Question

Article on ''Modern Romance'' Class 9 from 'Best Seller'

Answer 1

                                             A Modern Romance

Some say that the age of chivalry is past, that the spirit of romance is dead. The age of chivalry is never past, so long as there are people like John A. Pescud. He epitomizes the essence of ‘Romance’, supposed to have died with the Romantic Age. The compellingly interesting love story of this man is so interesting that it reminds us of the stories of some of the Best Seller books such as Twelfth Night, Tempest, As You Like It, Tess of D’ Urbervilles, Adam Bede, The Rose Lady and Trevelyan, etc.

Travelling salesman for a plate-glass company by profession, one will find it hard to think such a man as him could harbor any romantic feelings in his commercial chest. However, this man’s tale of romance is exceedingly intriguing. Once while travelling to Cincinnati for some business, he descried an extremely charming girl with whom he fell in love on first sight. He strongly felt she was the soul mate he had been looking for. He forgot his business engagement and travelled up to Virginia, changing trains at Cincinnati, Shelbyville, and Powhatan, following her in hope of having a word with her. As he followed her up to her house at the top of the hill, he was daunted by the mansion she entered with her father.  

He decided to stay at Birchton and try his luck with the lady who he had followed from Pittsburgh. Next morning he had his luck. While hanging around her big, stately mansion, he found her alone in the garden. John started conversation pretending he was a stranger. However, the lady, Jessie revealed him she knew he had been chasing her from Pittsburgh.

John bared his soul to her and expressed his intention of courting her. To this she responded by suggesting him to meet his Colonel father. John paid a visit to Colonel Allyn to seek his consent to the proposal to his daughter, Jessie. It was after 45 minutes that his bell was answered. The strict-looking father took him inside. They had a long conversation. John’s honesty, sincerity, and passion not only won the father’s heart, but Jessie’s also. The father happily gave his consent to their wedding. They were happily married. The most interesting thing about him is he still loves her with the same intensity. Who says ‘the age of chivalry is past, that the spirit of romance is dead?’