Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-12-20
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
A Poor but Honest Bus Driver Falls
Heir to S2,OOO,OOO.

Heir to S2,OOO,O00.
From the Kansas City CMo.> Bulletin.l
SOmetimes,we think that after all
the most brilliant noVelists are only
inaccurate historians, in so little do
their most marvellous marvels exceed
the occurrences Of everyday life.
The world Of fact constantly presents
creatures the counterpart of those OF
fiction, and the accurate observer can
only give Dumas, Bulwer, Dickens,
Thackeray and other eOnfreres the
credit Of an observing eye a reten-
tive memory and a skillful pen.
Athos, Porthoe, Aramis, D'AtagnRm,
Napoleon, the brilliant adventurer,
who puts their feats TO shame. The
tanner Of Galena, Englandis Jew Of
destiny, have either had careers as
full of adventure and Of triumph,
have started as Obseurely and reached
as great a political attitude as any of
these. Lord LyttOn's own life is as
full of romance as that of Ernesr Nal
travers or Henry Pelham, Of whom
he wrote. His "Strange Story" was
no fuller of weird horrors than the
memory of thOse-pOssibly some Of
the readers of this paper-who, twen-
ty years ego, visited the house of
Drew Bell, in Montgomery county,
Tennessee. The writer recognizes
the counterpart OF Count Fosco in q
gentleman who has an Office within
stones throw of the old court house.
Thirty years, and perhaps longer, ago,
Joseph Frete dwelt in Dion, in East
ern Franee-JOseph Frete, who, by
the death of his father, had just sue
eeeded to a large wooden manufaetu-
ring busines. His brother Henri, q
few years younger, received only a
minor interest in the business. Soon
after Henri, despite the fierce oppOsi-
ton ofhis brother, married a girl below
them in social position, A bitter
quarrel took place between the
brothers, and the youngest sold his
share in the mandatory, and after q
few years started for America. He
died almost as the ship that was to
convey them to their new home was
entering the port of Boston. The
mother and three little ones-a boy
VIII had been called for his uncle Jo-
seph, in spite Of the quarrel, and two
girls-made their way to Vineennes,
Indiana, where they had distant rela-
tives. The sun did not shine on the
widow and orphans, their means were
scsnt, and unused to the habits and
language Of the people among whom
they were cast, they left behind their
life of ease and comfort, and liv ed as
best they might. Some six months
since, Joseph, now at his majority +,
came west to better if he might their
affairs, in the land where fortunes are
made and lost with more rapidity
than in the east, intending, if he sue
eeeded, to bring his mother and sis
ters out. Kanses City's breast was
cool to him, and by q chance he OBJ
iained situation with w. T. ivy
man of Liberty, Clay county, as bus
driver. In this comparatively humble
position he was faithful and active,
and waited patiently for change in
his fortunes.
A few weeks since the Rev. Antram,
who knew his family in Franco, and
now a resident OF JeffersOnYille In
diana, returned from a visit to his ma
tive country, and seeking Frete out,
informed him that on the 23d Of Oc-
tober his uncle had died integtate,
leaving property to the value of ten
million fracns, or about two million
dollars. AS heirs-at-law, this belongs
to Joseph and his two sisters He
entered into correspond
with attorneys in Dion, and enter
tains no fears bus that their claim
will be made good. He will in few
days leave for Vineennes, and thence
with his mother and sisters leave for
France.
Frete Is rather young man Of pleas
ant appearances, his face bearing an
expression Of the melancholy Of med
ltation, while his eyes are full Of nre,
and the mouth and nose indicate Of q
designed for action. He
talks very intelligently and in good
English.