Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-12-08
From the Chicago Daily Chronicle.
4 Bit of Romance,

1t is a trite, but at the same lime true remark,
that real incid ents of life constantly occurring
around us, possess far more romantic interest
than the ianCilul ones conceived in the teeming
brain Of the novelist. OF this the following
"o'er true taIe," told US in brief by the steward
Of the packet boat Louisiana, on Saturday, will
furnish an illustration.
Some ten years ago, as our readers will re-
member, there was wha! was termed rebellion
in Canada, and after the "Patriots" were subdu-
ed, some were summarily executed, and a por-
ton banished for long term of years TO Aus
tralia. Most Of these latter were men with fam
lilies, from which they were torn wthoutmercy,
TO expiate in a far distant land, by Imprisonment
and hard labor, the crime Of having failed in
their attempt 10 rid their country Of the evils OF
misgoyernment. We think they acted very un-
wisely in proceeding 10 the length they did, bu,
this point we shall not stop to consider. With
one Of those expalriated men our tale has chiefly
10 do.
For seven or eight weary years he had borne
the hardships of a lone captivity, hopeless o
ever seeing home or friends again, when gen.
eral amnesty was proclaimed by the British Gov
ernment in regard 10 all, with one or two excep'
tions, of those who had been concerned in the
rebellion. Our hero was now al liberty, and his
first thought was to seek his home. But he had
no means TO pay his passage there, and he ac'
cordingly shipped on board whaling vessel
which al the end Of TWO years more landed him
upon his native shore.
Wife, children, and friends filled his thoughts
and he hastened on to his old residence in Can.
poI boA
neighbors and friends greeted him as he passed
but how his heart sunk within him TO fud tn;
homestead deserted, and learn that his wife haC
been married two years 10 another, supposinl
the "husband of her youth" to be dead. She
and her new found mate had left that part of the
country and settled somewhere in Illinois.
The poor man felt desolate indeed, and he de-
termned to see, and, If possible TO reclaim his
wife and children. After weary travel, and ma
ny inquiries, he traced her to Knox county, Hi
nois, where they were comfortably settled ii
their new home. There he presented himselfa
few days since. The wife could not have beer
more surprised or panied to see an aPparlior
from the grave, for she had long considered hin
as dead, the new husband, too was rather dlsa
greeably surprised to see before him clalman
| for his wife. What should be done! The frs
husband was anxious to obtain the lady; the Sc
cond was dsincined to give her up, looking up
on his ''claim'' as good.
They were reasonable people all round. The
original claimant remained in the neighborhooC
a couple of weeks, during which time the mat
ter was frankly talked over. At last the rivals
came to the very just and rational conclusion
thas the lady was the person to make final de
cision Of the question, and toher it was mutual
ly agreed to refer it, giving her time to conside
ii in all its bearings.
: What more perplexing position could wo
man be placed in than this! Here TWO men ha
almost equal claims upon her affections. On
was the father of all her children but ono--th
companion of her youth--the other bound
her by near and sacred ties, and by the mutu0
love they bore an infant that had been born
, them. She could not for 4 mcmcnl decide