except Grod, no one knows you as I do. Make me your guardian angel, dear Maggie, and remember our last compact. You know what I mean. " He is a strange man, this master of yours ; you love him and honor him ; for you see mixed up with his faults much good. Do, dear darling, let me influ- ence you, and guide you to happy paths ! " I promised a horseback ride ; I promised to be in New York on Saturday. Well, I never break a promise! t . "Preacher. "March lltk." i'ttl The "compact" was a mutual promise of truth and constancy during the absence of Dr. Kane in the Arctic seas. In New York, as elsewhere, Dr. Kane paid daily visits to Miss Fox, and often took her out for a drive. One day, having called, and heard that she had gone to visit some lady friends, he followed her to the house where the friends boarded, and entering the parlor, requested her to accompany him home. "Come, Maggie darling," he said, not seeming to heed the persons present. Their engagement of course was not concealed from the near relations of Mrs. Fox. Some dis- turbance was caused by ill-timed advice and inter- ference. While protesting his solemn determination !■ .5.1' 90 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. to marry Margaret Fox, Dr. Kant; was equally resolved that she should first complete her education. He was not willing to take into his family an untu- tored girl, leaving her, as he must, during the years of his absence, with unformed habits, and tastes undi- rected by mental culture. Miss Fox herself was opposed to an immediate union with her lover ; for her pride was enlisted in her wish first to render her- self worthy of association with his distinguished rela- tives. She was not in the least ambitious for herself; and it will be seen in the letters of Dr. Kane how unceasing were his efforts to inspire her with suffi- cient ambition to make her appreciate the elevated position he had offered her as his wife. He saw that she cared little for worldly distinction, and he feared that her love for him was not strong enough to induce her to give up all the novelty and fascination of a life of continual frivolous excitement, for the hope at some uncertain period of being his own ; the interval to be passed in retirement. He was a prey to con- stant anxiety on this account, and kept an uneasy watch over her while she was surrounded by people interested in spiritualism. Dr. Kane used every method in his power to detach her from them, and was accustomed playfully to say that by holding up his hand he could learn if she had or had not obeyed his instructions. This he said he had learned of a conjuror who had been in the East Indies. After New Yo: this letter i MW 1 ( ! 1':! [" i; mm ■; cellar, I th: pers, or M; fJear Ma^o-i CO Washingtoi 'It was much and h you first ga love. " Just for hvan's. Soj ^e had sper s^ry room cashed wallj consolate. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 91 VII. After the return of Mrs. Fox and her daughter to New York, Dr. Kane was in Washington, and wrote this letter : [Dr. Kane to Mlsa Fox.] "Thubsdat, April 8th, 1863, "I am in Washington, dear Mag — and oh, how lonely ! Your absence changes everything. The city looks like a forlorn village, and the people like a crowd of ill-dressed pickpockets. " If I jump into a carriage, I think of the dear little partner of my drives. If I dine in an oyster- cellar, I think of Francis and his chafing-dish sup- pers, or Mrs. K , and her ^ sassengers.' Indeed, dear Maggie, sick as I was, I passed a happy time in Washington. .. ^ " It was there that you first learned to feel how much and how truly I cared for you ; there, too, that you first gave me your confidence, and with it your love. " Just for the sake of old times, I visited Mrs. Sul- livan's. Some stranger occupied the parlor in which we had spent so many frolic hours ; and the third story room was as naked and desolate as its white- washed walls. Even the garret looked sad and dis- consolate. - 92 >i LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ■X- " But when I went into the parlor and saw the looking-glass before which you had so often brushed that tumble-down head of yours, and the wardrobe from which had so often issued the mysterious sounds — I felt quite sad. The fact is, * Ly ' cares more about you than you deserve. v " Here, thought I, here in this very room, did my little priestess achieve her triumphs. Here sat dear loveable whispering Waddy with his mental ques- tions ; and here cute, but well believing Tallmadge, with his sharp, cunning eye, but foolish, credulous brain. Here my little Maggie led them all by the nose ; and hereupon I set up a devil of a thinking— as to whether this girl who could so lead others would ever be led by me, or whether I too was not a Waddj Thompson of another sort, and Maggie only cheating me in a differen i way ? Maggie, he who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind ; and I have done wrong by you, my own dear little Maggie — wrong, — not because I did not state to you 'that our love might end in disappointment — not because I did not honestly open your eyes to the difference of our positions; but wrong because I still stayed near you, teaching you to love me, and weakly forgetting that every minute made it harder for us to break our chains- golden though they were, dear darling, golden though they were I " But now that the deed is done, and that you have LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 93 given me, as you really have, your heart, I owe you an atonement ; and truly, Mag, will I make it. You shall never regret having known and cared for me. I will be a brother to you. " Remember that I am pure and disinterested ; and that you have never had from poor Ly a word that would not make you a nobler woman. " Dear Maggie, let us try to do what is right, and give me credit for unselfish love in whatever I may do for you. " Now all this long preaching is to tell you that I have a prospect of a home for you. I have applied to an aunt of mine, who owns a large country estate, and she has, like a dear good friend, consented to make all the arrangements. This will leave you free from any chance of misconstruction. Through her influence I can get you a quiet yet cheerful home, where you will be the only boarder, and where you may have a governess, and a room, and a piano all to yourself. It is true, dear Mag, that this home will be a plain country gentleman's ; a man with moderate means and a large family ; but you will be all the happier for that. You will be to them only as a lady ; no one shall know, not even my relative, where the money comes from. You can pay them yourself and they will look up. to you. Miss , your governess, is as ugly as sin, but she is a very good girl, whom you can do as you please with. It is with her father, a rough broad Scotchman, that you will live. 94 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. "Here then, Maggie, free to do as you please, sur- rounded by good plain people, not too grand for your comfort, with my own aunt to talk and advise with you if you want a friend — it seems to me that you will have everything that you can desire. And, oh, Mag, how pleasant it would be to me to see as my reward that you become a refined^ educated, consci- entious woman. It will cost me money, dear darling, but it will be nothing if you show yourself worthy of my care. " After spending the summer in this country home, you can enter Madam Moulenard's, at Albany, and make Mrs. Turner's the home of your vacations. " I will in a couple of days mention this to your mother with full explanations, names, etc., etc. She must then decide. If * yes,' I will take her and you to the place, let you see it, and then return to New York to make your arrangements. In the mean time keep it a secret, but write instantly telling me what you think, for I will not write to your mother until I hear from you. " Do think often of > - "Ly." There was an evident purpose in the warnings con- veyed in the following and other letters ;• viz. to show the unavoidable result of a continuance in the spirit- LC 7E-LIPE OP DR. KANE. 95 rapping association. Perhaps the Doctor really Al- tered, at times, in his resolution to be true to his chosen one, in view of the ridicule and odium sucii an association might bring on himself; certain it is that he dreaded the consequences of his engagement be- coming known. Hence his cautions to Margaret to be careful of his reputation, etc. [Dr. Kone to MIsb Fox.] "My Dear Sweet Maggie: — Night has come, and the hour which ushers in another day is chiming from the cracked bells of Washington. Yet I sit down to give you my regular record of remembrance, to show my little Maggie that she is not forgotten. " Dear Hag, though you have not written to me, I am every day the same — that good-natured, careful, loving *Ly,' whose only thought is how he may please, whose only hope that he may train you to ways of pleasantness and peace. Do, dear darling, be lifted up and ennobled by my love. Live a life of purity, and meet your reward in the respect of your- self, the praise of this world, and the blessings of Heaven. " Waddy called on me to-day, as did Tallmadge ; I was kind to both for your sake. Waddy talked much about you. He said that he feared for you, and spoke long and well upon the dangers and tempta- tions of your present life. I said little to him other than my convictions ot your own and your sister's 96 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. excellent character and ^pure simplicity;^ for thus, Mag, I always talk of you. And it pained me to find that others viewed your life as I did, and regarded you as occupying an ambiguous position. Depend upon it, Maggie, no right-minded gentleman — whether he be believer or skeptic — can regard your present life with approval. Let this, dear sweet, make you think over the offer of the one friend who would stretch out an arm to save you. Think wisely, dear darling, ere it be too late. " In a few weeks I will be away from you. ' Thick ribbed ice, sterner than warrior's steel ' will separate me from you. Never again will you have an unselfish, honorable friend, whose heart pulsates in unison with your own, whose thoughts are devoted to your welfare. " Maggie, you cannot tell the sadness that comes over me when I think of you. What will become of you? you the one being that I regard even before myself I Circumstance, that tyrant of human destinies, forbids our marriage, except by a sacrifice of all that makes worldly life desirable ; and to the gratification of our love we have the opposition of society, of edu- cation, and of conscience. Yet I tremble at the idea of bidding you good-bye for ever. The very thought of never returning fills me with indescribable awe and melancholy. Yet I feel that I ought never to see you again. Your love should die away with absence ; and our continual meetings only add fuel to the flame. LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 97 Do write to me, Maggie, and tell me what your own heart tells you is best. " If you really can make up your mind to abjure the spirits, to study and improve your mental and moral nature, it may be that a career of brightness will be open to you ; and upon this chance, slender as it is, I offer, like a true friend, to guard and educate you. But, Mag, shadows, clouds, and darkness rest upon the execution of your good resolves; and I sometimes doubt whether you have the firmness of mind to carry them through. " Last night, after writing to you, I held up my hand. Forgive me, Maggie, but I did not look back. I only tried to see what would be your future life. Oh, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, how much misery I saw ahead ! how much of bitter remembrance, of horrible regret I Yet with all this there was sunshine, and a voice sounded continually in my ears — Open to her the light — let her see the blessings .of day, and she will not walk in darkness. " Excuse this preaching letter. You know I am a queer mixture of good and bad. Therefore let me end with a Washington kiss and my love to Miranda.* "Ly. "Pbidat." * " Miranda" was a poetical name assumed by the fair Maggie. 5 98 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. The reader will not fail to notice, in the continual complaints made by the lover of the young lady's coldness, and in the tone of her letters, that her aflPec tion at this time was far less demonstrative than his own. She was very young, and unskilled in the expression of either feelings or thoughts, especially in letters. There is a school-girl constraint about all she wrote at this period. More than this ; the extreme reserve which had been imposed by her few months of professional life, and her consciousness that the slightest unguarded ness might subject her to undue familiarity, induced a degree of self-control, and a sensitive regard to her own dignity, which may easily have seemed like coldness to an inapetuous admirer. She and others testify that never, in the whole course of her acquaintance with Dr. Kane, did he once forget the respect due to her, or overstep the limits of perfect decorum in his conduct towards her. On the con- trary, he held her as something too pure and sacred for even an unhallowed thought. She was in his eyes a divinity, enshrined in virtue's holiest sanctuary, and not to be gazed on by the vulgur crowd. It was his greatest grief that she should be exposed to the intrusions of coarse and stupid persons, who frequented the spiritual circles. Had not his Polar wanderings been before him, and had he been master of his own movements, he -v^ould doubtless have snatched her from such a life, by making her his wife at once. But this could not be * and meanwhile, he could not but feel th with J spiritu warnir inconsi a ment with h self-Iov In a express Miss Fc LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 99 feel that her family consented with reluctance to part with her, and that she herself hardly yet looked on spiritual matters as he t shed her to do. Hence his warnings and reproaches ; his cautions, and frequent inconsistencies. Hence his assumption of the tone of a mentor, and the comparisons of her social position with his own, which may .it times have piqued her self-love. In a letter addressed to a lady who had dared to express some doubt of his honorable intentions towards Miss Fox. he says: [Dr. Kane to Mrs.- -.] (( — Your interest in my friend Maggie is the only thing that could excuse a suspicion so gross and unkind as that conveyed by your remarks. On this account only I can make allowances for that spirit of distrust which an experience of the deceit and hypocrisy of those around us is but too apt to impart." He alluded to the cruel suspicions of this lady in a subsec uent letter to Margaret, which shows how very deeply he was wounded. It may be necessary to explain also the desire of concealment on Dr. Kane's part, and the stratagems he proposed to enjoy the society of his beloved. The relative under whose partial charge and in whose house Miss Fox was then living, expected her at times to join the circles as a medium, and was jealous of any xii' ;■. 1 100 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 'I I. i influence that took away her attention from spiritual- ism, or prejudiced her against it. The Doctor was always fearful of giving offence, and preferred a little artifice now and then, which did not always meet with Miss Maggie's approval. With commendable dis- cretion, she was ever determined to avoid anything clandestine. It would have been natural, too, had the changeful tone of her lover's letters, and his occasional reproofs, rendered her sometimes disposed to a little reticence, beyond what might have been, had their love " Q-rown in the world's approving eyes, In friendship's smile, and home's caress, Collecting all the heart's sweet ties Into one knot of happiness." Thus she seems to have been sparing of her epis- tolary favors. In the following missive, Dr. Kane ironically expresses his obligation for " numerous let- ters" by way of reproaching her for her silence. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "My Dear Maggie: — The mail is closing, and after a hard-working day, I have barely time to show you that I remember you by writing my usual letter. " Let me thank you for the numerous letters which you have written during my absence. A letter is always a proof that ^ou exist in the thoughts of the writer — and the letters which have so constantly LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 101 cheered the loneliness of poor Zt/, show him how well he is remembered. **■ When you write o/gain^ address Philadelphia, as I leave Washington to-morrow. " I have attended, dear darling, to your interests ; written to my aunt, and made all the necessary ar- rangements. * * * 's conversation still annoys me ; but I will do everything for you that a brother could do for a sister. "I think it probable that I may write to your mother to come on by the Wednesday train of two o'clock P. M., to see the place. She will bring you with her, and if you are satisfied, and determined to adhere to your good resolves, — ^you can return to New York, and make your preparations to be back and housed in your new home by the first of May. "There, dear Maggie, you will be a lady ; your own mistress, and a person regarded with respect by the whole house. It shall be distinctly understood that you go or stay just as you please ; — for I am not • going to turn * preacher,' au J bind up my little Mag- gie by a set of rules. I tmst in you, and I feel that my confidence will never be abused. I will write at once, and arrange matters. Write to Philadelphia. "National Hotel, "AprU 11th, 1853. " Good-bye, Pet Lamb." ■ The next was written on the same day : ' r 102 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. (( [Dr. Kano to Mias Fox.] ^ " April 11th, National. My Dear Darling, who don't love me, and never writes to me, I leave Washington to-morrow (Tues- day afternoon) and reach Philadelphia that night, remaining a few days before going to New York. " Now, I want you and your mother to start from New York on Wednesday morning. I will meet you both at the boat arid Union Hotel, and on Thursday take you to Mrs. Turner's, where you can see your new home. If you cannot stay in Philadelphia till Sunday evening, I'll return with you; but I hope that you may bo able to stay a couple of days in our dear old town. "Bring some nice sleeves and undershirts, and a nice plain black frock, and plain bonnet ; you are my child now II I do hope my aunt will take a fancy to you. I never dreamt that I could so soon bring my little spirit-rapper into my family I " Write at once *o Philadelphia the hour of your leaving New York. With my regards to Mrs. and your mother, I am your friend, "Preacher." The ladies did not accept this invitation, nor did they see Mrs. Turner before the 27th of May. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 103 • VIII. It was a favorite and oft-repeated expression with the Doctor, — " Maggie, you are a godsend to me! " With all his complaints of her shortcomings, he felt it an unspeakable happiness to love her, and to look for the unfolding of a responsive devotion in her young heart. Dr. Kane was very often in the habit of saying — as if with melancholy presentiment — " What would become of you if I should die ? What would you do ? I shudder at the thought of my death, on your account." In the buoyant confidence of youth, the poor girl could not then understand his fears. But he knew that in separating her from spiritualism he was isolat- ing her from ail her friends and associates, and depriving her of the only means she possessed of earning a livelihood. In compensation for the sacri- fices required of her, he was giving her a hope only ; a hope that might be blissfully realized, but might be sadly disappointed ; and in the event of losing him, what must be her destiny I This little note appears to have been written on the way from Washington. T; t t 104 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Darling Maggie :— It is pleasant even to write your name again ; but why no letters ? Why no letters ? " I have just returned from hard work, in Wash- ington, and am sick, worn out, thin as a lath, and very weary. "Bye-bye, darling." The following preceded Dr. Kane's return to New York. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] . . " Dear Darling : — I know you think of me now. You miss my daily visits, my welcoming kiss, and the look which always followed you, trying to antici- pate your wishes. You miss the dear stolen hours, the thoughts always bent upon your happiness. You miss our long rides, and our quiet little dinners ; and now of all the so-called friends who surround you, there is not one on whose shoulder you could place your head and say, 'You love me for myself.* There- fore, dear Maggie, I know that you must think of me — me, the only human being that you can trust; the only heart before whom you are not wearing a perpetual disguise. Why, you must love me I LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 105 " Whatever may be my faults, I have at least loved you. Were you an empress, darling MaL^gie, instead of a little nameless girl, following an obscure and ambiguous profession, it would be the same. You juld not have more from me. " Is the old house dreary to you ? Are the poor people below awaiting you, like Kennedy of old? Oh, Maggie, are you never tired of this weary, weary- sameness of continual deceit? Are you thus to spend your days, doomed never to rise to better things ? — you and that dear little open-minded sister Kate (for she too is still unversed in deception) — are you both to live on thus for ever ? You will neither of you be happy if you do ; for you are not, like * * * able to exult and take pleasure in the simpli- city of the poor simple-hearted fools around you. " Do then, Maggie, keep true to your last promise. Show this to Katy, and urge her to keep to her reso- lution. "'^ " Darling, I am very careful of you — more careful than you are of yourself This is the last time I will ever allude to the * rappings ' in a letter ; but my friend (Cornelius Grinnell) has promised me to put it into your hands, and I feel that it is safe. You had better not mention the subject in your own letters, unless they are put into his hands by yourself; and do * Miss Kate had promised to abjure the spirits, too, and go to live with her sister on her marriage with Dr. Kane. 6* (l \ ( I 106 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. burn or scratch out such pai-ts of this letter as you would not have seen. " You know I am nervous about the ' rappings.' I believe the only thing I ever was afraid of was, this confounded thing being found out. I would not know it myself for ten thousand dollars. " My friend Mr. is very curious to know why I watched the house, and why Kate went to Phila- delphia. I told him simply of a quarrel, or some such thing, between Mrs. — '— and your mother ; that you are all not very cordial, and will perhaps not stay very long in Twenty-sixth street. He wrote to me to-day, saying that Mrs. * really surprised him.' He is half inclined to believe. Oh, Maggie, 'tis a d d shame I Take care of yourself. **God bless you I " Preacher." The next letter, written in New York, refers to the visitors who came to witness the spiritual manifesta- tions in Twenty-sixth street. Although, by this time, Margaret was as averse to sitting in circles as her lover could wish her to be, she was subjected to the associations she disliked while residing in the house. She has always averred that she never fully believed the rappings the work of spirits^ but ima- gined some occult laws of nature concerned. