Democratic banner., 1848-11-13
TER MSS:
From the Chicago Tribune.
A RARE BIT OF ROMANCE.

remember, there was what was termed a
"rebellicn" ia Canada, and after the 'Pat-
riots were subdued, some were summary
executed, and a portion banished for a long
term Of years to Austria. Most Of these
latter were men Of families, from which
they were torn without mercy, to expiate
in a far distant land, BY imprisonment and
hard labor, the crime Of having fallen in
their attempt to rid their country of the
evils of disagreement. We think they
acted very unwisely in proceeding 10 the
extremes they did, but this point we will
not stop to consider. With one of these ex-
patriated men our tale has chiefly to do.
For seven or eight weary years he had
borne the hardships of q lonely captivity,
hopeless of ever seeing home or friends
again, when a general amnesty was pro-
claimed by the British Government in re-
gard to all, with one or two exceptions, Of
those who had been concerned in the re-
bellion. Our hero was now at liberty, and
his first thought was to seek his home
But I've had no means to pay his passage
there, and he accordingly shipped on board
a whaling vessel, which, at the end Of two
years more,' landed kim upon his native
shore.
Wife, children, and friends filled his
thoughts, and he hastended on to his old
residence IN Canada. Every thing re-
manned as it had been-friends and neigh
bors greeted him as he passed along-but
how his heart sunk within him to find his
homestead deserted, and to learn that his
wife had been married two years to anoth-
or. surprising the husband of her youth to
be dead. She and her new found mate had
LETT that part Of the couRtry and settled
somewhere in Illinois.
The poor man felt d~esolate indeed, and
he determined to see and, il possible, to re-
claim his wife and children. After weary
travel and many inquiries, he traced them
to Knox county, Illinois, where they were
comfortably settled in their new home
There he presented himself a few days
since. The wife could not have been more
surprised to see a m apparition from the
grave, for she long considered him as dead.
The new husband, too, was rather disa-
greeably surprised to see before him a
claimant for his wife. What should be
done? The first husband was anxious to
obtain the lady, the second was disinclined
to give her up, looking upon his claim as
good.
They were reasonable people all around.
The original claimant remained in the
nsighborhood a couple of weeks, during
which time the matter was frankly talked
over. At last the rivals came to the very
Just and rational conclusion, that the lady
was the proper person to make a final de-
cision of the question, and to her it was
mutually agreed to refer it, giving her time
to consider it in all its bearings.
What more perplexing position could a
woman be placed in than that? Here were
two men with almost equal claims upon her
affections. Ona was the father of all her
children but one, the companion of her
youth-the other bound to her heart by near
and sacred ties, and by the mutual love
they bore an infant that had been born to
them. She could not for a time decide
what true-hearted woman could? A tn.
multi Of thoughts and emotions filed her
heart, alternately swaying her from side to
side. Thus the conflict lasted for several
days, during which time she was enabled to
look clearly into her own heart, and at
last she was ready for a decision.
Which could she choose but the man
around whom were entwined the tendrils
Of a first and strong affection, to whom che
had given the first offerings Of her heart {?
The needle may vibrate for a time, but it
points At last with unfailing conssancy to
the never setting star of the north; and In
like manner the heart Of a true woman,
~ Q 70 aEL-a VA