The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-05-25
A Bit of Romance. (

iuS story, WHICH, II true, furnishes q spec
tacle of genuine virtue, in real life, in COM
Rarison with which the exhibitions Of the
novelist are altogether insignificant. Such
conduct IS its own sweet reward: -
"Five or six years ago, rich Louisiana
planter died, leaving an only heir, a daugll-
ter, who was not quite seventeen years Old
She, together with her fortune, was placed
in the charge of guardian, who was dis
family related TO the family. Her fortune
and her remarkable beauty attracted the at
tention Of many suitors, among whom was
an accomplished young man from St. Louis,
whose only wealth was his profession. His
handsome person and fascinating manners
won the lady's affections, and. without the
knowledge of her guardian, they were pri-
vately married. Shortly afterward they
moved to St. Louis, where they lived to-
gether happily for a time, and bright flu
ture seemed to be before them. At the ex-
piration of year, the lady having attained
her majority, they returned to New Orleans
to claim her fortune and live in the splendid
old family mansion. They were coldIy re-
celved by the occupant, who deliberately
informed them that the estate had passed
into other hands. They at once applied to
the law for redress, and going through the
protracted forrnalties of two or three fruit
less suits, they were left pcnniless, and OBJ
liged to abandon the case. Friendless and
dispirited, they returned to St. Louis, where
the husband, like many other husbands,
tried to drown the remembrance of his dis
appointment i'll the fatal cup. His wife en-
treated and admonished in vain. A separ-
alton was the consequence, and the husband
became more reckless and dissipated than
ever. Driven at last to desperation, the
wife applied for divorce, obtained it, and
retired to convent. This restored the
wretched man to his senses; he abandoned
his former associates, returned to the paths
Of virtue, and became an industrious and re-
spectacle citizen.
"a few months ago, the lady received a
letter from the son of her former guardian,
informing her of his fathers death, of his
inheritance of the estate, and of his deter
mination to make full restoration, closing
with an appeal to her to forgive his misgui.
ded parent and to come to New Orleans
and enjoy her fortune. She at once COM
piled with the generous request; and all her
inheritance, together with the accumulated
interest, was restored to her.
"Now comes the strangest part of this
most extraordinary affair. The Young man
offered her his hand in marriage, and plead
with all the earnestness of impassioned love-
He reminded her of all their childish at
tachment, of his deep anguish when she be-
came the wife Of another, of the long years
of his silent sorrow. ALI these remen,bran-
ces came up before her mind, and gratitude
plead eloquently in his favor; but at last
the wife triumphed over the woman. She
thanked him, and gave him her simple bles-
sing told him that she had loved but one,
and could never love another; and entreat.
ed him to take back all her fortune, and
permit her to return to the convent. Find
ing her resolution unalterable, the young
man consented, on condition that she would
postpone her return one month. He imme-
diately wrote to the former husband, who
was ignorant Of what had transpired, offer
ing him a first-rate situation, on condition
that he would come Immediately. The let
: ter WAS signed BY the principal: of a we'll
known firm, who'gas apptissd Of every cir
cumstance in, the case. AS soon as the let
ter came to hand, the oveIoyed recipient
took passage forNew Orleans He present
ed himself at the place designated in the
letter, and at once made himself known by
showing his credentials. He was conducted
to the residence of the generous heir, where,
D. fheAwas informed, the writer of the letter
3 waited to receive him. His name was an.
nounced, and he was conducted into an Gle.
!, CANT parlor, and there, alone, he met the
3 woman whom he had npolat.ted and diehon.