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 107 [Dr. K«ne to Miss Fox.] " Maggie Dearest : — I am mad, angry, disgusted^ at the hogs who have kept me from you on this my last day I What a life to lead — at the call of any fool who chooses to pay a dollar and command your time! " Do you know, dear * Ugly,' that I dreampt about you all night ? You are a sad tempter, dear Maggie, but I intend to hiake you love me ; and to do that you will always have from me confidence and respect. " Perhaps, if you do not leave until Monday, I can yet see you again ; for I will leave New York on Saturday, and give up every thing for the pleasure of seeing you ag^in. Write to me, mailing your let- ter before ten, or nine o'clock, to-night. Direct to Delmonico's ; and if you say so, I will come back and ride with you on Sunday. " Maggie, think of me whenever you can, but do not think me a fool. I know you down to the very tips of your little feet. I know you better than a thousand Mrs. si If you choose really to love me, I will give you a chance ; if not, dear, dar- ling Maggie, why, I'll care as little for you as you do for me. " Accept, then, my respect ; and remember that I look upon you as loving me sincerely. As long o' you do this, you have in return from me every thing that I could give a most treasured friend. "1p.m." {{ 108 LOVE-LIPE OF DR. KANE. IX. Not long after this period, Dr. Kane was attacked with illness, while he was a guest at the house of Mr. Henry Grinnell, in Bond street, New York. How he longed to see his Maggie, may appear from what he wrote to her. [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — Too sick to write, I am at Mrs. G 's, and would dearly love to have you to nurse me, but fear that they would call your innocent devo- tion by another name. So write every day. I take a great comfort in your letters." • [Dr. Kane to Ml88 Fox] " Dearest Maggie : — Tell my friend how and when we can write to each other ; as also all your movements. /- "Be careful not to mention me before the Tigress, and do not talk to too much in her presence. You had better write a note at once to him with directions^ and another, sealed, to me. Ever, dearest Maggie, the '* Love to Kate." "Preacher. JSt LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 109 [Dr. Kano I Miaa Fox] " My Sweet Maggie : — 1 cannot see you to-day, nor indeed can I tell when fate will enable me to see you. I am very sick — for once down in bed, racked by pains, and hardly able to trace these lines. Worse than that, I am giving trouble to kind friends, and a nuisance to all around me. "It is in sickness that I feel how dear you are to me — how truly, warmly, and honestly I would watch and love you. Twice has the carriage driven to the door, and poor Ly made a fruitless effort to get into it ; but in vain. I can only think of you, and long for the gentle eyes and warm kisses which would do so much more for me than the doctors. Maggie, if you have any heart at all, do write me a long, loving letter I •• "Make yourself easy about 's matter. I understand why you want it carefully confined to yourselves, and have bound up Mr. G , so as to make him safe. Maggie, let me give you a piece of advice: ^Always believe and trtisi me.' You were foolish in telling Mr. G about that thing, because he said that / had told him. I have never told him. He said untruly when he told you so. When will you learn to trust me ? Never II " Pet lamb, in a few days we part : I on my ardu- ous track — you to the quiet enjoyment of a happy home. Are we ever to meet again ? Are we to walk [\ 110 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. ii arm in arm over sunny fields — to gaze at Italian sun- sets from lofty mountains ? Are we ever to be more to each other than we now are? Or is this — our soon-coming farewell — to be eternal ? " Answer me in your note, direct and to the point. Don't be afraid of writing, for I will return the letter. Say to me, dear darling, shall I bind myself? and I will send you to-morrow a binding letter. But oh, dear Mag, give me some written assurance that you will do the same. Show trust and faith, for without it you will never retain my love. " I'm very sick, dear Maggie. Do take your time, and answer me — by the bearer. " Morton will call to-morrow, and tell you how I am." The next day came the following : '„■- [Dr. Kane to MIbb Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — Read my yesterday's letter again, and you will perhaps find something unanswered. " My darling, I am very sick — the doctor says so, — Don't mention this to your people ; but say I am too busy to call. Were I still at the hotel, I would send for you to nurse me ; but Mrs. G , at whose house I now am, would not understand my little Maggie, of whom I try to be as careful as a sister. ' " I suffer so much, dear pet, that I cannot write. If you have anything to do, and don't feel like writings LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Ill do not write. 1 don't want to bore you. I will never give a speck of trouble to my Mag, if I can help it, nor will I be angry ; so do, dear darling, do just as you please. I know that you love me, and that is enough. " I hate people who pester me for letters, and I don't want you to hate me. " Bye bye I I'm very sick." Miss Margaret wrote as follows : [Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.] "My Dear Ly: — Are you no better? I fear you are not. I wish I could hear from you every hour I I suppose your mother is with you now. Do come here as soon as you are able to ride out. You ask if you shall write * a binding letter' — no — dear Ly — your word is enough. " All I ask for my dear Ly is that you may get well. I am so glad your mother is with you. Do let me hear from you as often as possible. , "In haste, yours, "Maggie. " Shall I send those letters back to Mr. Grinnell V (Dr. Hawks's letters.) [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Maggie Darling: — I am really sick — too sick to think of those who are nursing me, except as kind 112 LOVE-LIFE OF DE. KANE. and devoted friends. My mother has been sent for, and will be here to-morrow. My one thought is yourself Do, ray own dear love, lift up, and refine yourself, and hurry on your preparations, so as to leave as soon as you can ; for, whatever may happen, you shall be cared for." [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " My own Sweet Maggie : — Ly is very sick ; so sick that you must make up your mind not to see him for a long time. All my people have been sent for, and are here. If you want to show roe that you care for me, write me at least one long affectionate letter. " Peturn to me Dr. Hawks' papers. I can just trace these lines. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " See Mr. Grinnell, sick or well, " Dearest Maggie : — How grieved I am that you should be sharing my troubles, and down yourself upon a sick bed! I long to see you, and the first liberty will see me at your side. Keep up your spirits, dear pet lamb. "If you are able to ride out to-morrow between twelve and four P. M., you can easily call on me, with Kate or your mother. I told Mrs. G that you had oflfered to ask * the spirits' some questions as to my recovery, and she is very curioiLs to see the LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 113 performance. So, dear Maggie, if you will gladden my eyes — say so in writing (not mentioning it to Mr. G ) and I will send a carriage. Name the exact hour, and don't keep it waiting, — for Mrs. G — — will send her own carriage. Keep this a secret from Mrs. " God bless my sweet Maggie I" [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Dear Pet : — If you and Kate can name any day, between ten and half-past three, I can see you here. Mrs. ,G is very anxious to hear * a knock pro- ceed from me' — and a visit would be very cheer- ing to poor *Ly.' She will send her carriage for you ; only write me the time, and be plainly dressed, awaiting it. Oh, how I long to see you I Get well, dear darling, if only to make happy your faithful friend, who will ever guard you." [Dr. E^one to Miss Fox.] " So, after an illness of nearly a fortnight, I send a carriage for you, and receive the answer * cannot possibly come.' Your affections must be very 114 LOVE-LTFE OF DR. KANE. oppressive; — ^your trouble at my sickness very unendurable 1 * Can't possibly come I' You do me too much honor, Miss Margaret Fox I Well, Ly won't get mad : He can't. He loves you too much ; but if ever God spares him to traverse the Arctic ice, and he thinks of you in your quiet country home, it will be with the comfortable feeling of con- viction that you won't suffer from your Lnve for him. No, Maggie I You'll never die of too much heart I " Don't rap for Mrs. Pierce (the wife of the President of the United States). Kemember your promise to me. A promise my hand has just told me has been twice broken within these forty-eight hours. How much oftener I don't know. " Begin again, dearest Maggie, and keep your word. No rapping for Mrs. Pierce, or evermore for any one. I, dear Mag, am your best, your truest, your only friend. What are they to my wishes? Oh, regard and love me, and listen to my words; and be careful, very careful, lest in an idle hour you lose my regard and your own respect. " The carriage shall call for you to-morrow. You need not rap ; I had rather you would not. Eeceive this note kindly and write me an answer, for although my hands let me write, I am very, very sick." LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 115 The above seems to have elicited a brief reply, which was noticed as follows : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Sweet : — Don't trouble yourself. I could not be angry if I was to try. I'm very sick, but think of you constantly. Morton will come up every day. Do have sometimes a kind note for poor Ly. "Bye bye." Some time afterwards this note was written. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — I am delighted at the chance of seeing you. Come alone, if Kate cannot accompany you. " Treat me like a dear brother, without reserve or formality ; and do not see them until you see me. "Do have neat neck and arm linen, and believe always and everywhere in the confiding love of »Ly.'» The carriage waited till the young lady, usually dilatory in dress matters, was ready; and she was h!'-' 116 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. received with a cordial welcome by Mrs. Grinnell. The Doctor was lying on a couch, wearing a robe of crimson stuff. The sight of her he loved revived his spirits. He bade his kind hostess show the young lady various little objects of curiosity ; among t.hem a curious mechanical contrivance by which a little bird of gorgeous plumage was made to fly out, plume its feathers, trill a song, and retire. " If that belonged to me," whispered Dr. Kane to Margaret, " it should be yours." They talked then a long while about her going to school and the various studies she was to pursue. Mrs. Grinnell, as Dr. Xane afterwards said, was very much pleased with his young visitor. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 117 [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — ^Not so well this morning, but very glad to have s-^en again the light of your eyes. " Do not think, darling, that I don't love and trust you ; but you require a little scolding now and then. " Tell me how Mrs. Pierce got on 1 " Mrs. Grinnell was much pleased with you. Every body who really knows you, is ; for my Maggie is a lady ; and by the time that she has had a course of Mrs. Turner's music and French, nobody will know her as the spirit-rapping original phenomenon. " Write me daily. Bye bye." To explain the allusion to Mrs. Pierce, it may be mentioned that the wife of the President had made an engagement to call on Miss Fox, at the request of Governor Tallmadge and other friends in Washington. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " My Dear Darling : — Your sweet note did me as much good as a dozen doctors. Do write again. I've 118 LOVE-LIPE OF DR. KANE. been and am still very sick.; but my hands let me write again. " Always have faith in me, dear Maggie, and you shall never regret it. Once distrust, and you have no claim on Ly. Glad that your bird sings so well." Several notes like the following were written during his convalescence. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Deab Maggie : — ^I am really sick, but the day is so charming that I think a ride will do me good. " Will not you and Kate jump in, and I will try and give you both a happy day I " Don't disappoint me, but hurry. " Give my respects to Mrs. and tell her I am sorry that I was unable to see her last night." The allusion to the rappings in this note to Miss Kate is a mere joke, for the Doctor n&ver countenanced them by experiments. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 119 [Dr. Kane to MIbs Kato Fox. J " Miss Kate Fox : — A carriage will call for you and Miss Maggie at one o'clock. Can your spirits thump in a carriage ? If they cannot, I would rather come up and have the rappings elsewhere. " Do not disappoint me. I have some important test questions. At one precisely. " Your Friend." [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — ^I send you a carriage ; perhaps — will take an airing. After you Kate or Mrs. have had about an hour's ride the driver will call for me, and I will join you, and return to spend the evening. " Your friend, " E. K. Kane." The observations on persons in these letters are usu- ally quite harmless, but must occasionally be omitted, that the feelings of none may be wounded. 120 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. m I' [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " My Sweet Pet : — I send your letters. Is there anything else that poor sick Zy can do for you ? * * * * * I can't be playing a part before you, " Dont forget, dear Mag, the lock and the sweet long letter. Have it at Bond Street before five o'clock p.m. " If you can go to the theatre with Kate, send word by bearer on a scrap of paper, and I'll have a box for you and a carriage at half-past six p.m. Do go, dear darling I If you prefer to-morrow, say so, and I'll call to-night and see my little bird. " Maggie, dear, I want you, if you possibly can, to go to the theatre to-night. The day is so dreary and I feel so badly that I long for a long talk with you. Tell Kate to go, and let me call for you in a carriage at a quarter before seven o'clock this evening. Do, dear Mag I" IDr. Kane to Miss Kate Fox.] " Dear Katy : — Will you go to the theatre to-night with Mr. G., your sister, and myself? " I have not seen you for three days. I hope you are not angry with your friend " Preacher. " 1 have a nice private box for you." LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 121 [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Maggie Darling :— All last night did this good friend of yours think about you and your probable future. " I can see that this is one of the turning points of your life, and upon your own energy and decision now depend the success and happiness of your future career. Dear Maggie, think it over well, and do not be turned aside from what is right by the sincere but still misguided advice of others. " I know, dear pet, that the life has its attractions. There is a real enjoyment in the excitement of watch-; ing and working for the conversion of the skeptical. Do not think, then, that poor ' Ly ' blames you for this natural fondness for the ingrown habits of six years. But remember, Maggie, that all this will not last. It is '/w?i ' now^ but what will it be six years hence I , "What will it be when, looking back upon twelve mis- spent and dreary years, you feel that there have been no acts really acceptable to your Maker, and that, for the years ahead, all will be sorrow, sameness, and disgust ! Dear, sweet Maggie, think it over well. " There is but one life in this world — that of self- approval. There is but one happiness — that of loving and being loved. Where will you meet either of these, living as you now live ? " Why, you know that sometimes even now, when is cross, or the company coarse and vulgar, or u m 122 LOVE-LIFE OF DH. KANE. the day tiresome, or yourself out of sorts, that low spirits and disgust come over you, and you long like a bird to spread your wings and fly away from it all. Dear, sweet pet, I am going soon far away — never, perhaps, to see you again ; certainly never as a spirit- rapper. Do, darling, while you can, spread your wings, fly away, and be at rest. " God bless you I " ' IV i ' m vv * ; [Dr. Kane to Mlaa Pox.] "Dear Maggie: — I thought of you all day, dreampt of you nearly all night, and now in the bright morning time am thinking of you still. Don't be discouraged, my dear darling ; things will be right again. Ly will not desert you, and this temporary cloud will pass away. " The more I think of it, the more I am convinced that I did right in speaking of your affair to Mrs. . She misconstrued my motives, and replied by insult. Yet I did as a gentleman ought ; and now, conscious of my rectitude of intention, I feel as if I had but one duty — that of guarding your interests and watching over your happiness. Although I can- not enter her doors, I will never forget the dear friend who, reposing confidence in my word, looks to me as to one who holds her happiness in his hands. H LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 123 Trjst me, dear Maggie, for I will guard you as a broti:er. " Whatever you advise, I will dc , and I await your answer by Grinnell. If you will permit me to speak about the arrangement for a home near Philadelphia, I will do it at once. Only write me your wishes. Banished as 1 am from you, no longer pressing your dear lips or watching your glad smile, I feel as if I could do any thing, resign any thing, to see you happy. Only say to me, dear darling, what you would have me do. "I send my friend with this, to defend himself against the wicked insinuations of that woman. Mag- gie, you know that I cannot tell a falsehood. Believe me, then, that if you were my own sister, you could .not stand higher in his eyes than you do. I have told him of Mrs. 's accusations, and he is shocked that one whose character is so known as mine should be so assailed. Do, dear Maggie, have confidence in him. I have told him how much I regard you, and how dear to my wishes it would be to take your future path under my guidance. " Maggie, I have tried to comfort you, but I am sad myself; — sad and sick. I miss that dear Maggie, with her glossy locks upon my shoulders; that wicked, teasing, spirit-rapping Maggie I Oh, dearj darling pet, when can I see you I I leave on Mon- day, and am nearly crazy at the idea of not bidding you good-bye. Yet I cannot go to 's unless she K 124 LOVK-LIFK OF DR. KANE. apologizes, and even then but once. Do try and see me. I leave it all to you. Write me word how and when, and I will faithfully meet you ; but be careful, darling, for I would not harm you for the world. " With God's blessing, in a week you shall be free; but, dear Maggie, you must help me. Never^ from this hour, the raps again I Never, dear Mag, never ! *' As to , she is to you no legal guardian. Your mother is everything. If I do my duty, and you stand firm, all will be right. "Bye byol (( ( Ly.' " Do not tell any one that I leave on Monday for Philadelphia. It will have a good effect to let them think me in town, and staying away." LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 125 XI. All this time Dr. Kane had talked with Mrs. Fox about sending Mairgaret to school during the years of his contemplated absence, and hi* 1 at length obtained her consent to this cherished project. The only thing now necessary was to select the school. Gene- ral Waddy Thompson wrote to recommend one ; and a journey was projected to New Haven to enquire about schools in that classic locality ; one there having been highly recommended by Bishop . The Doctor's plan of private schooling under the care of his aunt, seems not to have been at first approved by Mrs. Fox, perhaps because it would remove Margaret to a distance from all her friends. As soon as Dr. Kane was sufficiently recovered, he made arrangements for this journey. He wrote : [Dr. Kane to Mias Fox.] "Dear Mag: — I will have a carriage for you punctually between four and half-past four. Bring Kate with you, and do not disappoint your friend ; for I will call for you in person. "Tell your mother that on Wednesday we will leave for New Haven; and do urge upon her the importance of hastening your school arrangements. I am deeply anxious to see you fixed finally before 126 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. I leave; and my time, dear child, is fully occu- pied. "You know now how brotherly my feelings are, and how pleasant it would be to me — when floating in that Arctic waste — to feel that I had contributed to make your life useful and happy. " At present you have nothing to look forward to — nothing to hope for. Your life is one constant round of idle excitement. Can your mother — who is an excellent woman — look upon you, a girl of thirteen, as doomed all your life to live surrounded by such as now surround you — deprived of all the blessings of home, and love, and even self-respect ? " Do hasten and go to school ; study hard, and be a useful woman ; an honor to your mother and your- self." Once he said, playfully, — " You know not what a great man is your ' Lish ! ' " , and went on to tell Maggie how he had breakfasted with Queen Victoria when he was in England. He had an object in wish- ing to increase her respect for himself, inasmuch as a powerful influence was needed to separate her from all her associates. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 127 The following note to Mrs. Fox was in relation to the visit to New Haven. / [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Fox.] "My Dear Madam: — The cars leave for New Haven at eight A. M., and return early in the after- noon, reaching New York by nine in the evening. " This will leave but a few hours for business, and I will have to work hard to complete the arrange- ments. " Tell the young ladies that I will have a carriage for them punctually at seven o'clock, Monday morn- ing, and that they had better be all ready, so as not to delay. They can pick me up on their road to the cars. . "Very truly, " Your servant, ^ "E. K. Kane. "Mrs. Fox." [Dr. Kane to BIIbs Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — Your wishes are with me always binding. I do not think that you can look back upon a wish ungratified, when your friend had it in his power to grant it; therefore, darling, of course, bring your mother. " The carriage will be with you at seven A. M. If M. 128 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Katy would go, there would be no impropriety, and I have often said that I take the same care of you that I would of my own sister. Do therefore exactly as you please. " God bless you I "Your Friend. " Answer by bearer." Mrs. Fox determined to accompany her daughter and Dr. Kane to New Haven. Another missive to Miss Margaret kept her in mind of the hour of starting. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Send me word what your mother says about the dog, as I have to give the man an answer by eight this evening. If you prefer a small lap-dog, or a hairy Newfoundland, let cousin Peter know, for your wishes are his laws. "I have written to your mother, telling her to have you ready by seven A. M. We will have precious little time in New Haven. Would it not be well to tell your mother that we may come back by the boat? It is a beautiful journey along the Sound. " Be assured that while with me no accidents can happen. I will not only be ' very good,' but I will make you ' good' too. There ! LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 129 " Write me back a nice, long, loving letter, for I cannot see you to-day. That house is as hot as a furnace, and as uncongenial to a person of refinement, as a tallow candle, or a lump of brown soap. " Especially mention in your letter if you will be ready at seven o'clock. " Remember me to Kate, and ask my kind and considerate hostess if there is anything that I can send to Mr. — * "Always respect sickness, dear Maggie. It is God's bitter lesson; preaching to mortals their frail hold upon the dear blessings of life. No one in full health can realize the awful prospect of a sudden fall into the dark regions — of trite spirits. Maggie, child, shun sin — shun hypocrisy; shun the 'preachers;' — injure not even the worm that crawls ; but live and love, and be happy. "Byebyel" . ,r : V The quest in New Haven was not very satisfactory. In one establishment burning-fluid was used — a very dangerous thing ; and in another, none but an upper room could be procured. The Doctor declared he should not have a happy moment during his absence, * The gentleman whose sickness is alluded to, was the husband of a relative of Mrs. Fox, residing in 26th street. 