Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-04-11
FROM THE CHICAGO DEMOCRAT.
A BIT OF ROMANCE.

that the real Incidents of life, constantly around us
possess lar more romantic interest than fanciful
ones conceived in the tec,nng brain of the novests
vi ihls the oer true tae," told us in brief by the
steward of the packet boat Louisiana on SATURDAY.
VIII furnish an illustration.
! Sone ten years ago. readers will remem-
Der, there was what was termed a rebellion i'm Can
ada, alter the "patrots" were subdued some were
summarlly executed, and portion banished for a
long term of years to Australia Most of these lat
ter, were men with families, from whom they were
torn without mercy, to eXpiate, in far distant land
| by Imprisonment and hard labor, the crime of hay
ing failed In the attempt to rid their country of the
evil of disagreement. We think they acted very
| unwisely In proceeding to the length they did but
this point we shall not stop to consider With one
OF the eXpatriated men tale has briefly to d.
For seven eight years he had borne the ha rships
of lonely captivity, hopeless of ever seeing home
| or friends again, when general amnesty was pro-
claimed by the British government in regard TO all
with one or two exceptions of those who had been
concerned in the rebellion. Our hero was now at
liberty and his first thought was TO seek his home
But he had no means to pay his passage there, and
he accordingly shipped on board whaling vessel,
which at the end of two years more, landed him
upon his native shore.
Wife, children and friends, filled his thoughts,
and he FASTENED to his old residence in Canada
Everything remained as it had been-frends and
neghbors greeted him as he passed-but now his
serted, and to learn that his wife had been married
TWO years TO another, surprising the "husband of her
youth to be dead She and her new found mate
had left that part of the country and settled some
where in Illinois
The poor man felt desoate indeed, and determn-
ed to see, and, If possible, to reclaim her. After
weary travel, ana many enquiries, he traced her to
Knox county, Illinois, where they were comfortably
settled in their new home. There he presented
himself few days since. The wife could not have
been more surprised panied to see an appariton
from the grave for she had long considered him as
dead. The new husband, too, rather disa-
greeably surprised TO see before him claimant for
his wife, What should be done? The first hus-
band was anxious To obtain the lady-the second
was disincllned 10 give her up, looking upon his
claim good.
They were reasonable people all around. The
original claimant remained in the neighborhood two
weeks, during which time the matter was frankly
talked over. At last the rivals came to the wise
conclusion that the lady was the proper person ia
make final decision of the question: and 10 her il
was mutually agreed to refer it, giving her time to
consider it in all its bearings.
w hat more PerpeXing position could woman
be placed in than this? Here two men had almost
equal claims upon her affections One was the
father OF her children-but one-the companion of
her youih-the other, bound to her by near and sa-
cred ties, and by the mutual love they bore an in
FAINT which had been born TO them. She could not
LOT moment detlde-what true-hearted woman
could2 A tumult of thoughts and emotions filled
her heart, alternately swaying her from side to
side. Thus the conflict lasted for several days, du.
ring which time she was enabled to look into her
heart, and at last she ready for decision-
| Which could she choose but the man around whom
was twined the tendrs of first and strong affec.
tion-to whom she had given the first Offering of
the heart. The needle may vihrate for time, but
itpoints with unfailing constancy to the never set
| ting star of the Norlh-and in like manner, the
heart of true woman having in the wide universe
but one fitting mate, will, after vicissitudes, TURF
lovingly to the sunny warmth of her ''first, onl,
love"
| disposition of the youngest must now be made
and it was mutually agreed by the two men tina
as it could not be deprived of mothers care, tn,
first husband should take it along with the children
to be restored to the father at some future time
The united family now made preparations to 90 {,
new home, and great was the interest avoi.a.
in the ncighborhood by this singular affair. tina, a.
many as one hundred and fifty persons from the Vi
clnity were present 10 witness their departure. On
Saturday last they up on the packet Louisiana
on their way 20 Michigan, where they will take IL,
their residence. We naturally sympa,hize will
the first husband to whom the wife and chdre,
are restoTed-but who will not feel for the bereave
inent of the second.