The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1858-02-25
A Romance of Real Life

The following incident, which we extract
from the Journal, published at Bucvrus
Crawford county, Ohio, claimed TO lie strict.
ly true, possesses sufficient romance to make
half dozen novels H .... s."I
In Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, seven
years ago, lived wealthy farmer. who was
blessed with family Of six children. the
eldest OF which was beautiful girl of six.
teen summers. young man in the leigh.
borhood, OF good family, feigned attachment
to her. Young and inexperienced. she fell
into the snare set for her. Shortly after,
her ruin WAS accomplished the young man
fearing the wrath of her father when the
consequence of his villainy should become
apparent, absconded. ~ . e-se.s-s.. ...
The young girl now felt the full horror of
her situation, which she could conceal bnt
short time, and her destroyer had fled. She
could not, dared not, endure the shame and
repronch that would attach to her when
all should be discovered She determined
upon leaving tie country also, aud, prefer.
ring to be considered as dead, matured a
plan to cheat her parents into belief that
she had been drowned. A creek ran
through her fathers farm and emptied into
the Susquehanna, short distance away.-
AT this time Of the year, (spring,) IL was
swollen BY fresbets, and il was dangerous TO
venture upon the frnil bridge of plank that
had been thrown across it. One evening.
when the water was very high, she propos.
ed going to neighbor's who lived across
the creek. Her father objected on ,he
ground Of danger. but insisting that she
could get over safely, she seized her bonnet
and started. She bad previously secreted n
few articles of clothing outside, which she
took with her. ssr'a 1a i
Arriving at the bridge, she threw her
bonnet into the stream, well knowing that
it would be caught on the bushes that over.
hung the stream, and burrying on, soon
gained The road, and walked away in the
direction of Harrisburg The CONSERVATION
of the family, after the lapse of two hours,
may be imagined. One went to the house
she had started for, but she had not been
there. 1t was supposed Immediately that
she had fallen off the bridge Search was
made, and her bonnet was found lodged on
some overhanging willows. Sadly they re.
tnrned to their .bereaved home Doubt was
at an end. She had fallen from the frail
bridge, and had been drowned, and her
body carried by the angry food into the
river. Shortly after her supposed death,
her father, whose mind was troubled by the
event, wishing oleave the scene Of his af
Fiction, sold bis farm and removed to this
county.
Ie the meantime she had reached Harris
burg, taken the cars West, and, ia !. few
days, found herself at the only tavern in
secluded village In the inferior of Michigan.
The landlady was kind hearted woman,
and a. that particular time WINS in need of
an assistant. She heard the story of the
poor girl, sympathized with her, and, liking
her appearance, insisted on her making that
her home. In this house she passed six
years Of contentment. Her hostess intro
daced her as a widow she gained friends,
and received many advantageous offers Of
marriage. g's.
One morning, about six months ago, she
WAS 10 The sitting room when the stage
drove up. The windows Of the coach were