6* m \. i 130 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. if his little girl were exposed to the perils of explo- sive compounds. Going into one institute, he made Maggie throw back her veil; he seemed always pleased at the admiration her innocent beauty awakened. The subject of the school to be chosen was in agitation while Dr. Kane's last preparations for the Arctic Expedition were going on. Meantime, in view of the interference that had already caused some unhappiness, he urged Mrs. Fox not to heed what outsiders might say : but to depend implicitly upon his judgment, discretion, and honor. They would in time see how faithful he would be to the sacred trust. One day he came to the house, accompanied by his brother, and taking Mrs. Fox aside, requested her not to say a word about the marriage before that gentle- man ; while in his brother's presence he begged her not to let such a rumor get abroad in public, on her daughter's account ; adding, " my brother feels like death about it." The following note was sent immediately after the decease of the relative already mentioned : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Dear Mag: — I send Morton to you, deeply regretting that I cannot come in person to cheer your LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 181 sadness. I shall not leave for Philadelphia to-morrow, as I cannot bear to leave you in your distress. "E. K. Kane." It may be mentioned that Mr. Morton was the con- fidential friend and faithful follower of Dr. Kane, and the companion of his Arctic trp.vels. He was highly regarded by Miss Maggie, whom he looked on with the deepest respect. Dr. Kane called upon the family very soon after- wards. While stanaing with Margaret, her sister, and others, in the room where the corpse was lying — moved by a sudden impulse — he took the hand of his beloved, and called t^ ose present to witness his solemn vow and promise that she should be his wife on his return from the Polar seas ; " I will be true to you'' — he said, "till I am as the corpse before you," re- quiring a similar pledge from her. He seemed, at times, to feel that the bond between them needed this kind of seal, as the engagement could not be publicly known. A little jealousy — too, is perceptible on his part. This solemn pledge is presently referred to. This portion of a letter breathes a moralizing spirit —shadowed by the near approach of the parting , hour. II leer vour 132 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. m. itii [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] * * " What gold can equal the self-approval of a good conscience 1 And what are we, dear Mag, when, looking back upon the silent years, memory lingers upon no good deeds done, and a profitless and dreary old age stands before us like a spectre I " Be true to yourself, and even as a loved brother I will be tru^ to you, until I am as the corpse before you. * * " I have never yet left a wish of yours ungra- tified, and if I can help it, never will. You therefore may decide for me. Shall I go or stay ?" [" Shall I go or stay ?" was often his question to Maggie, on the eve of any important movement. He left to this simple girl the decision of the most re- markable acts of his life, sure that she would decide with a disinterested view to his honor and happi- ness.] " It is hard to leave you, when death has taken away an early friend, and still harder, dear Mag, to feel that you will be left to solitude and your own sad thoughts. Still I feel as if it was my duty to go — and I know that my dear, well-trusted little Mag- gie will not counsel me to do wrong. " I will call upon you again to-morrow, exactly "t twelve." : LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 13S [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Dear Maggie : — It was of little use my staying to see you, for I am worse to-day, and the doctor will not let me leave my room. " Keep up your spirits, dear darling, and expect to see me to-morrow ; for I will not leave you in your sorrow. " Eead over my yesterday's letter, and profit by its counsels. Do, dear Mag, take advantage of this death^ to renew your good intentions. Write me a letter, solemnly promising never to rap again. Do, dear Mag, do this ; you will feel happier for it. Re- member in this awful hour of death the fearful sins and sorrows that have grown out of that girlish trick. Think how the little stream has become a mountain torrent ; and when the great God punishes. He will go to the fountain-head. Do, do, dear Pet, make me the promise." This appeal met with a prompt response — as ap- pears from the following missive ; though few copies of Miss Margaret's letters belonging to this period were preserved by her. .4 4 [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] . ^ . "Dear Mag: — Your kind promise 'solemnly never to rap again ' so pleases me that I cannot help > (i 184 LOVE-LIFE OP DB. KANE. 11 thanking you. Adhere to that, and you will be a dear, good, happy girl, and secure in me a valued friend. " Cheer up, dear Mag. I am not going to bore you with any more sermons. It is better for poor C that he be in the silent tomb than fighting the grim enemy with pain and sorrow. He died a be- liever in the spirits, and taking comfort in his delu- sion : and we who live will profit by his death, that our own helief may be no chimera, but a hope and a blessing. " What's the use of fretting 1 In a few days you will be »iurrounded by new scenes in your quiet coun- try home. There will be plenty of people around you to whom you can extend little charities, and lay up a stock of pleasant recollections to wipe o\>i the past. I should laugh to see you — * Devil,' as I often call you — trudging about among the cottages, blowing children's noses, and giving sugar-candy to the babies. I must get you a large dog, and you can take Tommy with you. " Keep up your spirits. I will come and see you — God willing — to-morrow. In the meantime eat some of these nice brandy plums : they will cheer you up. "Some day or other — Polar ice permitting — we will thaw out in Italy. Dear, sweet Italy I land of sunshine and flowers, and music and lovers I Look- ing from some high mountain down upon tranquil LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 185 plains, you shall forget that you ever cheated old fogy Waddy Thompson, or rubbed your nose red for poor C . " Cheer up ! Bye bye. " Am I not a good fellow I sick and sad, thus to write and comfort my little Mag I" 186 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. XIL The family of Mrs. Fox went to Kochester accom- panying the remains of Mr. . While they were there this letter was received from the Doctor. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " My Dear Maggie : — You were right in going to Eochester. It was your duty to gratify the wish of Mrs. . Never think that I will not sanction a kind or a just act. " Your letter fills me with satisfaction. Your pre- sent tone of mind is what I have longed for, and I know that it will please you to have my approval. I do not often praise you ; regard it, therefore, as some- thing beyond mere words, when I say that you are doing right ; and if you adhere to your good resolves will surely have your reward. ? " No matter for the churches^ Maggie. Live a life of purity and innocence, making those around you happy ; and the Oreat God, whose mandate is ' Love one another,' will love you. Many happy years are ahead of you to wipe out the memory of the past ; and surely it is worth something to have the support and regard of one steadfast friend like myself. " You say truly that life is not long at the longest; therefore, dear Mag, seize the sunshine while it lin- LOVE-LIFE or DS. KANE. 187 gers, and make the most of its fleeting hours. You know my opinions often expressed to you, that good deeds are the best offerings to the ' Great Author of Good,' and that if we lead a life which injures no one around us, which has for its aim making others happy, dispensing charities and covering our footsteps with blessings, such a life will have its reward, church or no church. ■ " Believe me when I say we were not placed in this bright world to wear long, solemn faces, and turn up our noses at its enjoyments and pleasures. To live, to bv€j to enjoy ^ are parts of the great religion of Ora- iitude^ which tells us to take of the good things of this world : for ' to-morrow ye die^ " Be happy then, dear Maggie ; lean upon me, and 80 live as to meet my approval. You will be then sure of your own^ and your path will be strewn with flowers. " I cannot promise not to hold up my hand again, but I will not do so for some time. I confess that I was deeply pained by what my hand told me for the past fortnight in connexion with ; but I never said so to you. Judge, then, how glad I was to get your solemn promise. Now I can trust and confide in you, for I know you will not deceive me, nor break a pledge given in the presence of Death. " Write to me to Philadelphia (under cover to my brother). Your letters marked ' Private,' inside. I am about the same, waiting for clear weather to return. it 188 LOVK-LIFE OP DR. KANE. " Perhaps you bad better send me a letter also to No. 17 Bond street I do not leave New York till Monday." Addressed to ,- > Miss Maqqib Fox, Rochester. [Dr. Kane to MlM Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — Be in to-day at one o'clock, for I am going to make an effort to see you, and fix finally all your scbool matters. ^ ; " Yours always with my blessing, "E. K. Kane." [Dr. Kane to MIm Fox.] ** My Own Dear Maggie :— Have you no feeling? "Why do you not write to me ? Surely you cannot distrust poor Ly/ " I leave to-morrow, and God only knows when I can see you again. K you can see me on Monday morning I should prefer it ; for then I could go to Philadelphia by the two o'clock cars with my brother. " Answer. " I have told Mr. Grinnell to get from your mother LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 139 a positive answer — * yes or no' — to my hopes of pro- viding you with a school and a home. I must have an answer when I see you ; for I want either to fix matters or banish it for ever. " Do, my own dearly loved Maggie, decide rightly confiding in the purity of your only friend. " Write me a long, loving letter, for I am sick and unhappy." 1 It was now settled that Maggie was to go to school at Crookville, and was to be under the charge of Dr. Kane's aunt, Mrs Leiper, residing in the family of that lady's intimate friend and neighbor, Mrs. Turner. In the next letter Dr. Kane urges the hastening of preparations. , [Dr. Kane to Miu Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — If to-morrow be clear, and my poor body permit, I will call at half-past twelve to spend a parting half hour with you. " I am going for a few days to Philadelphia — a visit for the restoration of my health. Do, dear dar- ling, hasten your preparations, for I want to see you in your own home before I take my lonjr er journey. " Have you received your trunk? It was the finest that I could procure in New York. The * Children liili;'^. & ;!■: 140 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. of the Abbey ' will come to-morrow. Is there any- thing else, dear darling, that I can send you ? "I am not so well to-day — low-spirited and sad. Will you do me a favor ? As soon as Morton hands you this, write me a dear, sweet, loving little letter, and sond with it a lock of your hair. It will soothe me to sleep. Do this, dear Mag., and I'll try my best merely to * like you.^ "Bye bye." 'fV " Send me word how you are. Mr. Grinnell will probably call to-night. Do see him, dear Maggie. Tell your mother to hasten your clothes, etc., etc., for school." [Dr. ]B[aue to Miss Fox."] " I was very glad, my own dearest darling, that you contradicted the suspicions of my hand. My haL \ is sometimes completely wrong, and I had a great deal rather believe you than it. As long, dear Mag- gie, as you love me, I will care for you, and never distrust you any more. " Now that you are about to leave me, I begin to LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 141 feel how much I love you. How anxiously I desire your welfare I How tremblingly I look to your future course I Do not desert the memory of your true friend ; for the time is at hand when you will see him no more. When raging seas and fearful ice will sepa- rate us, and a cold, cold winter freeze out the warmth of my thoughts. ** It would be very, very wicked, after what has passed, for you to cease to love me. I want you, dear Maggie, to respect yourself and be happy. You cannot do this if you consider my love like that of others, and desert your friend the " Preacher. " Good-bye." "I will call at three p.m., and either spend the evening or ride, as you and Kate may desire. *• " Please yourself, and you will please me." The little yew cC esprit that follows was written just before the departure for school. It shows the opinion the Doctor just then entertained of the young lady's matter-of-fact character, contrasting it with his own romance and sentiment. She was always too refined 142 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. and bashful, however, ever to say " confound it," or to use any such expressions as are imputed to her. These must be attributed to poetic licence. Dialogue between the sentimental "PreaCHEb" and 2>ractical Maggie. Soeitb.-~Mrs. -'a Pablob. 1. PREACHER. Dearest, may thy life be gilded as the sunset sky 1 MAGGIE. I really think I'd like a "sassage;" hand me one, dear Ly. PREACHER. M^ thy thoughts be free from passion as an in- fant's dream I Catch it, or MAGGIE. There's a pin against your Maggie I Fll scream i 2. PREACHER. Maggie, 1 have watched the feelings welling in thy breast. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 143 as an in- MaGGIE. Confound this frock ! it always slips, and leaves me half undressed. PREACHER. IVe often longed to make lifers stream a fountain clear and bright. MAGGIE. How can I fix my hair, dear Ly, if you stand in the light ? 8. PREACHER. And now IVe found a rural home, away from toil and strife. MAGGIE. Yes, and an ugly governess to lead me " such a life I " PREACHER. A home, my Maggie, where your heart and mind will grow apace ! MAGGIE. And nobody but country bumpkins come around the place I PREACHER. A home of peace, where every thought can centre, love, on me. »t> 11 i 144 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. i^ANE. MAGGIE. And sour old maids, and rainy days, and you upon the sea 1 [Mcit Preacher in a huff, and Maggie laughing as she sings out ^^ Italy f Italy / Italy / ''] Italy was often talked of tib the country to which the wedding trip should be made. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "My Dear Maggie: — Mr. Grinnell's conversa- tion will show you that I have cared for you, and kept all my promises. " Write to me if Wednesday afternoon will do for you to leave New York with your mother. " Never do wrong any more ; for if now * the Spirits move,' it vv^ill be a breach of faith. From this moment our compact begins. " Bye bye. Your friend and brother, " E. K. Kane." LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 145 In another note he says : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " I do not fear a dozen Argus-eyed s. It is because, dearest, I do not wish you to have a single pang in after years. I would not have you ever repent your relations with Ly. You are a child now, but there is darkness ahead. Let us both fight against it. Do not then feel sad ; it is your interest alone that I would guard and cherish. " xi.rd now, dear Maggie, should you grow very impatient to see your mother, and Mrs, Turner approves your having a few days' rest from your studies, write to Mr. Grinnell, and he will be your escort. Always confide in him; he is a gentleman. " p^" Remember I " Bye bye. " 'LiSH." ii Maggie was sitting for her portrait to Mr. Fagnani ; a portrait which Dr. Kane made his inseparable com- panion in his Arctic wanderings. "When toiling through the frozen wastes, he would not even permit Morton to carry for him this treasure ; but bore it, in its frame, strapped on his back, wherever he went, and at night had it placed by his couch of rest. 7 Ul I! i ' '■ 1: ^. ,,^-^jj^ 'Hi il' 'i^^Hb! r . ^B^ilH ! '<,: : 'III Ill 146 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. The following was written on the twenty-sixth of May, 1853: [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — You will sit with Mr. Fagnani until half-past three o'clock. Morton will then take you home, and your mother must be all ready to go at once with you to the cars. There you will meet me. " On no account fail, for I can accompany you on no other day. Say this to your mother, and be all . ready. Morton will not leave you till you see me. " E. K. Kane." Dr. Kane's practical wisdom did no prevent his sometimes showing a slight tendency to superstition. One day, taking a rosebud Maggie had given him, he bade her open her mouth to catch it ; saying that if she did so, it would be an omen of his safe return, and of their wedded happiness. He then threw it to her, and was well pleased to have it caught. He did the same with a nut, on the eve of his departure for England, in October, 1856. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 147 sixtli of Fagnani then take idy to go will meet ly you on and be all see me. Kane." revent his perstition. yiven him, jaying that afe return, threw it to kt. XIII. The time grew fearfully short. The preparations of Mrs. Fox being completed, Dr. Kane escorted her and Margaret, on the twenty-sixth, as far as Phila- delphia. They stopped at the Girard House, and supped together for the last time in years. It was at their parting that Margaret first felt how deeply she loved the man who had shown such devo- tion to her — such tender care for her welfare. The anguish that followed his departure was intolerable ; and she was on the point of giving up the idea of going to school, and returning to her friends in New York to seek relief from overwhelming distress. But this would have been an unkind return for the love lavished upon her. Mrs. Kemble's lines would have been applicable in her case : — " What shall I do with all the days and hours That must be counted ere I see thy face 1 How shall I charm the interval that lowers Between this time and that sweet time of grace I U "I'll tell thee : for thy sake, I will lay hold Of all good aims, and consecrate to thee In worthy deeds each moment that is told, While thou, beloved one ! art far from ine. u 148 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. " For thee I will arouse my thoughts to try All heavenward flights, all high and holy strains ; For thy dear sake I will walk patiently Through the long hours, nor call their minutes pains. " I will this dreary blank of absence make A noble task-time, and will therein strive To follow excellence, and to o'ertake More good than I have won sin-ie yet I live. " So may this doomed time build up in me A thousand graces, which shall thus be thine ; So may my love and longing hallowed be, — And thy dear thought an influence divine." i ■• On the twenty-seventh of May, after a melancholy breakfast, Mrs. Fox and Margaret stepped into the carnage engaged by Dr. Kane to convey them eight- een miles into the coantry, to the house of Mrs. Tur- ner. The words of 'jer lover — " It is too near our parting " — ^had sunk deeply into the heart of the poor girl, and it was almost with dismay, as she drew near her future abode, she realized that — shut out from the world in this retired spot — she had also lost the sun of her heart's world : that she should no more hear the voice of him she now loved with an ardor scarcely less than that of his own attachment to her. The clasp of his hand — his tender looks — how they lin- LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KaNE. 149 gered in her memory ! But it was a consolation to think that in remaining here she was fulfilling his dearest wish ; that his aunt, to whose care she had been consigned, was in her immediate neighborhood, and that she might sometimes hear from her beloved — at least till the Arctic ice separated them. The following brief extract is made from her jour- nal: — " On the morning of the twenty -seventh of May, 1863. — After a tedious drive of four hours, I arrived at Crookville — a manufacturing village situated on Ridley Creek, and distant about eighteen miles from Philadelphia. After various inquiries I reached the house which was to be my home until Dr. Kane's return to this country. With me first impressions have much weight, and in a measure determine my future feelings in regard either to houses or their in- habitants. Accordingly, I looked anxiously at the pretty and unpretending dwelling which my beloved had selected as my abode, and mentally I wondered whether its inhabitants were as tasteful and neat as their little home appeared to be. A few words will suffice to describe this peaceful spot. The house is surrounded by a picket fence, enclosing about an acre 150 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. I» i« of ground, which is very afltefully laid out in front with flower-beds contair^iog many rare and beautiful specimens. Handsome trees offer an agreeable shTide, while a pretty piazza covered with honeysuckles and roses forms a most inviting entrance." On returning to New York Dr. Kane wrote :- A* [Dr. Kane to Mies Fox.] "My own dear Darling: — I arrived here this morning very tired, bit with thoughts which excluded fatigue. Mrs. Walters I will see this afternoon, and send on the bird and other forgotten treasures by the early boat. They wiP be in Chester, care of Sam Smithy by Tuesday afternoon. " On the same day, dear Maggie, my little bark will be ploughing the trackless sea. Will it be fol- lowed by your thoughts and prayers ? "When I think of our parting evening — its last hour, its last minutes — I am oppressed with the un- real vagueness of a dream. Oh, my Maggie, think of me — always think of me — with respect I Cling to me — always cling to me — with love ! Lean on me, hope in me, bear with me — tritst me ! Let us remem- ber the passing moments which time itself cannot de- LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 161 stroy ; moments sacred to aflfection, confidence, and love. " And now, dear Maggie, my own dear Maggie, live a life of purity and goodness. Consecrate it to me. Wear no garb upon which even the breath of an angel could leave a stain. Thus live, dear Maggie, until God brings me back to you ; and then, meeting my eye with the proud consciousness of vir- tue, we will resign ourselves to a passion sanctified by love and marriage. Golden fields shall spread be- fore us their summer harvest — silver lakes mirror your very breath. Let us live for each other. " Farewell. " E. K. Kane." *' P. S. Write up to the last moment ; they will tell you when we leave, at eleven A. M., Tuesday. Don't forget letters regularly. "K." On the return of Mrs. Fox from Philadelphia to New York on the twenty -seventh day of May, she was called on by Dr. Kane, who learned from her how distressed his poor Maggie had been, and in how disconsolate a condition she remained at school. He could not bear this ; but, short as his time was, re- it ti 162 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. solved on another journey to Crookville to snatch ft few moments and have a last parting with one so deeply loved. He took with him the little bird re- ferred to, which was named after him ; but unfortu- nately lost it in Philadelphia. It was recovered, however, on his return, as related in the next missive. -.' <>■ [Dr. Kcno to Mlu Fool] " My Dear Maggie : — Upon my return to Phila- delphia I offered a reward, and succeeded in obtain- ing our little bird. Thus, dear Maggie, you see that every thought, every wish, is met by me. Never doubt my love. "Guard and cherish the little wanderer thus re- turned to the fold. Make it an evidence of my thoughtful attention to your every wish. An em- blem, too, dear darling, of my own return, whep, after a dreary flight, I come back to nestle in your bosom. " Dispel all doubt, dear Maggie. Never reprove- never think unkindly. The day will come — bright as sunshine on the waters — when I claim your hand, and unrestrained by the trammels of our mutual dread, live with you in peace, tranquillity, and affec- tion. "Be good and pure. Eestrain every thought LOVK-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 153 which interferes with a guileless life, and live to prove by your improvement your love for A sad parting, in truth, was this ; though full of youthful hope. Mrs. Turner could not fail to see liow deep and sincere was the Doctor's love for her young charge. 