SECOND THOUGHTS.

Southland Times, Issue 931, 10 April 1868, Page 3

SECOND THOUGHTS.

The New York correspondent of the "Panama Star and Herald," writing on Dec. 20, has the following : — There was to have been a very fashionable wedding in "Washington on the 17th inst. Col. EliS. Parker, of Gen. Grant's staff, and '- Miss Minnie Sackett, one of the citybelles, were the high contracting parties. Everything had been promptly arranged for the ceremony. Invitations to the very elite Lad been issued, the wedding trousseau had been obtained, and the clergyman and bridal presents were ready. Even General Grant, in his elegant uniform, to honor the occasion, was present to give away the bride. The Church of the Epiphany, where the ceremony was to have been performed, seemed unconscious of the approach of the event, and stared blankly upon the throng of ladies and gentlemen who in full dress collected about its doors at the appointed hour, and wondered why they were closed. There was a rustle of silks and laces, and an ominous nodding of *-■ polished beavers in the street when the. legend contained on a slip of paper posted on the front of the edifice was fully translated and its substance quickly circulated from group to group. The wedding, it announced, was deferred to another day. Some one suggested that , the Colonel was not there, and — ethers, adding to the rumour, insisted that none of the principal performers in the scene were on hand. . After indulging in the wildest speculations concerning the

eati © bf the contretemps, the invited guests dispersed and retired, General Grant t king biSway to the War Department ijuite as ignorant of the true cause as any other disappointed guest in the crowd, No one was able to say where the Colonel wa% and even his most intimate fi-itMids were entirely at a loss to explain iiU extra* rdinary absence at such a time. Ho has not been seen or heard of for several days, and the most unpleasant conjectures are afloat regarding his disappearance. One fact only is known, and that is, he was not present to lead his intended bride to the altar. Col. Parker is a descendant of the great Indian chief and warrior Red Jacket, and bears every evidence of his Indian descent, having a dark complexion, a piercing black eye, an oval face, and the characteristic coarse black hair. Miss Sackett is a young lady about nineteen years of age, a pure blonde with brilliant eyes and luxuriant brown hair. She was terribly affected by the singuW event which befel her, and it was with much difficulty her friends consoled her. It transpired yesterday that on the morning of the day appointed for the wedding, Col. Parker met one of hia Indian friends and drank " some" with him, and then became drowsy, went to sleep, and did not wake up for twentyfour hours thereafter. General Grant has taken the matter in hand, and if the Colonel does not make out a good case for himself, and make every possible reparation to the lady whose feelings he has so trifled with, the probabilities are that he will be dismissed from the service.