Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-12
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
singular History of n TENNESSEE
tif Family. h'."H '-

t Family. hP-"h ''N
From the Louisville Couricr.l a2Hnmrol DhA
y One night about the first January last
two young men living in North Alabama
were murdered in very shocking and
mysterious manner. They were broth
ers, and one of them was married The
latter was seated at his own fireside, en-
gagged reading. when several men wear
ing masks rode up 10 the house and
called him to the door. He came, and
was shot and severely wounded. He
succeeded in getting away, however, and
went to the house of neighbor, where
the assassins found him very soon after
and going into the room where he lay
in bed, riddled him with bullets. The
next day the younger brother was found
dead in a sink-hole some two miles from
home. wa hbpnaiGga49n 9Hi W. iDi.
These young men were born and raised
in Tennessee, and a gentleman from Al
bama, who was himself formerly a resi-
dent of Tennessee, gives us the history
of their family, which is quite romantic
enough for q 6rstclass novel. The
story, as told to this report, runs briefly
thus: IT,
Twenty years ago the town of Blank
in Middle Tennessee, was one Of the fast
est and most fashionable places of its
size in the South. OF course, the name
of the town was not Blank, which is
merely borrowed forthe occasion. Every
other name which appears in this, ex,
cept that of Louisville, will be borrowed
for the same purpose. But one real
name will be given. One Of the finest
plantations in the neighborhood of Blank
was that of Mr. Brown. His residence
was one of the most elegant and costly
in the county. But Mr.. Brown took less
pride in his splendid farm and beautiful
home than in his beautiful daughter, at
that time young girl of not more than
sixteen, and the reigning belle of the
whole neighborhood. He lavished upon
her all that wealth could buy. In the
Grecian beauty of her face, in the ex-
quisite grace of her slender form, in the
richness of her toilettes, in the elegance
of her equipage, and in all else that goes
to constitute a queen of society, she was
without rival, Lovers and, admirers
fiocked to her shrine from every quarter.
Some Of these were rich, and few or none
were poor But their wooing was in
vain. They came, and wooed, and went,
leaving her still in maiden meditation,
fancy-free. This, however, could not
last always. In about the fourth or fifth
year Of her reign, as an unmarried belle,
She met a gay and handsome young law
yer of Louisville named Smith.ad w l..g
They first met, it is believed, at a
watering in the interior of this
State. In short time they were en-
gagged to be married, and the day was
appointed for the event to take place.
But it would seem that the appointment
was made without the consent of Mr..
Brown, for when young Smith reached
Blank for the purpose Of fulfilling his
engagement he found that the old gentle
man had placed his daughter in carriage
and quietly carried her beyond the limits
of the State. Young Smith returned to
Kentucky, and nothing more was heard
of him in Blank for six or eight years
'"Not q great while after the above in
cident the heart and hand of Miss Brown
were sought by wealthy and trustworthy
Young gentleman named Jones, who lived
in distant part of the State. His suit
met the hearty approval Of her friends
for he was rich, handsome, and a thor
ough gentleman, and IN short time
they were married. But the marriage
was an unhappy one. Mr.. Jones had a
large plantation in one of the cotton
States. and his business interests required
that he should spend much of his time
there and this he is said to have done,
leaving his wife at her father $, where she
preferred TO stay, in the enjoyment of
that society and those comforts which
were not to be found among the cotton
plantations of the South. Thus matters
went on for several years, when there
came divorce suit at the einstance of the
lady, though upon what grounds he
never knew The divorce was granted,
and Mrs, Jones resumed, her maiden
name. II was believed that neither
husband nor wife were much to blame in
the matter; that they were more sinned
against than SHINING. r, alt f4l
"a year or two passed By, and young
Smith, who had never forgotten his love
for the beautiful Tennessean, returned !
ana renewed MS Sull-tulS biluC win
much better success, for there was no
formidable opposition, if any at all, and
he and Miss Brown were married.
@And then the war came on. Young
Smith was among the first 20 espouse the
cause Of the South and join the army
for her defense. He became an officer /
in a cavalry regiment, and continued in
active service until the close of the strug-
gle. He then returned to his wife in
Blank, where he soon after began the (
practice of his profession. He returned |
to 6nd that his father-in7law was a bank
rupt-that the war had involved him in (
utter ruin. u ~.
Very soon Mr.. Browns magnificent .
home was sold. and he removed TO Blank 4
with hts family. consisting then of his +
wife and two sons-the two young men
who were recently murdered in North .
Alabama. Soon after his removal TO .
Blank from his old home. sFe miles dis
tant, Mr.. Brown died. leaving his wife .
almost or quite penniless About the
A T.