164 LOVE-LIFE OF DB. KANE. »' XIY. It will be remembered that Dr. Kane sailed on the 30th May, 1853, from New York. It is not necessary to follow his progress northward; "this round un- varnished tale" having reference only to his " course of love." The uncertainty that hung over his return was se/erely felt by her whom he found it hardest to leave of all on earth. Sho treasured all the news- paper articles she could find. One of these dolefully said : — "The experience of all Polar travellers seems to show that after the first winter in that region, the adventur.er's effective energies are so subdued as to render him practically worthless. Dr. Kane, there- fore, though untrammelled by instructions, is strongly advised to return in eighteen months. And should two winters pass over the party ere we hail their re- turn to receive the reward which is their due, our people will not fall into the English error of waiting four years in doubt as to their condition — ^but will send at once a party to determine their fate." Not long afterwards Margaret received a letter— as follows — from the friend to whom Dr. E^e had entrusted her matters. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 156 grs seems [Mr. Orl&nell to MIm Fox.] "Dear Miss Fox: — I have received your two letters ; the latter informing me that you had not yet received your trunks — which quite surprises me. I have this morning written to your mother concerning them, and if I can find time, I will go to see her this evening. I am sorry to hear that you have lost your little bird. I will send you another in the Doctor's name. You will have seen by the papers which I sent to you (and which you doubtless received), how well the expedition went off. The day was beautiful, and every man was in town at the appointed hour. 4s the vessel passed along the wharves of the North River, she was saluted with cheers from the crowds assembled, and by guns from the shipping. Two steamers accompanied us to sea, filled with people The Doctor was in good spirits, and was quite well, having entirely recovered from his rheumatic attack. " They intend to touch at St. John's, Newfoundland, for fresh meats, — whence we may expect to hear from them in about a fortnight. " I will send the bird the first opportunity, and should any letters arrive, they shall be forwarded. " I am very truly yours, "C. Grinnell." li i 156 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Mr. Grinnell wrote — June 2l8t, 1853 : [Mr. Grinnell to Miu Fox.] "You will be pleased to hear that 'The Advance' was spoken with on the 6th inst. off Sable Island, about half way to Newfoundland. She was going off at a fine rate, and the Doctor reported * all well.' We may look for a letter from him in the course of this week. " The weather to-day is excessively hot ; the ther- mometer in the shade standing at 90.° I hope you received your trunks. I wrote to your mother con- cerning them." !l!vi '>,■■ The expected letter from Dr. Kane duly arrived, and the following was forwarded to Crookville by Mr. Grinnell. Some reference is made therein to re- cent censures passed about Margaret's abandonment of spiritualism, and her isolation from her family and friends for a lover's sake. The pooi girl was extremely sensitive to gossip of this kind. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 157 [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox ] " Just standing out to sea. " Maggie, my own sweet pet, be comforted. I know you to be always good and pure, and I would sooner die than allow a breath of suspicion to tarnish your fair fame. Your letter gave me pain — pain because it showed me that you were unhappy. Oh, my Maggie, be not sad ; accuse not me of unkindness ; talk not thus of your Italian dream. You shall be to me as a cherished sister. " To-day came your Sunday's letter — dear comforter to my wounded heart 1 Thank you, dear Petiel Thank you 1 Never shall you have cause to ropent of me ; never shall you say that I was not worthy of your trust and love. "Do be comforted, my own angel—life of my soul —joy of my sad trials I Grieve not I Live the life of pure happiness for which you were destined. Regard me as a brother anything but as one to be accused and mourned for. " Grinnell will watch over you. Answer his letters. In a week you will hear from me again. Write to me within the next three days a long, long letter. It will reach me at Newfoundland. Do not grieve, but trust " E. K. Kane. " Have a care of my letters, darling." Miss Mabqaret Fox, Chester, Pa. At Mr. Turner's, Crookville. II 158 LOVE-LIFK OF DR. KANE. In the next letter Dr. Kane perhaps refers to the same complaining letter fror^ the lonely girl he had separated from all her friends, and to the livelier mis- sive that followed it. m lii' [Dr. Kane to Hiss Fox.] " At Sea, June 13th, 1863. " Dear Darling Maggie :— Your one cruel letter was so beautifully erased by the kind one which fol- lowed it, that any unhappiness which it might have caused vanished like morning mists before the sun- shine. One thing, however, pained me. The letter showed me that you were unhappy. " For six months have I faltered in proofs of pure regard and love ? Have you ever txpressed before me an ungratified wish ? Have I ever said a word uncalculated to elevate you ? ever spoken of you to others but in terms such as a brother might speak of a sister ? In everything I made you my equal. " Live and bloom in purity as a flower kissed only by the morning dew. One thing you can never doubt: it is the truth of him who writes. Let it LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 159 then be as the bright sun upon the dewdrop, drink- ing up its waters into high heaven, and leaving the flower unsullied by a caress. Be happy and true. Strive to live that life which is its own reward ; — make the well-spent moments pave the future with blessings ; — and if ever on the eve of wrong, let this be your guard : " Would dear ' Lish like me to do this?" [Dr. Kane to Mln Fox.] * * "Now, dear Petie^ let us talk of pleasanter tilings. I think I see you in that quiet old country- house — counting time by the village clock which rises above the willows. Or, better still, I think I see you under the shade of some drooping chestnut, startling the birds — ^your playfellows — with dreamy tokens from the spirit-world. There imagine me by your side, and I'll answer all your questions. " First, — about the * German.' Study German by all means. You say truly that it is a noble language with a glorious literature ; but apart from all this, / know nothing of German, and I want you to be ahead of me in something better than good looks and spirit-trances. " You can scold me in German, flirt with country bumpkins in German, write naughty letters to me in 160 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. German, and Til be none the wiser. Study the lan- guage by all means. " Now for advice. Don't be afraid : — advice as to school matters. " If you ask me to name the first branch in impor- tance, let it be a good English foundation. Your own language, and the history and literature of the two great countries speaking it. Next, music ; espe- cially that voice of yours ; and lastly, languages not so ne.ar home. " Exercise at least three hours a day in the open air — wet or dry, rain or shine. Don't spare me with the shoemaking fraternity. Fun I regard as an essen- tial element. Don't mope like a sickly cat. Why, Mag, I don't want to make a school-girl puppet— a strait-laced artificial automaton of you ; — a mere hand-organ to grind out languages, and music, and long words I My only positive injunction to you is to exercise often, laugh when you can, grow as fat as you please ; and when I return — God granting me that distant blessing — when I return, bowed down with the Polar frosts, let me have at least the reward- ing consciousness of having done my duty. " One thing more : should any trouble come to you — anything unforeseen, make your adviser and friend. I need not speak his name. Call upon him as one having my confidence, and therefore deserving yours. " If at the end of four months you wish to tiy LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 161 another schoo girl life, you are untrammelled. Do entirely as you please. North Carolina or Albany is before you ; and if the former, which I should pre- fer, write to Dr. Hawks stating your intention, and Mr. will give you funds ; so that Mr. Turner can escort you. One final wish — the only thing like restraint that your true friend can find it in his heart to utter: See little of * * *, and never sleep wiOvin Jier Iiouse. " God bless you I "E. K. Kane. " You see that I trust you." Mr. Grinnell wrote : "July 9th, 1853. "Dear Miss Fox: — I am about leaving town, and have only time tc acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 5th inst., and trust that ere this you have received the letter forwarded to you a few days since from Dr. Kane. He sailed from St. John's on the 17th ult. for Greenland. . "lam, Very truly yours, " C. Grinnell." u jr-iT'-Tt. "«»- 162 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. On the 10th August, 1853, Mr. Grrinnell wrote from the yacht " Albion " in the harbor of Newport, R. I.: " We have heard nothing from Dr. Kane since I forwarded his last letter to you. We shall probably hear from him again in October from Greenland by Capt. Inglefield in the Phoenix, or perhaps by the On the 23d of the same month, he writes, in rela- tion to a proposed change in Margaret's school which would bring her nearer her New York friends : " As regards your leaving Mrs. Turner's for Mrs. Willard's of Troy, if my advice were asked, I should say decidedly — remain where you are at present; since you find Mrs. Turner's so comfortable and pleasant in all respects, whereas at Mrs. Willard's you might not enjoy yourself so much. And aa far as your education is concerned, it appears to me that nothing could be better than the course you are now pursuing at Mrs. Turner's. I am desirous, however, of following the wishes of Dr. Kane, and would take the liberty of advising you to think well of tho mat- ter before you decide to make a change. We cannot expect to receive letters from the Doctor until Sep- tember or October " It I LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 16S Again, a few days after — approving Margaret's determination to remain at Crookville — he says : " We shall probably hear from Dr. Kane by the end of next month " The deference to her wish to hear continually from the absent one thus shown to Margaret hy "Dr. Kane's most trusted friend, evinces his knowledg • o the en- gagement existing between them. To ^^v. brrinnell Dr. Kane had entrusted the funds to be forwarded to Miss Fox from time to time, to meet the expenses of ber school bills. Dr. Kane's aunt, Mrs. Leiper, occasionally saw Miss Fox, enquired concerning her progress in her studies, and seemed much interested therein. Once at her own house, she made the young lady play for her, to see how she was getting on with her music. The sorrow of the poor girl so affected her health that it was thought prudent to permit her to take a short vacation to visit her friends in New York. Br. Bayard, a distinguished physician, advised it ; and Mrs. Walter, a sister of the Hon. John Cochrane, and connected by marriage with Bishop Potter's family, came to Crookville for her, and brought Margaret to spend some days at Mrs. W 's house in Clin- i( i 164 LOVE-LIFE or DR. KANE. ton Place. Here she suffered from a severe illnoRs brought on by mental disquiet. The following letter is from heT friend Mrs. Turner, the mother of her governeea. [Mn, Tamer to MiM Fox.] = ' * • November 6th, 1853. "Little — my dear child — did I dream that you were tossing on a fevered bed, or 1 would have writ- ten to you before this. It is very sad to think that you went for so brief a space to enjoy the society of your friends, and were stricken down with such a malady. But if we could but bring our rebellious hearts to think so at the time, every event which happens to us is for the best. Had you been taken ill here, 3^ou know how difficult it would have been to obtain good medical advice ; now you are among friends and relations, and have the advice of your own physician, which will go a great way in effecting a cure. Therefore cheer up. You have youth on your side ; but when you are able to rise, you must be very careful for fear of a relapse ; and when you are quite convalescent, you will have to work harder than ever, to make up for lost time. " I am glad to see by the papers that there have been satisfactory accounts of our mutual and far dis- LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 166 tant friend. When you are able, I will expect a long letter from you. In the mean time, " I remain your affectionate friend, "S. Turner." The same lady, uneasy at the prolonged absence of her pupil, thus wrote : [Mrs. Turner to Miss Fox.] " Crookvillb, Dec. 12th, 1863. " My Dear Margaret : — Not having received any communication from you since I wrote to you last, I am feeling many anxieties on your account. If you were laid on a bed of sickness, surely you would get some friend to write a few lines to me mentioning your situation. If, on the other hand, your health is quite re-established, and you are merely remaining to indulge in the gaieties of the city, you should write to me yourself. You know I am always willing to make every reasonable allowance for young people ; but my indulgence has a limit. * * * " And now, dear Margaret, I come to a part of the subject about which I feel very much concerned. On the last interview which I had with Dr. Kane, I pro- mised to be like a mother to you while under my charge ; to cultivate your understanding, and enable 166 LOVE-LIFK or DR. KANE. you to call forth those latent energies which lay dor- mant through neglect ; and, above all, to guard you from influences which might prove hostile to your progress in the attainment of those virtues and accom- plishments which are indispensable to the female cha- racter. I endeavored to fulfil my promise, and your progress was in some respects highly satisfactory to me. But how shall I account to that noble-minded friend for this cessation from well-doing — or, to use a harsher term, this lapse from duty I Ask your own heart if it be right." Mrs. W thus replied to Mrs. Turner's letter : [Mrs. W to Mrs. Tamer.] "My Dear Mrs. Turner: — Maggie is very much distressed by the contents of your last letter ; although it may seem, from her not having informed you fully of the reasons for her remaining here so long, that you had just cause for censure. "I am happy to disabuse your mind. She has been far from well, and under the medical care of Dr. Edward Bayard — brother of the Hon. James Bayard, late Minister to Brussels — who has thought it impor- tant for her to remain ; indeed, it is only within the last few days that she has looked at all like herself. Neither has she partaken of the amusements and LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 167 gaieties of the city, not having inclination nor the strength for them. Her associations have been of the most refined character, such as I know Dr. Kane riid yourself v;ould most highly approve of; and although her absence from her studies is to be regretted, I trust her time has not been alto- gether misemployed. We were all delighted with Maggie's improvement, showing the great care and tenderness bestowed upon her. Your letter only proves what a sincere friend you are to her. "You will rejoice to hear that your fears are groundless. Could you have witnessed the distress mingled with the strong affection she feels for you, on reading your letter, you would have loved her more than ever, as I confess I did. Some of the ele- ments of Maggie's character are very beautiful, and with the cultivation she has been receiving while under your care, will make her all that her best friends wish her to be. She will leave here two weeks from to-morrow ; and if anything unforeseen should occur in the mean time, to change the day, she will inform you. Hoping that this will relieve your mind concerning Maggie, believe me, with great respect, " Yours truly, Ellen W— It >» "I would add, the reason why Maggie has not written, has been the hope that she would be well n&s I.OVE-LIFE OF DB. KANE. enougli to leave from week to week, but the pro- tracted character of her indisposition has prevented. The Doctor, whom I have just seen, thinks that in a fortnight her health will be firmly established, so tb .« she may pursue her studies with advantage. " E. W." [Iln. Tamer to Mrs. W J] " Cbooeyille, Dea 16th, 1863. "My Dear Mrs. W : — I have just received your highly welcome favor of tb3 14th inst ; it has truly been to me a messenger of peace, for it has relieved my mind from those keen anxieties which I could not help feeling on account of my young friend. Had she but written me a few lines it would have saved me many a sleepless hour. " I regret exceedingly that I should have said one word calculated to wound her feelings, and hope she will attribute the hasty expression of my thoughts to the true cause, anxiety for her ultimate welfare. Had I been aware of the protracted nature of her indis- position I would have felt glad that she was with kind old friends, and near competent medical advisers. Being unaware of the real state of the case, and receiv- ing no answers to my letters, I really began to fear that she had fallen under those influences from which it has been the aim and object of kind friends to shield ^ LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 169 b the pro- jrevented. s that in a ed, 80 th Another letter dated March 15th, 1854, is from Mr. Grinnell. " My Dear Miss Fox : — I have received your note of yesterday, and take the earliest opportunity to inform you that Dr. Kane by no means considers the search for Sir John Franklin as usrless ; on the con- trary, he IS full of hope, and left here under the full conviction that the liiissing party were still in exist- ence. I shall feel much obliged if you will please send me the article you refer to in the Cincinnati paper, as such an erroneous statement should be con- tradicted. "Captain Inglefield, of the steamer Phoenix, will ^eave England in April for the Arctic regions. Should you wish to write to Dr. Kane by this con- veyance, please send your letter to me before next Saturday, us the steamer Baltic leaves on that day for England. You should therefore put your letter in Vi 172 LOVE-lilFE OF DK. KANli;. ,:^^l 'if the post-office (addressed to me) Thuifiuay .iternoon, if possible, or early Friday morniiig. " I am very truly yours, "C. Grinnell. ** By express I send you Dr. Kane*s book." In a note dated March 80th, he wrote : " 1 have not received any letter from you to be forwarded to Dr. Kane. I fear it is now too late." " April 7th, 1854. — We do not expect to hear from Dr. Kane until next September cr October." He wrote — " April 2l8t, 1854. " My Deab Miss Fox : — I have received your note of the 20th, and in compliance with your request I have written to Mrs. Turner (letter enclosed) to LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 173 request permission for you to visit your fneyic'vs in this city, and she will doubtless accede to your wishes." . •' July 17th, 1854. " My Dear Miss Fox : — I enclose a letter for you just received from the Doctor. It should have been here some time ago ; but you know that the mails are not very regular from that distant quarter of the globe. " Please inform me if you are in need of money, and I will immediately forward whatever amount you may require. " I sincerely trust that we may again see our good friend the Doctor back again in October, and that he may be successful in his noble undertaking. " I am very truly yours, "Cornelius Grinnell." The above reached Crookville during Margaret's temporary absence, and Mrs. Turner wrote : " Orookvillb, July 29th, 1854. " My Dear Margaret : — I write to acquaint you that a letter from Mr. Grinnell, enclosing one from 174 LOVE-LIFE OF DB. KANE. Dr. Kane, arrived here to-day. On leaving this, you requested Lizzy to open any letter which might come from Mr. Grinnell during your absence. I accord- ingly opened this ; but on finding the enclosure, I immediately folded both in the envelope, unread. Now, Margaret, I am really at a loss to know what to do with this. Several of our letters and papers have gone astray lately from the negligence of the post- ofiice ofiicials. And, judging how very dear and precious this letter must be to you, I feel very unwil- ling to run any risk of its going astray in transmitting it to you by post. I therefore think you had better come for it yourself; or write me word immediately on receipt of this, whether I shall return it to Mr. Grinnell or not. "I remain your perplexed friend, " S. Turner." LOVE-LIFE OF BR. KANE. 175 XV. The above, as may be supposed, brought the truant young lady back to school forthwith. Here is Dr. Kane's letter, portions of which must be omitted on account of observations on persons which would not be understood by tiie reader. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Deae, Dear Maggie : — In the midst of ice and desolation I still think of you. Can you, while hope and sunshine linger round you, turn a thought to me? " Only a few minutes, dear Maggie, have I to renew my assurances of confidence and trust. You cannot but love and honor your only and truest friend. Be then all that I have advised you to be, and thus reward me for an act which the harsh world could neither understand nor appreciate. " Trust in my honor, dear Maggie, and you and your ' treasured secrets ' will always be as in your 176 LOVE-LIPE OP DR. KANE. M' IHI 1 t own heart alone. For am not / your heart ? Yes, dear Mag, your very heart of hearts — now and always 1 "Ly. " P. S.