The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-03-31
Mrs. Gaincs---RCal Romance.

Since the recent decision Of the L. $. ST.
preme Court, Mrs. GAINES is undoubtedly
The heroine of the day. u she ever gets
possession of her estate, she will be mon
eyed AUToCRAT and person of real power.
Her character is undoubtedly an extraordi-
nary one, but the following narrative from
a Deldrrdfe paper-the home of her child
hood-presents facts more romantic than are
woven in half Of the novels of WALTER
SCoTs;
As the case of this extraordinary woman
has for a long time past excited the lD,ere j
of the people OF this country, we think it
will not be unntcresting to give our readers
slight sketch of her early life. Mira
Clark, NOW Mrs. Gaines,) who is well
known to our citizens, having resided in
Delaware, was born in New Orleans, her
father, Daniel Clark, (well known in the
political and commercial history of Louis
lana. being partner OF Col. Davis. of New
castle county. Her father died, and when
only few months old she was adopted by
Col. Davis, and brought up as his child
\ man by the name of Ralph DESTROYED her
whole immense property of her father, con-
sistng of nearly the whole of the new part
OF New Orleans, (at that time worth fre
millions If dollars, and now " o iii niuch
more). She lived III entire ignorance of her
par entage for a long time. The first idea
she had OF her parentage was, being tauIIt-
ed by a girl at school with the fact that Col.
Davis was not her father. Afterwards she
discovered it from sOme papers which she
found while locking for some documents
which she was to send TO the Colonel al
Harrisburg, they at that time living in
Pennsylvania. Some time afterwards she
visited the Sulphur Springs, Virginia, and
while there, on account of her carriage
breaking, she became acquainted with a
young man named VIM. Whitney, son
of Gen. Whitney Of New York. Soon af-
forwards he visited her in Philadelphia. but
the Colonel not approving the match, he
was forbid the house. Col. Davis soon after
moved TO Delamore place near Wilmington.
and Miss Clark not being permitted to sec
her lover, she correspondent with him. TIC
prevent detection. her letters were directed
to Miss Mary Ann Williamson, (now the
wife Of Rev. Cory Chambers, of this CITY !
daughter of our late Mayor and Postmaster
she carefully keeping the secret, and pune.
tually delivering the letters into the hand.
of Miss Clark, and sending hers TO Mr.
Whitney in return. Miss Clark was by
this time fully acquainted with her paren.
taCe and the immense estates of her father
At last she received n letter fom Mr. Whit.
ney, urging her by all she held true, and tn,
love she bore him, TO elope with him. The
plan was laid aud the time fixed. MIR
Whitney was to be at New Castle, where
she was TO join him. None was let in til,
secret but Miss Williamson. To proven
detection Miss Clark called all the dogs to-
gethcr about Col. Davis place that evening
put them into an building, and locke,
them all up,
At last the night came and terrible one
it was too; the wind howled, the rain pour
ed in torrents, and the darkness was onl,
now and then illuminated by fearful ilashc
of lightning. Undauntcdby the raging el
ements, Miss Clark stepped from her bed
room on the balcony, and by means of {
piller OF the balcony or rope managed [,
reach the ground in safety, and immediate
ly ran as fast os she could to Wilmington
1t was fearful night for girl so small, $,
young and delicate, TO venture abroad alon,
and unattended. On her way. if possible
the rain became heavier, and the flashes o
Tightening more vivid. At last she reachc,
the residence of Mr.. Williamson, drcnchc,
with rain, and the top of her bandbox bca
in by the violence of the storm. Miss vii
hanson was waiting alone in the passage {,
receive her; the low knock at the door wa
given, the key softly turned, the door open
ed, and Miss Clark, pulled of her little XII,
slippers, which were wet through, softly as
cended the stars. so MS not TO alarm the res
Of the family. The ladies employed them
selves until morning in drying Miss Clark
clothes. At the fist dawn'of morning the,