But there was no need of this . His caprices had their origin in a mind that lacked the support of an engrossing purpose , and in feelings that preyed upon themselves for want of other food . If he were mad , it was the consequence , and not the cause , of an aimless and abortive life . The widow was as complete a contrast to her third bridegroom in everything but age as can well be conceived . Compelled to relinquish her first engagement , she had been united to a man of twice her own years , to whom she became an exemplary wife , and by whose death she was left in possession of a splendid fortune . A Southern gentleman considerably younger than herself succeeded to her hand and carried her to Charleston , where after many uncomfortable years she found herself again a widow . It would have been singular if any uncommon delicacy of feeling had survived through such a life as Mrs. Dabney 's ; it could not but be crushed and killed by her early disappointment , the cold duty of her first marriage , the dislocation of the heart 's principles consequent on a second union , and the unkindness of her Southern husband , which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death with that of her comfort . To be brief , she was that wisest but unloveliest variety of woman , a philosopher , bearing troubles of the heart with equanimity , dispensing with all that should have been her happiness and making the best of what remained . Sage in most matters , the widow was perhaps the more amiable for the one frailty that made her ridiculous . Being childless , she could not remain beautiful by proxy in the person of a daughter ; she therefore refused to grow old and ugly on any consideration ; she struggled with Time , and held fast her roses in spite of him , till the venerable thief appeared to have relinquished the spoil as not worth the trouble of acquiring it . The approaching marriage of this woman of the world with such an unworldly man as Mr. Ellenwood was announced soon after Mrs. Dabney 's return to her native city . Superficial observers , and deeper ones , seemed to concur in supposing that the lady must have borne no inactive part in arranging the affair ; there were considerations of expediency which she would be far more likely to appreciate than Mr. Ellenwood , and there was just the specious phantom of sentiment and romance in this late union of two early lovers which sometimes makes a fool of a woman who has lost her true feelings among the accidents of life . All the wonder was how the gentleman , with his lack of worldly wisdom and agonizing consciousness of ridicule , could have been induced to take a measure at once so prudent and so laughable . But while people talked the wedding-day arrived . The ceremony was to be solemnized according to the Episcopalian forms and in open church , with a degree of publicity that attracted many spectators , who occupied the front seats of the galleries and the pews near the altar and along the broad aisle . It had been arranged , or possibly it was the custom of the day , that the parties should proceed separately to church . By some accident the bridegroom was a little less punctual than the widow and her bridal attendants , with whose arrival , after this tedious but necessary preface , the action of our tale may be said to commence . The clumsy wheels of several old-fashioned coaches were heard , and the gentlemen and ladies composing the bridal-party came through the church door with the sudden and gladsome effect of a burst of sunshine . The whole group , except the principal figure , was made up of youth and gayety . As they streamed up the broad aisle , while the pews and pillars seemed to brighten on either side , their steps were as buoyant as if they mistook the church for a ball-room and were ready to dance hand in hand to the altar .
So brilliant was the spectacle that few took notice XXXXX a singular phenomenon that had marked its entrance .
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