-«— Your portrait is a great comfort to me. I often gaze on its quiet loveliness." In a letter written to his father, and probably sent with the above, Dr. Kane had this postscript ; " Love. U^* M}'' last word is 'Love.' " It may well be con- jectured to whom he referred. Mr. Grinnell wrote : — " I trust you have received the letter I sent to you a few days since from the Doctor, from Greenland. " He deserves success in his noble and daring enter- prise, and I am sure he will achieve it. The nation may well feel proud of him. I will write to you in the early part of the week, and I remain " Very truly yours, "C. Grinnell." He wrote while Miss Fox was still in New York :— " The last mail brings accounts of the return LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 177 of Captain Inglefield, and I have no doubt that by the mail to arrive here on Friday or Saturday, we shall have letters from Dr. Kane. " Where and when shall I send the money ?" August 17th, 1854, Mr. Grinnell wrote : — " We liiay look for the Doctor about the 10th of October. Trusting that his life and health have been spared, and that he may have been successful in find- ing some trace of the lost ones — "I am, etc." Still later, he announces that " Captain Inglefield has returned, but brings no news of Dr. Kane." Again : — " We may hear from Dr. Kane by the steamer to arrive from England next week. Should any letters come for you, I will forward them without delay." ^ 8* 178 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. October 17th, 1854 :— " We have no tidings yet of the Doctor ; nor do we look for him until the latter end of the month. My father says that if he is not at home by the end of November, that he will conclude that he intends to remain another winter in the Arctic regions, " I shall certainly inform you if we receivt any tidings from the Doctor. " You will perceive by the papers that Sir Edward Belcher has abandoned his squadron, and has re- turned to England, leaving Dr. Kane alone in the field." The "hope deferred" that makes the heart sick was to be experienced by the friends of the adven- turous explorer for many weary months. And who felt more painfully his prolonged absence — +hat dreary interval when no tidings came, and gloom rested on the future — than she, the chosen of his heart, whose every hope of the future was interwoven with thoughts of him ! What had she on earth to look forward to but the meeting with her lover and friend — long-lost, and dearer than ever ! Her connection with spiritual- ism was for ever severed ; its votaries were no longer her friends ; she no longer looked to ii for her sup- Mi^ LOVE-LIFE OF OR. KANE. 179 port. Her life was bound up in that of the absent one. ^he following letter is from Miss Oray, the daugh- ter of a physician in New York. She was a lovely and accomplished girl, and an intimate friend of Mar- garet's. " October 12th, 1864 " I received your little note yesterday, Maggie Pet, and duly delivered the note for Kate into her own hands. She said she would answer it immediately. And now, old lady, I have a bone to pick with you. I shall not write to you again until you find out what my name is, and call me by it. I love you too much, dear one^ to address you as ' Miss Fox ;' then why will you do it towards me ? I always fancied you cared a little bit about poor me, but when your let- ters come with 'My dear Miss Gray' at the com- mencement, I fairly give up all hope. Write when- ever you can, sweet Maggie ; I am always willing and most happy to do anything in my power for you, and therefore hope if there is anything that I can do for you in any way, you will write and tell me. "And now adieu I TJncle sends his best regards, father and mother their iove, and I my very best love. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. i' A^4l t^ > ^» /wis 1.0 I.I 1.25 m m 2.5 2.2 1.8 1.4 A" «9 k.. ^ /2 % m rS %J^' ^0^ V /: *y »>* ^ '^ '/ Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 m \ :\ \ o^ '•f?' <^ ' .: " From your sister .; vv V .. "Margabetta. P. S. — ^I am very sorry that little Tommie bit your hand. I hope it does not give you pain. Tommie is very cross to many. You must not be superstitious, and attribute his unkindness to any fault of his mis- tress. Dogs are very strange things, and Tommie is very sagacious, and thinks himself very smart. "Maggie." LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Dr. Kane wrote in reply : ^'^ ' - '^^ 207 fA [Dr. Kane to Mlaa Fox.] -' # # * * * * « " Keep up your refinement by daily, patient cul- ture. It is a quality even higher than modesty. I know many who have the one, yet cannot attain the other. Eub hard, ' little spirit,' at your crystal vase, and dear Ly will help you to brighten it. " What a dissipated lady you have become I Greenwood with its graves on Tuesday, and wedding parties with their brides on Saturday ! I am neither a bride nor a corpse, so how can I catch you ? On Friday I intended to have seen you, but your list of engagements disappointed me. "When will you be back from what you call your ' bridal party ?' Per- haps that is what you mean by the ' Fates separating us' — you are going to be a bride yourself I I can be with you whenever you return, provided there is no husband along with you. ' " Sunday night, after ten, — or Monday morning to breakfast — or Tuesday : — only say when : for although I'm an obedient brother, and a faithful slave, I am very, very busy, and cannot ride one hundred miles to ride back again. " With my best compliments to Tommie, believe me, Maggie, in all confidence "Your Friend." H 208 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. " Tommie" was a favorite and ill-tempered poodle, with blue eyes ; brought over from England by Miss Charlotte Cushman, the tragedienne. He had been in Miss Maggie's possession several years. Mrs. Fox had several serious conversations with Dr. Kane, and strongly intimated her wish that he would abstain from visiting a young lady whom his family was not willing to receive as his wife, and who might be injured both in her feelings and her reputation by a continuance of his attentions. Notwithstanding such rebukes, Dr. Kane continued to call — often twice and thrice a day ; while in the evening he was certain to come whenever he was in New York. The matter caused much discussion among Margaret's friends, and a meeting was ap- pointed by Mrs. Fox and Dr. Gray to consult toge- ther, as to what was best to be done. Dr. Kane wrote as follows just before this meeting, which was to take place on the " coming Friday : " [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Oh, write to me, for I have no means of writing or hearing from you. I fear for the coming Friday— red poodle, id by Miss bad been in LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 209 fear for my friend who has no one to trust to but me; and on Saturday I shall be in New York. Shall I call, and if yes I at what hour I Answer by bearer or by mail. "Put no letters in the Post Office that are not stamped and paid; otherwise they will not send them." >ation8 with ish that he y whom his is wife, and ngs and her ions. ne continued ^hile in the ;r he was in discussion ing was ap- consult toge- "I ■; f The result of this consultation may be anticipated. It was decided that no more visits should be received from Dr. Kane under the circumstances. Margaret was obliged to promise that she would n o receive him again, and that she would not correspond with him. She was told that her reputation would be injured were she to break this promise. She com- missioned Mrs. Walter to inform Dr. Kane of her decision, and that it was her earnest desire that they should meet no more. The Doctor refused to beUeve this. He would never believe it, he said, unless he heard it from Mar- garet's own lips. The following letter was sent to him shortly after- wards by Miss Fox. IS of writing ng Friday— !' 210 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. [Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.] ,, ' y " Dear Doctor Kane :— I have seen you for the last time. I have been deceived. Your last inter- view with me has been, or will be, I know, told to Dr. G , for Kate delights in annoying me. " I must either give you up from this moment and for ever, or give up those who are very dear to me, and who hold my name and reputation as sacred. " I can never see you again ; but remember that you will be ever followed by my choicest love and prayers. Do not write to me, for it will only pain me. It is decided: I cannot see you again. You can have your letters if you wish them. No one can prevent me from returning them to you. Do as you please ; if you want them, send Morton ; and every lettCT shall be returned ; but do rot call on rae again ; for it will only give me more pain and trouble. If you have the least spark of love, or even friendship in your heart, you must not call again. "Dr. G said this evening (and so did Mrs. G ) that I must refuse to see you for ever from this moment, or they would disown me. They have my promise never to see you again. It is a hard task for me, but I have decided. One thing do remember, you have my love. I believe in your honor und truth, and cannot be changed. Do not think this a mere freak of mine — mere idle words — for I am now talking to you more plainly than I have ever dared before, write tc DOW un again ; wisely. "The he think other? overlook us? for hear our misery, we please "lam spend a \\ preparing sooner or ;,r':i Part od before th( "Here iny confic Jib an 01 LOYE-LIPE OF DR. KANE. 211 before. If, after you receive this letter, you should write to me, I would burn the letter unopened. It is DOW understood that you and I are never to meet again ; all is over, and I have decided, I ,rust wisely. ■ '>' ■ •' ■'^'' *' ■' '■ " There is one who knows my heart ; why should he think so much of this world and so little of the other? Why try to please the eyta of mortals, and overlook those eyes which are continually watching us ? for the time is not distant when we will have to hear our doom ; either happiness awaits us or eternal misery. And it is our privilege now to take which we please. ^ " I am sure we are both wise enough, and ought to spend a little while in thinking of higher things, and preparing ourselves for the change which must come sooner or later to every one on earth." ' '■--,.-..'-". :::■- ' ' riiin f'-.A'../ > ./r . . Part of the following was written by Dr. Kane before the receipt of the foregoing. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Here I write again, dear Pet Lamb. Does not my confidence shame you ? Oh, Maggie, I read you like an open book. . 212 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. " Morton visits New York on Navy business ; by him I send this letter. Hard work is upon me, and when I can see you who can tell ? Write me often and say when. ^ ' ^ ' " One of my friends sends me a bunch of winter violets. She is a pretty being, and her flowers scent my little room. By the time they reach you there will be nothing left of their fragrance. There is many a blessing which, passing from me to you, loses its soul before it reaches its heaven. , . " Bye bye. " I had written the enclosed note before I received your letter ; Nevertheless I send it, Maggie, for it will show you my feelings. "Bear up, dear little one, against your sorrows. God knows I feel more for you than for myself. Kate will not tell, and when the thing blows over we will meet again. • " You are my first care, and you do right in trusting to me. If (I cannot say it), if we really are to be rent asunder by these cursed meddlers, still, dear Maggie, we can look back upon old times and take com- fort. " I am very much distressed ; very much ; more than ' Little Humbug ' likes to say. You say I had better not write. If this last pleasure be denied me, surely you, dear Maggie, can write to me. Oh, do this I *' As to your dear generous offer of returning my letters, I tremble — not at the letters — but at the fear that y( trusted them me. I I ' friends and gi\ fear for unhapp will not requesti send the of trust j "But same to ] ^ar one do right I iove and ii LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 218 your sorrows. myself. Kate ^^s over we will right in trusting y are to be rent 11, dear Maggie, and take com- luch; more than say I bad better 3nied me, surely Ob, dotbisl of returning my -but at the fear that you have not understoci me. I never have dis- trusted you, or even asked for those notes. With them or without them you were always the same to me. I only felt and feared tbat suspicious, designing . friends or enemies might see and abuse these letters and give me pain and trouble. I fear for them and I fear for you. I confess that their absence makes me unhappy ; but, as I am an honorable gentleman, I will not deprive you of them, or give you pain by requesting them. If of your own free choice you send them to me, I will regard it as the highest proof of trust and love. " But with them or without them, you shall be the same to me. And now may God bless you, my own dear one I and may you be guarded in this world to do right I /will never cease to watch over you, to love and guard you. " E. K. Kane." . It should be noticed that Dr. Kane afterwards refused to receive his letters, when they were oiBfered I on several occasions. He was hurt at Margaret's wil- lingness to part with them even to himself. Some- times he would destroy a letter to tease her ; or hide, and afterwards return it. m 1 1 I 214 LOVE-LIFE OF DE. KANE. xvni. The Doctor was in no way disposed to submit to this fiat of friends. One day calling on Mrs. W , he insisted on her accompanying him to Tenth street, and demanded an interview with Miss Fox. Though crushed with sorrow and weeping bitterly, the poor girl was immovable in her resolution, and the Doc- tor acknowledged she was right. "But the world shall not aay, Maggie," he cried, " that you are the discarded one! no, no — it is you who reject me! Dr. Kane is the discarded lover I" and he threw him- self on his knees before the trembling and sobbing girl. " Speak, Maggie I" he continued, " my destiny is in your hands I" Margaret replied that she would not marry him His relations were too violently opposed to the match. It would make him unhappy, and she would rather part from him for ever than make him wretched in such a way I Again and again he said to Mrs. W , "1 know her love, her goodness • and purity ! As far as these are concerned, 1 would marry her to-mor- row I" " The world's dread laugh" he might have scorned, but the distress of his family — who could |iot bear LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 215 to submit to Mrs. W , ) Tenth street, Fox. Though «rly, the poor and the Doc- But the world lat you are the 7 ho reject mel [ he threw bim- ig and sobbing ij "my destiny [ht have scorned, could f ot bear the idea that his honored name should be linked with that of one who had been, though but a few months, associated with " spirit-rapping " — that was the obsta- cle he dared not surmount I In the perplexity and anguish of the hour he did not consider that the pride which could take alarm at a silly popular prejudice was not worth being spared. Let those who are dis- posed to condemn his conduct consider the circum- stances in which he was placed : his present want of pecuniary independence, his education in erroneous ideas of social elevation, and the incessant torture to which he was subjected from the urgent remon- strances of friends and the sneers of those indifferent to him. Dr. Kane continued to call frequently in Tenth street, in spite of Margaret's refusal to see him, and the remonstrances of her friends. They urged that she was weak in health ; the agitation she had gone through had hurt her ; and the excitement, if kept up, would inevitabl}'^ kill her. The engagement — friendship — or whatever it was called, must be broken off and buried for ever. Often, again and again in a day, he went to the house and talked with Mrs. Fox, if he could not see her daughter. He could not give her up I he would part with life sooner 1 When the mother urged that she had her child's reputation to guard, and would rather follow her to the grave than see her fair name tarnished, he would ask why he could not have a brother's right to guard her fame — B 216 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. i to punish all who might dare assail it I He knew her love was unchanged ; his own was so ; who could watch so tenderly, so jealously over her, to banish every thought of evil I Nothing enraged him so much as the bare idea that unjust aspersions might be cast upon her. Meanwhile, reports were rife in the newspapers, as if it were a pleasure to harpies of the press to torture two loving hearts. The following editorial appeared in the New York Tribune of November 6th, 1855 : — i! "DE. KANE AND MISS POX. " We wish the several journals which have origin- ated reports, pro and con^ respecting the persons above named, would consider whether they have or have not therein perverted their columns to the gratifica- tior of an impertinent curiosity. What right has the public to know anj'thing about an * engagement ' or non-engagement between these young people? If this were a monarchy, and one or both of them were of the blood royal, there would be an excuse for re- ports and speculation with regard to their relations to each other ; but in the actual state of the case, such intimations as have appeared in the journals are not to be justified. Whether they have been, are, may be, are not, or will not be, 'engaged,' — can be no- body's business but their own and that of their near LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. ^17 He knew ; who could 5r, to banish ged him so raions might iwspapers, as 38S to torture rial appe?jed th, 1855 :— relatives. Then why should the press trumpet their names in connection with each other ?" * 1 have origin- persons above bave or have the gratifica- right has the gagement' or people ? If of them were excuse for re- dr relations to the case, such •urnals are not )een, are, may ' can he no- t of their near One evening, in a company whore one of the edi- tors of the Daily Times was present, the question was brought up — as it had been in many circles — if Dr. * The following appeared in The Fennsylvanian of Nov. 19th, 1865. •' DR. KANB. " The foolish story of the engagement of Dr. Kane, the Arctic navi- gator, to one of the spirit-rapping Pox girls, is thus explained by a Philadelphia correspondent of the Boston Traveller : — ** ' Some time previous to the departure of Dr. Kane on his last expedition, a subscription was started in New York by a number of liberal, kind-hearted gentlemen, for the purpose of educating one of the Pox sisters, a remarkably bright, inteUigent girl, and worthy of a better employment than ' spirit-rapping.' Dr. Kane was applied to, and feeUng somewhat interested, from pure motives of humanity subscribed with a sailor's liberality. On his return, by invitation of the gentleman superintending her education, he called to witness the improvement of his proteg^ ; and from this simple incident has arisen the engagement story.' " . , Then followed comments upon the noble liberality of the Kane family. Dr. Kane cut out the above extract and read it to his Maggie with chuckling fun, pinching her arm mischievously as " the noble libe- rality " of his family was mentioned. 10 I' ■11 / 218 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Kane was really engaged to Miss Fox. An article in the Evening Post denying that it was so " on the best autliority " was referred to. A lady present, who was noted for her abhorrence of falsehood and meanness, rather indignantly replied that she knew there was, or had been, an engagement. The follow- ing statement appeared in the Tirruis of the following day:— " Dr. Kane's Prospects. — We are confidently as- sured that the Editor of The Evening Post has no reason to contradict the report of the engagement of Dr. Kane to Miss Margaret Fox." This was followed on the succeeding day, by a contradiction in the Times : " Our informant having acknowledged that it was a mistake, &c." This con- tradiction had been insisted on by some party furious in the Kane interest — who threatened vengeance against the person who had made the assertion — could he learn who it was ; the Times editor having refused to give the lady's name. On hearing this — the lady wrote a note to Dr. Kane, acknowledging herself the author of the statement, which she had made on grounds amply sufficient to warrant belief. She added, that had she heard the denial from Dr. Kane's own lips, she would have felt bound to believe it — as she could not conceive of a gentleman being so cowardly or so wicked as to be influenced by fears of LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 219 Ln article > " on the \f present, ehood and she knew 'he foUow- 5 following day, by a iant having This con- ,arty furious vengeance 'tion — could ving refused g_the lady herself the ,d made on belief. She Dr. Kane's believe it— an being so a by fears of 1 the prejudices of stupid people, to repudiate an en- gagement to a lovely and virtuous girl. This mis- sive, instead of irritating the Doctor by its spirited and severe wording, elicited from him expressions of admiration and respect. His nature was noble enough for sympathy with generous feeling. He told the incident to Mrs. Fox and her family, and seemed much pleased with the sharp tone of the letter. It was but natural that the appearance of these cruel articles should cause indignant feeling among the friends of Miss Fox. They blamed the Doctor in part ; for a frank avowal of the whole truth to his friends, they thought, would have silenced the press. How this affected Dr. Kane may be seen from the notes he persisted in sending. iv'r- [Dr. Kane to Mlas Fox.] " I have promised Mrs. W never to see you again; but they tell me you have lost your confi- dence in me, and that, instead of leaning upon me as a brother, you distrust me as a friend. Now I beg you to adopt some means by which I may explain 4 ii ill I 'i 220 LOVE-LIPE OF DR. KANE. anything which may seem to give you pain. You may command me as a brother in everything." [Dr. Kane to MiBS Fox.] " Do please to see me. I have rode all night in order to comfort you, and must see you before I re- turn." ^n:'-" [Dr. E&ne to Miss Fox.] " My Dear Maggie : — ^I have thought over your excellent letter, and as I seldom praise you, believe me when I say that it is with increased respect. " I am forced to agree with you that our present meetings, I fear, must end. * * ' ' You always respected me ; henceforward I will strive to deserve your respec^^t. "I accept your offered friendship, and will try and sustain you in the trial which, with true nobiUty of character, you have imposed upon yourself. " On Wednesday I will see you." LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 221 [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " I send this note, dear Maggie, to say to you that, finding that I could not come on Wednesday, I come to-day, and leave this afternoon at four o'clock. " Write me word at once when you can see me. " With my regards to your mother and Katie, be- lieve me truly, "Your friend, "E. K. Kane." Thus determined was the Doctor not to be entirely deprived of the privilege of seeing or hearing from his still loved one. Some newspaper publications drew this letter from Miss Fox, to the Doctor : [Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.] " I enclose two articles from the Herald and Ex- press which have greatly distressed and worried me. Many of my friends have called (and you are aware of the position my friends hold) and requested per- 222 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. mission to answer the articles in the newspapers. My mother has had much diiiiculty in preventing them from doing so. But I cannot prevent them from doing what they think just and due to me — now that they say their silence places me in a false position. " I cannot tell you how unhappy it makes me to think of my affairs being in the mouths of so many strange persons, and the subject of newspaper com- ment. " I suffer, too, on your own account ; for all this talk for and against cannot fail to injure you, as well as myself. It would grieve me (you must know how much), even were we never to meet again, to hear you spoken of as a person who had no regard for his honor or his word. I am but a simple girl, and peo- ple might soon forget any idle gossip about me« But you are more widely known, and a stain on your honor would be hard to efface. I should not think of such things, believe me, but that they are forced upon my mind by what I know many persons say. " I have implicit confidence in you, and trust that you will think of some right and proper means to silence all this disturbance and meddling. I believe the newspaper writers make it their business to pry into every one's business and affairs ; so that we may not be able to escape their scrutiny. But neither of us should give sanction to any statement not strictly LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. 