The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-05

to public favor.
Romance in Real Life.
SINGULAR HISTORY OF A TENNESSEE
FAMILY.
One night, about the first of January last,
two young men, living in North Alabama,
were murdered in a shocking and mysterious
manner. They were brothers, and one of
them was married. The latter was seated at
his own fire-side, engaged in reading, when
several men, wearing masks, rode up to the
house and called him to the door. He came,
was shot and severely wounded. He succeed
ed in getting away, and went to the house of
a neighbor, where the assassins found him
very soon after, and going into the room
where he .ay in bed, riddled him with bullets.
The next day the younger brother was found
home.
These young men were born and raised in
Tennessee, and gentleman from Alabama,
who was himself formerly resident of Ten
nessee, gives us the history of their family,
which is quite romantic enough for first
class novel, The story, as told to this report,
runs briefly thus:
"Twenty years ago the Town of Blank, in
Middle Tennessee, was one of the fastest and
most fashionable places of its size in the
South. OF, course, the name of the town was
not Blank, which is merely borrowed for the
occasion. Every other name which appears
in this, eXcep. that of Louisville, will be bor-
rowed for the same purpose. But one real
name will be given. One of the finest plan
tations in the neighborhood of Blank was that
of Mr.. Brown. His residence was one of the
most costly and elegant mansions in the coun-
| ty. But Mr.. Brown took less pride in his
Co Ioon
beautiful daughter, at that time young girl
of not more than sixteen, and the reigning
| belle of the whole neighborhood. He lavish
| ed upon her all that wealth could buy. In
| the Grecian beauty of her face, in the exquis-
| lite grace of her slender form, in the richness
| of her toilettes, in the elegance of her equip
age, and in all else that goes to constitute
queen of society, she was without q
rival. Lovers and admirers focked to her
shrine ffom 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 gay and handsome young lawyer of
Louisville, named Smith. They first met, it
is believed, at watering place in the interior
of this State. In short time they were en-
gagged to be married, and the day was ap-
pointed 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 gentleman had placed his daughter in a
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.
ssNot a af offo, 4,
the heart and hand of Miss Brown was SOUGHT
by wealthy and most worthy young gentle
man, named Jones, who lived in p distant
part of the State. His suit met the hearty
approval of her friends, for he was rich, hand
some, and a thorough gentleman, and in
short time they were married. But the mar
riage was an unhappy one. Mr.. Jones had
large plantation III 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 fathers, where she preferred to stay. in
the enjoyment OF that society and those COM
forts which were net to be found among the
cotton platatiOns of the South. Thus matters
went on for several years, when there came a
divorce suit at the instance of the lady,
though upon what ground our informant
never knew. The divorce was granted, and
| Mrs. Jones resumed her maiden name. 1t
| was believed that neither husband or wife
were much to blame in the matter-that they
were more sinned against than SHINING.
| ga year or two passed by, and young Smith,
who had never forgotten bis love for the beau
| tiiul Tennessean, returned and renewed his
suit-this time with 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 to espouse the cause OF
the South and join the army for her defence.
He became an officer in a cavalry regiment,
and continued in active service until the close
Of the struggle. He then returned to his wife
| in Blank, where he soon after began the prac
| tce of his profession. He returned to find
| that his father-in-law was bankrupt-that
the war had involved him in utter ruin. Very
J soon Mr.. Browns magnificent home was sold,
and he removed to Blank with bis family, con-
sisting then of his wife and two sons-,be
two young men who were recently murdered
in North Alabama. Soon after his removal TO
Blank from his old home, five miles distant,
Mr.. Brown died, leaving his wife almost or
quite penniless. About the same time the
Two boys removed to Alabama, and Mrs.
Brown was left alone with Mr.. and Mrs.
| Smith.
They lived in an elegant two-story cottage
in the suburbs of Blank. Early one morn
ing, in the summer of 1867, Mr.. Smith was
iouuu lying at MS front door quite dead. The
weather was exceedingly warm at the time,
and 1t was supposed that he had seated him
self In the window of his room in the upper
story, that he had gone to sleep while seated
| there, and had fallen to the ground, breaking
| his neck. Another period OF two years went
| the way Of all the other years of the life of
| this young widow, still as beautiful as ever,
| though saddened and subdued by the clouds
which had swept across her pathway. And
| then the most singular event in this singular
| story came to pass.
Mr.. Jones, the first-husband, who had new
| er ceased to love The woman from whom he
had been separated by decree of the law.
returned to Blank and proposed a second
marriage. The proposition was accepted. and
some time last Spring the marriage took
place, the divorced husband and wife REUTER-
ing with warmer hearts and firmer faith those
vows OF love and constancy which once be-
fore they had uttered in vain. Six or
eight months after this came the murder of
the lady's two brothers by unknown assassins,
thus ending story than which very few in
real life are more romantic or more curious
| Louisville Courier.