Now Mary was nothing if not precipitate, for all this came to pass in the spring or summer of 1831, when she was not quite sweet seventeen.  It also happened without the knowledge or concern of Roswell Martin Field, who was a young and handsome bachelor of quick wit and engaging manners, living at Fayetteville in the neighboring county, “knowing nothing at that time of the said Mary Almira, her lovers, suitors, promises, engagements, intimacies, visits or movements whatsoever.”  He was soon to know.

In the summer of 1832 it happened that Mary Almira was on a visit to Mrs. Jonathan, her cousin german, the wife of Justice Jonathan of Brattleboro, Vt.  And now fate began to take a swift and inexplicable interest in the affairs of Mary and Roswell.  On August 30th, 1832, in company with Mrs. Jonathan and Mrs. French (the Mary Field of the first chapter of this book), Miss Mary Almira visited Fayetteville, and, we are told, “when the chaise containing the said ladies arrived Roswell advanced to hand them out, and then for the first time saw and was introduced to said Mary Almira, who received him with a nod and a broad good-humored laugh.”  She remained over night, the guest of Mrs. French, and Roswell saw her only for a few moments in his sister’s sitting-room.  What occurred is naively told under oath in the following extract from the pleadings: 

“Some conversation of a general nature passed between them, and as the said Mary Almira was a young lady of very pleasing face and form and agreeable manners, it is by no means improbable that he (Roswell) manifested to said Mary Almira that in those matters he was not wholly devoid of sensibility and discernment.”  The next morning Mary returned to Brattleboro with Mrs. Jonathan, and Roswell “did not then expect ever to see her more.”

But it was otherwise decreed, for after the lapse of eleven days Justice Jonathan had professional business in Fayetteville, and, lo!  Mary Almira attended him.  It was Tuesday, September 11th, when for a second time she dawned on the discerning view of Roswell.  For eight days she lingered as a guest of Mrs. French, whose brother began to show signs of awakening sensibility, although at this time informed of the unbroken pact between Mary Almira and Jeremiah.  How young love took its natural course is told in the pleadings by Roswell with protests “against the manifest breach of delicacy and decorum of calling him into this Honorable Court to render an account of his attentions to a lady,” and “more especially when that lady is his lawful wedded wife.”

When Mary had been in Fayetteville four days it happened that Justice Jonathan was called to Westminster.  When asked if she was inclined to accompany him, Mary turned to Roswell and “inquired with a smile if it was not likely to rain?” and Roswell confesses “that he told her that it would be very imprudent for her to set out.”

[Illustration:  ROSWELL MARTIN FIELD. Eugene Field’s Father.]