223 true. If we depart from the straight path, we shall be sure to suffer for it in one way or another. " Very sincerely yours, "Margaret Fox. "Db. Kakb." The following came with a box of bonbons from Philadelphia, at the festival season : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Misses Maggie and Kate Fox, with the kind wishes of the Christmas se^on, from Dr. Kane. "Philadelphia, Dec. 23d, 1855. "Miss Fox." Two months later the cloud was lifted. Dr. Kane possessed the entire confidence of the family, and it was painful for them all to treat him unkindly, or to persevere in declining to receive his friendly visits. Notwithstanding the sentence of exclusion, he appears to be again on a footing of intimacy. W'.-i 224 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Fox.] "Fbtoay, 1 p. M. " My Dear Madam : — I send my friend Maggie's handkerchief, which must have dropped from her muff. You see what a nice, active washerwoman 1 have. " Would you do me the kindness to ask Katie at what hour precisely my sleigh shall be at your door, and to beg her and Maggie to dress warmly ? I am free from engagements from four o'clock P.M. " Very respectfully, your friend, "E. K. Kane." [Dr. Eone to Miss Fox.] * * * " I think that I had better postpone seeing Mrs. W until my next sojourn in New York. " I did not attend the dinner. "Was Lieut. Grey there? . "E. K. Kane. "Febeuaey 23d, 1856." Dr. Kane always said — and the fact cannot be doubted— that his health was seriously injured by the LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 225 struggle of feeling he underwent during that winter. He would sometimes ask Margaret to put her hand upon his heart, and feel its violent and irregular beat- ings. But his true and constant affection was not long to be crushed under the Juggernaut wheels of unjust and absurd prejudice. It soon rose triumphant to resume its throne. The disposition of Mrs. Fox may be seen from the subjoined letter — written apparently under the uneasi- ness caused by fresh gossip, or the remarks of friends on her want of firmness in still permitting interviews and letters between the partially estranged lovers. [Mrs. Fox to Dr. Kane.] " Dr. Kane, — ^Dear Sir : — A letter was addressed to my daughter Margaret, whicl , under the circum- rtances, I deemed it proper to open and read. It is best for the happiness and interest of my child that you should discontinue your visits, and also leave off writing to her. My motives I hope you will under- stand, and respect my feelings. " Very respectfully, , "M. Fox. "Maeoh 23d, 1866." 10* 226 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Dr. Kane's answer was sent to Margaret : 1 _ ■ - [Dr. Kane to Mlsa Fox.] " My Dear Maggie : — Your mother requested me not to write to you. I beg, therefore, that you will show her this letter. I have just arrived, and will see you at any hour convenient to yourself; but will not if your mother has the slightest objection. I really think, for your own sake, that I had better make this my last visit. All I think of, dear Mag- gie, is your reputation. As for myself, I'm only half a gentleman ; for they make me tell so many stories^ that I'll be ashamed to look Mrs. E in the face. " Believe me always your friend and brother, " E. K. Kane. " Say when by servant." . Here is an effort to return to the formal tone of a mere acquaintance • [Dr. Kane to Mlaa Fox.] " My Dear Maggie : — Would you -do me the kindness to accept this little engraving of your Arctic friend and well-wisher ? Although a mere trifle, it •; LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 227 may serve as an evidence of my high respect for your character, and will, I hope, assure you of my continued and brotherly interest in your welfare. " With my best regards to your mother and sister, believe me your friend, "E. K. Kane. " Vmbs Book, April 21st, 1866. "Miss Fox. Tenth Street Several notes of the same sort evince the writer's determination to be kept in remembrance, notwith- standing prohibitions. But it was not for long that he could enact a part foreign to his feelings. li. w 228 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. XIX. I One day, in the latter part of April, 1856, while Mrs. Fox was making preparations for removal to Twenty-second street, Dr. Kane called at her house in Tenth street, and finding Margaret was out, waited for her return. He was sad and depressed, having lately come from the funeral of a friend. When he heard Margaret come in, he concealed himself behind the parlor door, and as she entered, darted out and clasped her in his arms. Startled at his vehemence, the young lady strove to extricate herself; but he only clasped her more closely, raining kisses on her head, and crying — " My own Maggie I — ^you are again mine — the betrothed wife of Dr. Kane ! What more could you ask ?" — He then took from his finger and put on her own, a ring — memorable from having been found in the Arctic regions — to commemorate their renewed engagement ; giving her also a locket con- taining the hair and initials of his deceased brother Willie. He cared no longer — he averred — for the world's opinion or its sneers : his beloved was all in all to him. On this occasion he remained three or four hours, and the joyful news was communicated to the family, with injunctions of secresy. When he parted from them at the door, and went into the street, LOVE-LIFE OF DK. KANE. 229 1856, while removal to her house in \ out, waited 38sed, having I. When he mself behind irted out and is vehemence, irself ; but he kisses on her you are again What more |hi8 finger and having been ^emorate their a locket con- leased brother jrred — for the ed was all in filled three or manicated to When he linto the street, he called out — " Now, Maggie I — Remember," — while she held up the ring on her finger in token that she understood him. HLs friend's death is referred to in a note that came soon afterwards : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " My Dear Maggie : — ^I am quite broken by my recent loss. Your letter — if you have written — has not yet been received. "If your mother sees fit, I will call this evening. Would you oblige me by writing word if it is con- venient? " Your friend fiiithfully, "E. K. Kane." Miss Maggie returned the following note : [M1b8 Fox to Dr. Kane.] "My Dear Doctor Kane: — I should be very happy to see you this evening : but Mrs. W wishes me to spend the fore part of the evening with her, as she is going to have a small party. I can be home by ten, or half-past ten. If you will excuse the hour, I should be happy to see you then." ii I !!• H 230 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. Again she wrote: f # * « I ^iii 'vsrear your locket next my heart, and love it for ever and ever. It shall be my rosary. I'll wear it to save me from evil." i! The young Udy thus answered a letter from the Doctor sealed with green wax : [Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.] * Your letter, with its forsaken seal, reached me this morning. I looked for you Thursday evening, and was quite disappointed at not seeing you. " I have received an invitation to attend a party Saturday evening ; but if you will come, I will stay at hoTne^ as I am not very well. I have been quite ill for the last week with a severe cold on my lungs. I shall expect to see you Saturday evening, and will be disappointed if you do not come. I am also invited to attend another party Monday evening, and will go if I am well enough. " I have more news for you : it was told me by a sincere, true friend, an editor, not a washerwoman. " Yours sincerely, " Margaret Fox. "Db. Kanb." • / »M~'. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. • 231 The allusion to a " washerwoman" referred to the comments of one employed in Mrs. Fox's family, on the Doctor's lover-like behavior; with his jests thereon. t • ' He replied to the above : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "My Dear Maggie: — I cannot meet you until Monday night, but I'm sure you do not mourn more than I do our broken tryst. No matter, my dear sister; we will think of each other until the time comes for our blessing. Watch then the lingering minutes, and await me when the shadows lengthen. "Love to Katie and Washbosh.* r "Moses. •• Saturday." From this time Dr. Kane visited Maggie every day while he was in New York, and their drives and visits to places of amusement were resui led. He became playful and happy as before. One evening at the * Col. Ashboth. ■n I 232 LOVK-LIFE OF DR. KANE. opera, where Margaret looked lovely in her blue silk and white opera cloak, he was heard to say, "As usual, I see my little Maggie has lost or forgotten her handkerchief. Here — take mine — pet lamb I" hand- ing his to her before the company. He had rare powers of mimicry, and often convulsed his friends with laughter at his droll imitations. He would sometimes mimic the fashionable Mrs. R , of Philadelphia. Sometimes he might be seen perched on a lofty seat, adorned with an old lady's cap and spectacles, reading a huge volume. Once, when a curious old lady waa a guest of Mrs. Fox, he persuaded Margaret to tell her a great professor and lecturer was in the parlor ; and forthwith commenced a discourse on abstruse scientific subjects in the most elaborate style, and in a loud tone of voice, ^or her edification. In such boyish pastimes he delighted, and his return to them showed a heart once more at ease. Some little time before, when Miss Kate was hold- ing a private circle, of which one was a homoeopathic physician, the Doctor proposed a practical joke, and wrote out the following spirit oracles : — " Let not the doctrine which was conceived in toil, rear a giant growth of ignorance and miscompre- hension." " Similia refer not to things which are in themselves the same, but to those alike by sympathies." "Study remedies ah initio ; for it matters not to LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 283 augment a force where we know not the agent of pro- pulsion." Miss Maggie, however, protested against the joke being played out. The wonted shower of notes and letters recom- menced ; most of them written in haste, amid press- ing labors, and hardly illustrative enough for publi- cation in this memoir. One or two will suffice. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Bear Maggie : — I know I ought to be in Phila- delphia, but I really cam )t bear to leave. "Yet I fear you have some engagement to-night, Y, which you cannot postpone. " Send word if you wish me to stay, and at what hour I must be with you. Tell Mrs. F that my one good answer last night makes me anxious to try again. " If you are engaged, do say so. Always be at home with Elish'. Do whatever pleases you best." It is probable the following refers to some idle gos- sip, or fears concerning it : — I 284 LOVE-LIFE OF L»F.. KANE. lit M, [Dr. EftLe to Miss Fox.] " My Dear Maggie : — * * * I am not ner- vous, but you must write to me. "Write, I say ; write at once. I cannot come on to see you. I will not come until you distinctly tell me in your letter that you wish me to come — and say when you will be disengaged. Excuse me, my little Maggie, if I am abrupt ; but I never loved yoa better than at this moment ; and, if you are what I hope you are, you will like mt the better for this hurried, truthful letter. Read every word of it to Katie ; take her advice, and write at once to me. "E. K. Kane." [Dr. Eane to Miss Fox.] " I will call at seven, and if Mrs. Fox has no objec- tion, tako you and Kate to the Lecture. I suppose, as Electricity is the sub^-.?t, he will say nothing about spirits. " Write word by bearer if seven o'clock suits." In several notes like the follow.ing he joked with Miss Kate : — LOVE-LIFE or DR. KANE. 235 [Dr. Kane to Miss Eato Fox.] " Dear Kate : — Tell your mother that I think that I had better not go to the theatre with you, but I will call up with my questions this evening at six o'clock. Tell Maggie not to laugh, but to treat the matter gravely, and apologize to your mother for the trouble which I gave her last evening. " I was just about to leave town. " Yery faithfully, your friend, " E. K. Kane. "MiSB Pox. "Tuesday." Iq the house occupied by Mrs. F6x in Twenty- second street, Maggie had a prettily furnished parlor on the third floor, where Dr, Kane and she sometimes sat, when strangers were expected in the family par- lor, or when Miss Kate had a " circle." Mrs. Fox on one occasion objected to the Doctor's entering this room, on account of its being out of order. He wrote the next day : — •i 1 [Dr. EanA to Miss Fox.] " I start in a few minutes, but cannot leave without sending you a drop of comfort, and thanking you for a most delightful evening. \y u I 236 LOVE-LIFfi OF DB. KANE. " Tell your mother not to distress herself about the third story room. I regard it as a sort of sanctuary : a retreat to which we are driven by mischief-making eyes and tongues. There, like wounded deer, we escape from the hunters ; and if we, both of us, are conscious of doing no wrong, whose business i's it if we seek a shelter ? Nevertheless, dear Maggie, I want to be very careful, and cannot bear to give you a moment's pain or care. When we see each ether again I will be very good, and you will remember me with the respect of a brother. " We are friends now. . ^ ' "Bye bye. " Write me an answer if this comes safely to yoxi." This was left on the table one day : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Eleven o'dock. " Dear Maggie : — ^I have waited long and wearily in the little third story room, and now I hie me back to my solitary home. "Where there is no confidence there can be no warmer feeling. I do not know where you spend LOVE-LIFE OF DB. KANE. 237 the evening, but I know that you will sleep none the sounder for having given pain to your friend and brother." , The following seems to be in reply to some letter of Margaret's that gave pain or displeasure, and shows the kind of logic by which the Doctor must have quieted his conscience when it charged him with tri- fling or inconsistency. 1 [Dr. K&ne to Miss Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — ^You see that, as in old times, I confide in you and write. So much for my inability to say *no' to you. You asked for a letter — ^be- hold it 1 "Where shall I begin? Will you have a long story ? * The History of the Spirit llappers ' — or one of my queer wild tales of Norman Knights and Weeping Vestals ? Suppose I begin thus : — " Once in the mornings of old, I read in a penny newspaper that for one dfillsLV the inmates of another world would rap to me the secrets of this one ; the deaths of my friends, the secret thoughts of my sweet- hearts; all things spirit-like and incomprehensible u 238 liOVE-LIFK OF DB. KAITE. would be resolved into hard knocks, and all for one dollar I 'Strange!' thought I; *so much for so little! all this for one dollar! I'll go and see them !' " With that, all alone I wended my way to a hotel, and after the necessary forms of doorkeepers and tickets — by Jove, I saw the * spirit.' " Here let me stop, dear Maggie, f^ I write to please and not to pain you. Will you, dear darling, in whom I so truly trust that my very honor is in youi keeping — will you look back upon those old days \^when you paraded yourself on glass tumblers at a dollar a head*) and upon these ; upon yourself, dear Maggie, as you are now ? Can you help feeling that you are in every respect better than you were then; more truthful, more innocent, more pure; better friends around you, and a wiser and purer path ahead ? " When people speak badly of me and I for your sake bear it, ask yourself the question : * Has not Elisha ^one his best to make me a happier and a better girl ? Has he ever deceived me ? Has he not always said to me openly,' and as a gentleman, that some day I should be his wife ; that in all^ all he is mine ?' "Maggie, I have had but one thought, how to * The medium was thus insulated, to see if electricity had aught to do with the phenomena. LOVK-LIPE OP DR. KANE. 239 make you happier. How to withdraw you from a deception ; from a course of sin and future punishment, the dark shadow of which hung over you like the wing of a vampire. Have I not, dear darling, striven to elevate and raise you to my own standing ? Mag- gie, Maggie, when you are tempted to forget old times, and false friends misrepresent me, go and read this letter, and see if for many years I have not proved myself a true, self-sacrificing friend and lover. " I am working hard here, but the three weeks will soon pass. Even while at my student's desk, ponder- ing over matters ^oo dull for your bright brain, thoughts, sweet thoughts, distress me. " Write soon. Bye bye. " Here goes my name, " E. K. Kane. I " P. S.- — Write at once, and do explain your strange letter. It looks as if you distrusted me— or else as if I ought to distrust you." \i . .ra 240 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ..•* . -v • XX. " The course of true love " still ran over occasional roughnesses that caused now and then flashes of foam. Some bit of gossip repeated to Mrs. Fox draws from her a severe letter to the Doctor, which he thus acknowledged : *^> h:' '.•L^r [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Fox] "My Dear Mrs. Fox: — I received, with deep mortification and surprise, your recent letter. I do not know what has occurred since we all met so happily around your little table; but I have too much respect for your wishes not to follow our request. " As to dear Maggie, I cannot bear the thought of having unintentionally injured one for whom I have so high a regard. She will always be in my eyes entitled to that respect which her character deserves ; and it will be my privilege, as well as duty, to de- fend her from any aspersion which may be cast upon her. " May I beg you, as an act of justice to myself, to show this letter to your daughters, that they may learn how I have acceded to your wishes? Tell LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 241 r occasional hes of foam. draws from ich be thus them, but especially tell Maggie, that this matter has caused me much pain ; but that they may still regard me as a friend, taking a warm and brotherly interest in their welfare. " With much respect, I am, Madam, " Very faithfully " Your friend and ob't servant, ^ "E. K. Kane. "Fhilaselphia, June 24th, 1866. " Mbs. Mabgabbt Fox, ♦'22d Street, "New York." , ^ with deep letter. I do all met so I have too follow ^ our le thought of whom I have in my eyes iter deserves; duty, to de- r be cast upon to myself, to hat they may wishes? Tell If the phrase " brotherly interest " provoke a smile from the reader, it often did not less from the Doctor himself, when he glanced over his missives, or was reminded of the terms he had used. But it was hardly misapplied, for, as three years before, much of patenial tenderness had been blended with his love for the young girl he wished to educate, there was now much of the brotherly feeling in the attach- ment that governed his actions. The young lady seems to have had a partiality for this fraternal bond ; for her letters have more or less the tone of a loving sister, while the Doctor occasionally evinces a pre- ference for that mode of address, — as follows : 11 l> 242 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. [Dr. Kane to MtSB Fox.] " Dear Sister Maggie : — Pity me I I'm truly worn out with hard work, and have lost quite a large sum of money. I long for a holiday where I can cease to play great man, and play the fool instead. " Keep my money loss a secret except to your mother. These are things better never spoken of; but I wish I had the filthy lucre cut up into silk dresses, or even swallowed in sugar-plums ; anything better than being cheated. Tell your mother that it is worse than gaslights and washbosh. " Nearly all my private affairs, somehow or other, find their way to your ears. I trust you a great deal more than I ought to ; but I never speak of the affairs of others, for those do not belong to me. " I cannot come until Tuesday, and then not until ten o'clock. I start again at six in the morning ; so that our happy moments will be few, and purchased on my part by a ride of two hundred miles. Do keep yourself disengaged ; for no spirits, terrestrial, heavenly, or infernal, must come between you and your friend. " By this time I had expected to have turned your little bedchamber into a flower-garden ; but I am so very, very busy — no matter; there's an end to all labor, and we will both enjoy more the rest when it comes. "Good-bye, dear Maggie; there is not a single LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 243 I'm truly uite a large jhcre I can L instead. 3pt to your spoken of; ap into silk is; anything xotiier that it low or other, 1 a great deal speak of the r to me. then not until > morning ; so ^nd purchased ;d miles. Do its, terrestrial, veen you and re turned your i; but I am so an end to all he rest when it a not a single naughty word, and what is better, not a single naughty- thought in all this letter. Think often of me, and expect me on Tuesday night. " Bye bye. The " rest " spoken of, must have been the comple- tion of the Doctor's book, which he was working hard to finish and get through the press. Its success would give him the independence he craved. Miss Maggie was in the habit of stigmatizing as ' na^ighty " every species of teazing reproof or vex- mg complaint from her friend ; and he often playfully used the word as she meant it. Here is her reply. The flowers came later. [Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.] ' ■" • ■•■ - \ " My Dearest : — ^Your letter reached me this morning. Then you are doomed to pass another day in Philadelphia. It is now five days since you left, and it seems a whole year to me. Oh, my lover and friend, hasten ! My hours grow irksome when you stay so long I ** The roses have not yet arrived. I shall look for them to-morrow. " The cover is beautiful, and the things are as you left them, save your portrait. I have placed it over my bed, that I might look upon it until I Ml asleep. 1 ii I1 244 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. My parlor is pleasant ; still, tl . ^amps burn dimly when you are not here. " The evenings are growing cold, and I have writ- ten this letter in my thin wrapper ; but I can never take coid in doing anything for you — my dearest friend. " To-morrow you will be here ! How happy the thought of seeing you makes me 1 Oh, my star ! I live but to love you I "You frightened me, my love. I hope you are better. If not, send for me, and I will come to you ! " And now, my star I my saint I my only soul I "Farewell. " Maggie. "Midnight. B. 22d St." Miss Margaret sent to her lover-friend a work of Sir Robert Owen, sent to her by a friend from England, and never republished in this country. The book had reached Crookville while Margaret was at school, and she was permitted to read it; a permission not granted in the case of the Tribune, or any spiritualist publication. Maggie was in the habit of playfully calling Dr. Kane's family " the royal family ;" hence his allusion. LOVE-LIFK OF DR. KANE. [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] 245 ^^Ante-script. , " P.S. — £Jn Avance. " Here is an old times letter. I'm sure you hardly deserve one. Do write at once. "Dear Maggie:— The Royal Family keep me in our quiet city to attend a ball ; and on Friday I have to talk science and stupidity to a society of learned philosophers. Pity me, for truly I had rather be with you, resting after my hard work like a boy in his holiday time. Even if you were as cross as you are kind, it would be a pleasure to be shut out from the big world, gazing at your dark eyes and pouting lips. How much more a pleasure is it to do more than gaze I " On Saturdav 1 shall be in New York ; or if not Saturday — Monday. I shall bring with me the pic- ture [the portrait of Judge Kane] which you de- sire ; but do, dear Maggie, be careful of it. 1 have every confidence in you, but none in your discretion. I know that you respect me none the less because I guard my truthfulness. I am not as good as I ought to be ; but next to guarding and loving you, I most regard my own word. Don't be angry with dear Elish' for telling you this. I respect your prtdej and want this uncharitable world to respect both it and you. . "Bye bye." I \ \ : 246 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANK. It will be seen that he was hardly yet prepared to meet the censure of his friends for having again plighted his faith to one to whom the odium of "the spirit-rappings" still clung, notwithstanding that her abhorrence of the association was now as deep as his own. He once observed to a friend, that no poverty or obscurity could have stood for a moment in the way of his marriage with Miss Fox. But the abomi- nable rappings! how could he link his name with them I The subjoined letter, like many others, has no date. " My Own Dear Pet Lamb — When I think over our last happy evening, I fear that it may lessen me in your respect. I hasten, therefore, of my own accord, to ask you to forgive me. Indeed, dear Mag- gie, I was carried away by my own temper, and you must not let its force make you think that I under- value your own delicacy and ladylike refinement. Now, that I am away from you, I would give worlds for the simple pleasure of sitting by your side, listeu- ing to riddles, and telling stories of ancient days. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 247 * ^ You were, and always shall be, my own dear little Jfagjie. There now I " Write to me if I shall come on Thursday, at five o'clock, I will do exactly as you desire, and would not fbr the world, in order to please myself by seeing you, run a risk of making trouble or regret. Tho locket I will bring with me. " I've something very curious to tell you * * * , *'And now, dear Maggie, good-night. Read this letter over as you go to bed, and imagine dear Elish* patting your hands, or pressing his rough beard against your glowing cheeks. Don't think of me as the wicked person that I have learned to be since I camo to this uncharitable land of Mrs. E s and Doctor G s ; but as dear Lye, the friend of old times, who never advised you in all his life to do wrong, or did wrong himself, if he could help it." Dr. Kane was always anxious to impress on his lady-love the importance of punctuality and careful 248 LOVE-LIFE or DR. KANE. If i1 ! • il exactness in the smallest matter. One day when he called and found her absent, Miss Kate informed him she had promised to return " in three minutes." The Doctor took out his watch, and finding the three minutes extended to ten, he read the young lady a lecture. He would sometimes ask her if such or such an article of furniture was in such a place in another room ; and when a random answer was given, would ascertain if it were so, and read a se- vere homiiy if it were not, on the culpability in- volved in that kind of carelessness. He would not permit her even to witness any spi- ritual manifestation, nor to remain in the room when the subject was discussed. One evening, when Miss Kate had a circle sitting in the parlor, the Doctor walked with Margaret through the hall ; and as they passed the open door, he drew her head aside, and held up his arm as if to shield her from the sight. " You shall never be brought into con- tact with such things again — my child " — he would say. His jealous care to guard her from the knowledge of all that could contaminate, was at all times re- markable. Once in a sleigh-ride on the Bloomingdale road, rather late in the afternoon, they drove near a hotel resorted to by pleasure-parties. There was a riotous crowd of men and women singing a drinking eong at the door and on the long piazza. Without saying a word, Dr. Kane rose in the sleigh, and LOVE-LIPE OP DR. KANE. 249 threw the buffalo skin over ]!ilar^aret's head, keeping it there till they had passed the place. He could not bear that she should look upon such a scene. 11* ,11 ■I ■■ 250 LOVE-LIFE or DR. KANE. XXL The following missive from Miss Maggie was sent shortly before her summer trip to Canada : [Miss Fox to f)r. Kane.] " I have just received an invitation to dine Thurs- day evening with some eighteen or twenty ladies and gentlemen at one of those Fifth Avenue mansions that we were so much enamored with during our yesterday's drive. I shall dress in the pale blue silk ; the very color of your friend Mrs. G 's cap-strings ; I mean ribbons — excuse me I I shall wear blue silk to please my Elish', for I know he has a passion for that sweet color. You see that *poor 'Lish' is not the only one who honors * Miss Margaret Fox.' " When shall we have the pleasure of seeing you and your handsome brother ? Please write to me by return of mail, and let me know that you are well and happy. '* Yours in the sincerity of love, "Margaret Fv>x." ri'-'JSt LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 251 One evening, when Miss Margaret was at a party at the Hon. John Cochrane's, Dr. Kane called to say good-bye, and left the following : [Dr. Ktne to Mlas Fox.] " Oh, Maggie, why were you not here ? I have waited two weary hours. You do not trust me. " I have telegraphed — so that I must leave ; but if you love me, write and comfort your attached friend, brother, everything I " God bless you I " Perhaps as much of individual character may be read in such brief missives as in longer epistles. Dr. Kane had no time for letter-writing. His biographer says, " The unanswered letters which crowded around him might well appal an abler man." [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Maggie, I am in town, but leave to-morrow. Are you well and happy ? You have not written to me. »» 111" n. 252 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. On another occasion a similar complaint was made. The young lady had gone to call on ^ friend, and had neglected her engagement • i [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] " Dear Maggie : — I have waited my two long hours, and I leave you soiry and grieved at your dis- trust. Where there is no <^onfidence there can be no friendship. " Bye bye." l!i- 'Tm tied of waiting. ''Good-bye. Will you ride? I will bring car- riage in half an hour." " Send a note by the bearer. " Will you be in and disengaged this afternoon ? If so, at what hour ? " ^ i LOVK-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 253 was made, friend, and J two long at your dis- •e can be no e bye." 1 bring car- afternoon ? [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Fox.] " My Dear Maggie : — The gentleman who owns the wonderful stove — ^is no gentleman at all. He is an old maid. He did me the honor to say that his stove was the only one in the coimtry, and that he would part with it neither for love nor money. In vain I urged all my eloquence; in vain said that bright eyes would glow over its mysterious flames, and sweet lips close like kisses over its delectable dishes. The wretch was inexorable. Finally I told him that I wanted it for my sliier ; whereupon, to the credit of human nature, he relented, and gave me the whole curiosity shop at cost. So you see that if I did not consider you as my sister, we would have had no stove. May we have many merry suppers over it, and many laughs at its history I " By the blessing of railroad cars, I will return from Virginia on Saturday, and if things suit in Twenty-second street, take supper with you on Mon- day. Could I come round in the afternoon? Do write me a letter saying if convenient. Of course I expect to cook my own supper and yours. " Many kind wishes to you, dear Maggie, and to your family. Tell Katie to drink no champagne, and do you follow the same advice. It makes your nose red, and is a bad custom for young ladies, unless in the company of medical men or grave preachers. With my respects to Mrs. Fox, believe me "Your Friend." u ■ 254 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. The stove described was to be used with an alcohol lamp, for cooking purposes. !|S' 1 W ', ■H 1 , '^M ! I- ' u not send our wander- ing one, but er, and you else. r and Kate. tt during my 1, witli their itute for the Most of all ems desolate ith brotherly killed, it will inche at the land. Even my picture ; ble as ever, I say, he takes 3 if we ought jame mistress. u think your- lore than she ulls my nose.' LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 267 " Mary is well. She tells me that Mrs. was here yesterday and to-day, with her assiduous and venerable friend from 'Chicago. , too, is well. Mrs. "W" I have not seen, but will call upon soon. " Much as I miss you, I would not advise your return before you can possibly help it. Certainly, not before the third or fourth of September. Your health, and your mother's and sister's, is of more importance than Kate's spiritual pow-wow in this hot city. I myself am very sick, and go this afternoon to BraUkboro\ Vermont, to which address send m ^ a letter at once, saying when you will be back ; wr.a> is your mother's health, and above all, dear Maggie, whether I can be of any use to you. Say this to your mother ; she will understand me ; and be assured that I make the offer in the sinceri' of a long-tried friendship. " This may seem to you a cold letter ; but remem- ber that strange eyes may see it, for it may never reach you. The best answer to all your fears is to show you the caution with which I guard you and your name. Should a passing thought of sorrow come to you on my account, I would never forgive myself. Except for words of praise, my tongue shall be as a sealed book. " But just to think of it I You will see me again before I cross the water, for I cannot leave until the tenth ; and as soon as your letter reaches me, will hasten to New York. There I will meet you as a 258 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. sister, and part from you as from one who has the highest possible claim to my brotherly affection and honorable regard. " There, * Toots.* " The following, written by moonlight in Canado, must have been received with transport by the absent lover. !'■■ [Ml88 Fox to Dr. Kane.] '' It is late, my beloved, and I have carefully stolen from my bed, that I might write to you undisturbed even by the breathings of others. It is after mid- night, and the sweet moon is the only witness to my devotion. " For four days I have done nought but weep. How has our separation affected you ? I am very gloomy. "Without you all is darkness, and every place seems a grave. You ask if I mix in company ? No, no I I join no merry scenes. Lish\ I have not laughed since we parted. By the time we meet again I fear I shall quits have forgotten to laugh ; and then you will clothe me in the habiliments of a nun, and send me to a convent to count my rosary. LOVE-LIFK OF DR. KANE. 259 I " On the wings of angels I send you ten thousand kisses. " Bye bye. " Maggie. " Morning is nearly upon me." [Miss Fox to Dr. Kane.] "Mblvtllb, Canada West, Sept. Ist, 1856. **I have purposely delayed writing to you, my dearest, in the hope that I should have the pleasure of seeing you once more before your departure for England. But I fear it will be impossible, as we shall not be able to reach Now York before the middle or last of next month. It is only three weeks since we left New York, yet it seems much longer. " Have you visited our home in Twenty-second street ? I suppose if you have you found it solitary enough. " We think of leaving the Canadian shores about the 17th of September. " It is growing late, and I have just time to return my grateful thanks for the kind and brotherly interest that you havef always manifested for me. Wishing you a happy journey and a safe return, " Believe me, with much love, " Yours devotedly, "Margaret Fox. •«( 260 LOVE-LIFK OF DR. KANE. " P. S. — I have often dreamt of you aince I left, and have twice dreamt that you were very, very ill ; and I waked each time weeping bitterly. But fortu- nately my dreams always prove false, unless they are of an agreeable character. " I am no great believer in dreams, whether plea- sant or unpleasant " Maggie." [Mlsa Fox to Dr. Kane.] " I hope, my dearest Ly, that you are much better than when I left you. I suppose in a few days you will be on your way to England. How long will you remain in England? We would have visited my brother before going to Canada, had it not been for mother's being left. " I should love much, my dear brother, to have you write to me, but fear that your letters may not reach us, as we will be travelling nearly all the time. I wrote from Rochester, and requested Mr. Smith to keep all letters safely that came dircQted either for my mother, Kate, or myself, until we visited Arcadia, which would be within one month. Therefore, if you have written to me, the letter will be kept perfectly safe until I receive it. LOVE-LIFE OF DK. KANE. 261 " The weather is very cool and pleasant ; rather too cool. I will direct this letter to your handsome bro- ther Patterson. ' It's very artistic, Mrs. Fox.' IIo must have thought me exceedingly rude ; but it was perfectly impossible for me to suppress my laughter. " I remember your promise while with Mr. . You know that my opinion of that gentleman is rather poor. Perhaps if I knew more of his good qualities I should respect him more. " Mother and Kate send their love to you. Think of me, and believe me ever " Devotedly yours, "Margaret Y^x. " P. S. — I wish that you would please go to our house, and request Mary (the servant girl) to put little Tommie in a room above, and keep my door locked all the time, so that cannot read my letters. I wish that you would take my key and keep it until you go to England. Please do this ; for there are many letters that I would not for worlds should read." m The key was that of the room containing the box which held 11 the letters of Dr. Kane to Miss Fox. The key of tho box itself had been consigned to the 262 LOVE-LIFK OP DR. KANE. Doctor's charge wbon Margaret went to Canada. He could have taken away all his letters had he chosen to do so. This fact may serve to show the perfect con- fidence subsisting between the lovers. Dr. Kane often seemed to think of the possibility of his love-letters being published. He would say — ^intimating that something might happen at a future time to render a publication necessary — " Maggie, never fear, you hold a fortune in my letters." He at all times expressed a wish that they should be ever in her keeping ; and sometimes reproved her for not being careful enough of them. LOVE-LIPE OP DR. KANE. 268 mada. He [Q chosen to perfect con- Kane often 1 love-letters nating that J to render a jar, you hold [ expressed a eeping; and reful enough xxn. A letter of Dr. Kane's bids his friend direct to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. As the time drew near when he expected her, he requested that a note might be sent to him at the Brevoort House, New York, where he was ill, as soon as the party arrived from Canada. Almost every hour of the day preceding their return, he rang the bell of the house in Twenty- second street, and he was with them five minutes after they came, with a delighted welcome. He breakfasted with them the next morning, and had a long conversation upon the future. This was some two weeks before the time fixed for the Doctor's departure for England, whence he expected to be back in the spring. At this time Dr. Kane appeared willing to defy the severest censures of the class of persons aptly designated as " snobs." He seemed to glory in his devotion to the object of bis love. He bad the volumes of his work bound to order for her, and almost every day brought her some token of regard. He told her of a diamond bracelet he had ordered at Tiffany's, and added, smiling, as they drove there for it — " They will all know now, Maggie, that I want it for my betrothed." A m' Iff 264 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. On first entering her own little parlor in the house, Margaret saw the following billet, in the Doctor's hand-writing, pinned up so as to meet her eye : " God bless you, dear Maggie I I have tried to do all that I could during your absence, to show my bro- therly regard. Have trust in me always. Write under cover to my brother as soon as you arrive. Remember me to your mother and Kate." f ■"^^Pfvlaj Dr. Kane was always exceedingly particular in keeping appointments, and in apologies whenever pre- vented from doing so ; also in consulting the conve- nience of others in making them. These little notes illustrate this trait. [Dr. Kane to Mm. Fox.] " My Dear Madam : — I am suffering so much that I cannot leave my bed ; if, therefore, I should be un- able to pay my respects to-day, I pray you to accept my apologies. " Your obedient servant, "E. K. Kane." LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 265 [Dr. Kano to Mrs. Fox.] "My Dear Madam:— The train does not leave as I expected. Ask Maggie if she can see me before I leave town, and send me word when, by the bearer. " Truly your friend, '*E. K.Kane. " I must leave to-morrow morning early." V • ,v . [Dr. Kane to MIbs Fox] " Dear Maggie : — I have but a minute to show, by an accidental chance, that I still remember you. Be all that 1 would wish you. Kemember my advice, and you will be always with me that which you have been and are. " God bless you, my dear, darling little ' spirit I ' " Good-bye. " E. K. Kane." 'li At one of their partings about this time, Maggie took her locket, containing Willie's hair, ard attached it to the Doctor's guard-chain, to be worn during his absence abroad. She little thought that, like the ring noticed, it would be kept from her after his death. 12 iii I*,s , 266 LOVE-LIFE OF DK. KANE. MiiLy verses were addressed by Doctor Kane xo Im betrothed, which prove him a far better aavjgator than poet. " Purely though I love her, and worship none above her, Madly at: I adore her, and Badly as 1 bore her," (to use his own words) the reader would scarcely pardon the lack of poetic merit for the ardent expres- sion of his unbounded love. One of his metrical effusions was a prayer which he directed Maggie to " learn by heart, and say it when you go to bed at night." In this curious production devotional aspira- tion has hardly the preeminence over the worship he craved for himself from the chosen of his heart. He wished to have all her thoughts at all times. The " prayer," like numerous poems indited by the lover, must be consigned to oblivion. A very short time before Dr. Kane sailed, he took Margaret to the opera at Niblo's. Several ladies and gentlemen were in the private box opposite. The Doctor asked Maggie to look and tell him wbat she thought of them — if they were really well-bred persons. When she answered in the negative he LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 267 w% laughed heartily, and said be thought her opinion correct. One day he took from a basket of fruit on Mrs. Fox's table some bunches of grapes, wove them into a go^land, and placed it on Margaret's head, bidding her remember thai she was his wife — solemnly pledged in the sight of Heaven — and ere long to be such in the face of the world. This acknowledgment had been once before made, when the parties were alone. One evening the Doctor came to Twenty-second street, weary and low-spirited, and was toid that Margaret was not at home '* Is it possible ! " he cried — " when she knew I was coming — and only a day or two before I must leave her, too I " He took a seat with a look of deep disappointment, when a closet door flew open, and out sprang the young lady, blooming and laughing, very coquettishly dressed, and more beautiful than he had ever seen her. Mat- ters were then arranged for a drive next morning to have her ambrotype taken. He wrote out the description as follows : " Ambrotype—Large plate — Figure erect — com- plete Profile — Eyelids drooping — Countenance pen- dive and looking down." ^V t U. In the morning came this note, sent either by Mor- 11 i! I. 268 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. ton or Mr. Grinnell, who had been the bearer of many missives : [Dr. Kane to Miss Fox.] "Dear Tutie: — I fear that the weather is too cloudy. I will be at No. 50 at half-past eleven o'clock, when, if it clears up, you can drive down and meet your mother at 'the rooms.' Mention this to her, with my best respects, and send me word if the plan suits you." Immediately afterwards the following : [Ur. KaLO to Miss Pox.] " Dearest Pet : — Do dress at once, and have the ambrotype taken. I will come up in less than an hour and sec to your costume. Don't be afraid of your njck and shoulders. I want you to look like a Circe, for you have already changed me into a wild Boar„ , - :[ .: ".,■--: . .- :' ' . "Yale." LOVE-LIFE OF DK. KANE. 269 Shortly before his departure, Dr. Kane came to tea, and spent the evening, as usual, with his beloved. Reclining on the sofa, he talked despondingly of what might happen in his ar 3emce. His health was precarious ; he might be ill ; he might die. " If I send for you, my own Maggie, will you come to me ? " he asked. " Certainly I will," she answered. " I fear you would hesitate," he murmured ; " and yet you know you are my own — my wife ! You re- member what I have told you I " A moment after- wards he added — " Would you like me to repeat what I have said, formally, in the presence of your mother ? Such a declaration, in the presence of wit- nesses, is sufficient to constitute a legal and binding marriage ; a marriage as firm as if the ceremony took place before a magistrate.* Attend to me, Maggie ; listen ; would you be willing now to enter into such a bond ? " * " No peculiar ceremonies are requisite by the common law to the valid celebration of the marriage. The consent of the parties ia all that is required ; and as marriage is said to be a contract jwre gentium, that consent is all that is required by natural or pubhc law." Kent's Commentaries, Vol. II., page 53. " It is very clear that the marriage contract is valid and binding if made by words de prcesenti, though it be not followed by cohabita- tion." , M^Adam v. Walker, 1 Dow^s Rep. 148. Jackson v. Winne, 7 Wendell, 47 and 50. Note (a) and cases there cited. "The consent of the parties may be declared before a magistrate, t: M !■ i I ■ It i; • , I 270 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. At this moment Miss Katharine Fox came into the room. Dr. Kane desired her to call her mother, who came up stairs to the parlor; the servant, and a young a'i r or simph/ before witnesses, or subsequently confessed or acknow- ledged." Kent's Com., Vol. IL, p. 65. *' If the contract be made per verba de presenti, and remains with- out cohabitation (or if made per verba de futuro, and be followed by consummation), it amounts to a valid marriage in the absence of all civil regulations to the contrary, and to which the parties (being competent as to age &nd consent) cannot dissolve, and is equally binding as if made in facie ecclesiaj" 11. Kent's Com., S^/i i^d., j>p. 53 a/id 64. " Marriage is a civil contract, and all that is essential to its valid- ity is a present agreement between competent parties, to take each other for husband and wife ; and this agreement may, like any other fact, be proved either by direct or circumstantial evidence." Clayton and Wife v. Wardell et ai., Executors, d:c, ; 4 Cornst, R, 230. New York Court op Appeals. " Nothing more is necessary than a full, free, and mutual consent >M3tween the parties, though there be no consummation." ' Jackson v. Winne, 1 Wend. 4V. The Revised STATUTEr of New York, 5th Edition, Vol. III., page 229, after an article relating to the solemnization and proof of marriages, says. *' Nor shall the provisions of this article be construed to require the parties to any marriage, or any minister or magistrate, to solem- nize the same in the manner herein prescribed; but all lawful marriages contracted in the manner heretofore in use in this State shall be as valid as if this article had not been passed." In the case of the People v. Hayes, tried in the Court of General Sessions, and the judgment affirmed in the Supreme Court, in 1863, ■ 'ffl . ! ' - T I L - LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 271 )d or *cknow- lady who was spending the evening there, being also present. Dr. Kane informed them he had sent for them to witness the solemn declaration that would follow. Then, standing up, and holding Margaret's hand, while his left arm encircled her form, he said : " Maggie is my wife, and I am her husband. Wher- ever we are, she is mine, and I am hers. Do you un- derstand and consent to this, Maggie ? " Margaret answered that she did. Dr. Kane then explained that he had wished to say this before witnesses, to provide against anything that might happen before they could m^jot again. A very near relative of his own, he said, had been pri- vately married a long time before it was in any man- ner made public. Again he assured his beloved that the ceremony which had just passed, made them as mutual consent the Recorder charged the jury that in this State there may be a valid marriage, though not formally solemnized before a clergyman, or consent declared before a magistrate. If parties, competent to contract, in the presence of witnesses, agree together to be husband and wife, it is a legal marriage. The Court of Appeals held that the Cbsence of the contract, as of all contracts, is the consent of the parties ; and its validity does not depend upon any form of celebration, nor the fact of cohabitation. The consent of parties, without any peculiar forms or ceremonies, is all that is required to its valid celebration. This case was reported in 25th New York Reports, page 390. (Reeve's Domestic Relations, 3d Edition, p. 196 and note. Starr v. Peck, 1 Hill, 270; Fenton v. Read, 4 Johns. 52 ; Clayton v. Ward- well, 4 Comst. 230 ; Bishop on Mar. and Div. Chap. V.) r;; ^ •S 272 LOVE-LIFE OP DR. KANE. indissolubly one as if performed in a church. " It shall be made public in May," he added. The day previous Dr. Kane had taken Margaret with him to make farewell calls. They called at General Scott's, Judge Blunt's, Mrs. Wood's, and other places, leaving cards of adieu. The brief note below was to prepare Mrs. Fox for an evening visit : [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Kane.] " I take a farewell dinner with the officers ; after which, if acceptable to you, I will pay my respects to your mother and yourself. Will seven o'clock find you at home ? " [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Kane.] " Dear Wife : — May I meet you at half-past ten to-night ? I have a capital excuse for your mother. Do not say wo, but send word the earliest hour, and I'll be with you." ■■|i LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 273 xxni. + During the last evening, Dr. Kane seemed op- pressed by gloomy forebodings. '* Maggie, what if 1 should die away from you 1" — he exclaimed, in an- guish. " Oh, my own Maggie, could I but die in your arms, I would ask no more !" Again : " I can part from all the rest, — even from my mother — with calmness: — it is parting with you, Maggie, that kills me I" He stayed late. Morton came for him just after he had gone, and received Maggie's injunctions. " Remember, Morton — take good care of the Doc- tor" — were her parting words to him. " That I will) Miss Maggie" — was his reply. On one occasion, months before. Dr. Kane had said to Mrs. W ; " I fear Maggie does not love me ; poor child, it is not in her nature I" — He did not now doubt her love. He clasped the diamond bracelet on her arm, and bade her wear it for his sake who loved her with his whole soul. He gave her several enve- lopes lined with muslin, which he had directed to himself, that her letters enclosed therein might go with safety. One of these, addressed to the care of Bowman, Grin- nell & Co., Liverpool, he maik^ "! curiously with stars on the inside corners. This private murk, not under- stood by any of his family, was to signify Maggie's wish 12* Ai IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. v.v^. 1.0 I.I 1*5 Its us b KJUl. 1^ 1^ 2.0 lAO 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ■• 6" ► V] v5 7 y /(^^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 ^ // A^ ^ f/i :/^ J 27i LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. for bis immediate return. Whenever he received that envelope he would set out instantly, and would suffer no business to detain bim. He oftf n made marks in his letters to signify persons, and made Maggie do the same. Bearing in mind the possibility of bis let- ters meeting other eyes, he mutilated several, tearing off portions he did not wish to be read. He at one time told her be would write in invisible ink, when the letters came open ; but this was never done. The morning of the day he sailed, October 11th, though noted as the 10th by his biographer, he came early to Twenty-second street. He had before spoken of having made his will, and said to Mrs. Fox that he had left a legacy " to that dear child." He said the same repeatedly to Margaret, and now again speaking of his will, added, " and you are well remembered in it." Margaret observed that the making of a will " was very sad;" but the Doctor, placing ber drooping head upon his shoulder, explained that it was but a needful precaution on tbe eve of a journey. The legacy he referred to was left in a "secret trust" to one of his brothers ; the name of Miss Fox not appearing in his will. He had an excusable anxiety not to vox his family, while he wished her who had sacrificed for him her means of living, to en- joy what he was able to give her. This legacy was never paid, although the interest on it was paid for some time, under conditions never imposed by Dr. Kane. The offer of payment, if she would surrender LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 275 fa will ''was Dr. Kane's letters, has always been declined by his widow. On this last morning, Dr. Kane had with him in the carriage the portrait of his beloved, painted by Fag- nani, which hud been his inseparable companion in his Arctic travels. He preferred carrying it with ^ im to having it packed in a trunk. The ambrotype was finished, and had been left at Mrs. Fox's. It was to be copied in England by a celebrated artist. The adieux were made, sad and tearful on both sides, — and the Doctor drove away to meet other friends. But neither friends, nor relatives, nor busi- ness, could prevent his returning to take another fare- well just before the steamer sailed. The final parting came. Again and again he clasped in his arms the poor girl whose love for him had been so patient and enduring, and was prized by him above all the world could bestow. With tears and sobs, tearing himself away, he bade her stand in the door, that he might see her till the carriage bore him out of sight. His weeping adieux were re- peated many times after he left the door ; then sud- denly recollecting the ambrotype, he returned to the house for it, leaving the carriage at a little distance. Margaret walked with him back to the carriage. Even at this last moment he was tempted to give up his voyage. " It is for you to decide, Maggie !" he cried. '' My passage is taken ; but that is nothing. Tell me, shall I go, or stay?" This was repeated 276 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. again and again, as it had been for days before. The DoctSi' was continually in the habit of asking her opinion, in this manner, upon every matter of import- ance to him. But Margaret would not detain him. "' Little did either think they would never meet again in this world. • The following note came from England from the Doctor: [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Kane.] " I have just time to catch the steamer, dear Tutie, to tell you of my safe arrival, and to beg you to write should you need anything. Pardon the haste of this letter, and believe me always as of old. " I send you a ridiculous paragraph cut trom a Liverpool paper." ■ ■t ■i The envelope containing the last liote written by Dr. Kane to his Maggie, was directed in Mr. Grinnell's handwriting. The note was written on a leaf torn LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. •277 out of his memorandum-book. The Doctor was so feeble as to be unable to support himself, and could only write a few words with difficulty. They were the last words his hand ever traced to any human being. His biographer says his latest letter was addressed to Dr. S. W. Mitchell of Philadelphia, and was dated November 15th — from London. This was later, and was written on shipboard. [Dr. Kane to Mrs. Kane.] - , " Dear Tutie : — I am quite sick, and have gone to Havana ; on!y one week from New York. I have received no letters from you ; but write at once to E. K. Kane, care of American Consul, Havana." I ■■'' r I Margaret wrote in reply to the above : ► [Mrs. Kane to Dr. Kane.] "My Dear Elisha: — Your welcome little note was received this morning, for which I owe you many thanks. I have heard oi you often through the newspapers. • - '' " You can imagine my feelings when I heard that 278 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. your physicians had ordered you to go to St. Thomas ; I only hope that you may soon recover. *' I would give worlds to see you, but can hardly expect to have that pleasure till May, as our climate is so awful for invalids. "Mr. F. W. Wilson called here a few days since, and informed us that you had sailed in the Oriental for the West Indies, accompanied by your faithful friend Corneli;:s Grinnell. "I am not happy when you are away. " Could I only see you I would say much that I cannot write. , " In love yours faithfully, "Margaret. "Dr. E. K. K.ANB. " Care of Americjan Consul, Harana." i; t 1 . She wrote again some time afterwards : "My Dear Dr. Kane: — How are you? Why have you not written ? or, if you were too ill to write, why have you not giver Morton orders to do so? Had 3'ou attended to this it would have made me much happier. I always thought you were very wise ; but, indeed, my powers of wisdom would have far surpassed yours. 1*1 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 279 . Thomas ; an hardly >ur climate lays since, le Oriental ur faithful luch that I uUy, iRGARET. you ? Why ill to write, rs to do so? ve made me 11 were very would have " I know not whether this will find you alive or not ; only think how very cruel it is in you to leave me to all manner of awful imaginings ! I read the newspaper articles, of course ; but what reliance can I place on what they say ! One day they say that you are rapidly recovering, and perhaps the next morning the old Tribune will say, — -Dr. Kane is dangerously ill, and it is feared he will not live to return to his home again.' Oh, dear, I am so unhap- py ! Mr. Grinnell has returned, and I am sometimes tempted to ask Dr. Bayard to take me to his house, and see if he could give any satisfactory news con- cerning your health. "But there it is; — I have been BO very unkind to the poor fellow in sending so abruptly for my letters, that I would not dare go to him. Did the Consul hand you my letters ? Are you Dr. Kane or not ? Really, I begin to doubt that I have ever known Dr. Kane ! '' I am very well, but wretchedly unhappy. Katie sends much love. " From yours truly, " Margaret Fox." " P. S. — ^Do write at once, or get Morton to write." 280 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. But the excitement caused by the letter preceding this one had been almost too much for the enfeebled frame of the sufferer, and this last was not given to him. He was paralysed and speechless before it could reach him. . The cruel uncertainty felt by Margaret whether her letter would ever meet the eyes of him for whom it was written — the uncertainty into whose hands it might fall, induced her to use the same signature she had formerly used, though aware she was now entitled to bear the name of him she loved. It had been agreed between them that the marriage should be concealed till May, from the knowledge of all but those who had witnessed it ; and Dr Kane had espe- cially charged her not to sign herself Kane, even inder cover to his brother. Mrs. Fox and her daughter were making prepara- tions to go to Havana, according to Dr. Kane's earnest request before they parted, when they received the news of his death. This occurred on the 16th Feb- ruary, 1857. Margaret read through the fatal para- graph in silence, though deadly pale ; then turned to leave the room, and dropped on the floor insensible. No human thought could measure her sorrow. An illness of many months followed ; -and during the greater part of the time she was shut up in a dark room, utterly inconsolable, and unable to bear the light of day. LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 281 I r preceding e enfeebled lot given to 33 before it • ret whetber m for whom 3se bands it lignature sbe now entitled It bad been ;e sbould be re of all but ne bad espe- Kane, even dng prepara- Lane's earnest received tbe he 16th Feb- he fatal para- hen turned to lor insensible. sorrow. An d during the up in a dark e to bear the The following fragment was penned by her more than two years afterwards : (( TO MY BELOVED. " Oh, that I could die and be with thee I How can thy place be filled I How can my sorrow be alle- viated ? Thou art missed every moment more and morel i " No heart can ever be like thine — no voice so worshipped — no smile so loved ! Alas! alas! never shall I again find in this weary world such love — such fidelity — such tenderness — as I received from my beloved! Oh, that I could die and be with thee! "Margaret. " September mh, 1859." A correspondent of the Evening Post thus writes of the great American Explorer — noticing Hicks's painting of him sitting in the cabin of the Advance : " We look upon him here with his grasp of mind, its inspiration, the enthronement of genius and vir- tuous disinterestedness and worth. Here he sits in 282 LOVE-LIFE OF DU. KANE. f his hall of science, in the dim frozen regions where the keel of a navigator had never before penetrated ; and at an hour when no human eye rested upon him, he is found in that temple of democracy in which he came to learn to confess his ignorance before the Great Supreme, and to find that it is only dignity of intellect, the largeness and fulness of knowledge, which confers superiority over man I *' Here he sits, smitten, as it were, suddenly with a craving for more mental illumination, whilst enjoying the highest of all pleasures, the perception of some fresh truth which will give a new standard to merit, and a new pursuit to men I Here he sits, in these trackless seas, the comprehensive thinker, the law- giver and founder of knowledge, opening a new vein of thought, and creating fresh science and power. Steadfast integrity, incorruptible courage, and hea- venly benevolence are written upon his brow ; but, with all his exalted humanity, we see in his face what Kent loved in Lear — * Authority.' Superior in mo- rals, superior in intellect and in knowledge, it only needed his natural reticence to observe all circum- stances, and to bring to bear at the right time all the faculties which he possessed, and ^vhich gave him what mankind concedes to him, — greatness / " ' Add to " Authority " — ^Love — to complete the por- trait. • , • LOVE-T.IFE OF DR. _.\NE. 283 Mrs. Kane felt convinced that the Doctor had left for her some word or message — some blessing with parting breath ; and she was intensely anxious to know it. As soon as she was able to hold a pen, she wrote to one of the Doctor's brothers, in her former name — which she retained as a middle name — for she wfus careful to avoid wounding the pride of the family, and felt no disposition to intrude on them the relation in which she stood to them. [Mrs. Kane to Mr. Kane.] " My Dear Mr. Kane : — I know the Doctor must have left some message for me, and know that you will not refuse to deliver it, even though it gives you much pain in recalling the name of him whose memory is and ever will be sacred. I have always held a religious faith in the deep sincerity of the Doctor's love, and his memory will always remain a beautiful green in my unchanged affections. " I can never realize that he is gone — gone for ever. Only seven months ago I bade him farewell, here, in this very room, only an hour before his departure for England, and little thought that it would be the last, long farewell. " With my kindest regards, believe me, *' Sincerely yours, "Margaret Fox. "East Twenty-second St." 284 LOVE-LTFE OF Dll. KANE. Ill" She said well in the expression " religious faith ; " her devotion was indeed a religion to her. She lived, and has ever since lived, alone in the memory of her beloved. It has been " a love repressing all other life in her heart." That "life-warm correspondence " seems to have drained the vitality of her being. No worldly allurement, no attraction of society, no soli- citation of friends, could or can draw her from con- tinual, unceasing thoughts of him. One room, con- taining his letters and various gifts, where hang his portrait and the map of his wanderings, — is her favorite resort, and is kept as a sanctuary. Her opinions of persons and views of things are moulded entirely by her recollections of his. His hatred of spiritualism is her abiding feeling in regard to it, and she shuns its votaries. Her former friends, even her kindred, except her parents and the sister whom the Doctor liked, are as aliens and strangers. " Would dear Elisba like me to do this ? " — is the test by which she regulates conduct at all times and under all circum- stances. Never was widow's heart more entirely buried in the grave of the lost one. What her love may have wanted in passion, is made up in con- stancy ; a constancy none of life's scenes can dim or enfeeble ; a constancy that will endure to death. In August, 1858, she became a member of the Ko- man Catholic Church. Dr. Kane had often advised her to join this church, and many times had accom- panied her to vespers at St. Anne's, in Eighth street, I! LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 285 New York. The ceremony of her baptism, at St. Peter's Church, in Barclay street, New York, was new in this country, and was attended by a large assemblage. The lady was attired in white, and was accompanied by her sponsors, her father and mother, and her youngest sister. The priest made the sign of the cross upon the candidate's forehead, ears, eyes, nose and mouth, breast and shoulders, repeating appropriate words in Latin. She was anointed with the holy oils, and introduced into the church by receiving the stole, a long white veil reaching to the ground, and a burning light, emblematic of the faith. The occasion was the Feast of the Assumption, and the church and altar were decorated, the statue of the Virgin being covered with flowers. One of the New York papers, describing the cere- mony, remarked concerning the new convert : — " She is a very interesting and lovely young lady, and is very young. She has large dark Madonna eyes, a sweet expressive mouth, a petite and delicately moulded form, and a regal carriage of the head, with an aristocratic air quite uncommon. Miss Fox, it is said, was placed at school in Philadelphia by the 286- LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. lamented Kane, the Arctic voyager, who loved her as a sister, and whose brotherly interest in the fair girl was dearly cherished even in his last moments." I si' it Governor Tallmadge wrote to Mrs. Kane as follows, on reading the. account of this baptism :— " Saratoga Springs, August 17th, 1868. " My Dear Maggie :— I saw in the Herald of yes- terday an account of your connecting yourself with the Roman Catholic Church. I most sincerely hope it will add to your comfort and happiness. I know how depressed and disconsolate you have been since your disappointment in a matter of the heart, to which we all look forward for happiness in this life. But remember, my dear young friend, that our trials and disappointments here are but for a brief season, and that we shall again meet those we have loved, where there shall be no separation for ever. " I am here for a time to get rid of a partial return of my bronchial difficulty. I have had it three times removed by a mercurial treatment ; I ^ish to avoid that remedy if I can. I am improving, and hope in due time to be entirely relieved. . , ; '- , - LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. 287 3ved her as he fair girl ents. » e as follows, It mh, 1868. erald of yes- ourself with icerely hope 33. I know e been since art, to which is life. But ur trials and ■ season, and loved, where )artial return t three times vish to avoid and hope in " I hope your health is improving. I regretted I could not see you when I was last in New York. I wished to visit New York once more before I T( irned home ; but my doctor advised me to avoid your salt atmosphere. Be so kind as to write me a line, how- ever brief, whilst I remain here. Direct ' U. S. Hotel, Saratoga Springs.' . . " Remember me most kindly to your mother and Katy, and believe me always, " Most aifectfionately ' " Your sincere friend, " N. P. Tallmadgb." Six months later the Governor sent her another letter of condolence : '^Ltthgow, Dutchess County, N.Y. . ' X "March 10th, 1869. " My Dear Maggie : — I was very much gratified in the receipt of your very kind letter of yesterday. I truly sympathize with you, my young friend, i"n all your cares and sorrows. I appreciate your feelings when contemplating * the loved and lost,' and I am rejoiced that in your contemplations of the future ' all seems bright and beautiful.' Thus it shall ever be. 288 LOVE-LIFE OF DR. KANE. I ,: Your pure and Christian life will assure you a blissful and bappy future, and you will enjoy the companion- ship of the * loved one ' gone before you, to be no more separated for ever. How consoling the thought I How heart-cheering the contemplation I Why, then, mourn over the present separation ? It is but for a brief season. No, my young friend, you should be happy in the contemplation of your future happiness. Besides, it is a duty we all owe, to be cheerful for the sake of friends around us ; "v^hilst, at the same time, it contributes to our own happiness. The longer we continue here in works of love to God and our neigh- bor, the better we shall be prepared to enter upon an elevated plane hereafter, and to commence a course of everlasting progression. Let us, therefore, dissipate the shadows here in anticipation of the sunshine here- after. I shall take great pleasure in talking with you on this subject when I meet you. " I cannot tell how soon I can see you. My cough is better ; but my doctor is unwilling to have me exposed to the severe March winds, and I am some- what afraid of the salt air of New York in the present state of my respiratory organs. " Eemember me kindly to your mother and Katy, and believe me " Your sincere and devoted friend, " N. P. Tallmadge." THE END. you a blissful le companion- i^ou, to be no y the thought 1 Why, then, It is but for a i^ou should be ;ure happiness, heerful for the e same time, it 'he longer we and our neigh- enter upon an nee a course of sfore, dissipate sunshine here- liking "with you ou. My cough ig to have me md I am some- j in the present >ther and Katy, ;nd, Dallmadge."