Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-13
A LIFE ROMANCE.


/ tnctb VI IN 6hkhA.n
From the New York Times.l
Two persons lately sailed from New
York for Europe whose history is so
strange that but for proof not to be
gainsaid, it might even be thought in
credible. No wild romance devised by
the most cunning weaver of sensational
plots can surpass this history for tri-
nmph over time, space, and the ordinary
rules Of probability. Again promising
that the history is well authenticated we
proceed to tell it.
Nearly twenty years back there lived
in Rio Janeiro an English merchant,
whose life seemed entirely devoted to
the pursuit of fortune. He had come to
Brazil, and by resolute work and some
luck he acquired competency. This
done, after many vicissitudes, he went
home for visit. While at home he met
a beautiful orphan girl. She was lovely
in mind as in person, and the conpas-
sion wrought by her forlorn situation in
life soon ripened in our merchants
breast to a warmer feeling. In brief, as
the story writers say, the pair were mar
ried, and returned together to Brazil.
Two children we're born to them, and life
glided on for space like single sum
mer's holiday Worldly prosperity, too,
still attended the merchant, who from
time to time repeated his visit to Eng
land On one of these occasions
strange rumors came to his ears, preju-
dicial to his wife. They were little
needed at first, but like the poison OF
lago, soon burned like the mines of
sulphur" By degrees suspicion became
jealous fury, and the wife was directly
accused by her lord Of in6delity. The
lady being proud and sensitive to fault,
Indignantly denied the charge, challeng-
ed her accuser to produce evidence and
withdrew as much as possible from his
society. The tender affection of former
days now gave place to indifference and
almost aversion. No guilt could be
fixed on the wife, but some efforts made
by the husband for reconciliation we're
coldly received. In time their mutual
relations became unbearable to both
A separation was agreed upon, an annu-
ity was settled upon the wife, and the
day Of welded love that had opened so
brightly ended in darkness and sorrow.
Heartsick and weary of old associa-
tons, the merchant wound up his affairs
in Brazil, and came to North America.
Wandering vaguely about in the West,
he fell in with party of Red river
traders, and subsequently did good
deal of business in and about St. Paul.
In that town he made many friends,
while avoiding close intimacies, and was
notable for his grave taciturnity and the
strict honor of all his dealings. he re-
fused invariably to mingle in any social
pleasures whatever, and impressed all
who came in contact with him as a man
who labored under ineradicable suffer
ing. Thus years rolled on, and the wife
had married again-the terms of separa-
ton under Brazilian law allowing that
step. She, however, forfeited her annu-
ity by it, which proved in the end Sc
rious misfortune. Her second husband
was poor, although an educated gentle
man; fell into bad health, and died a
year or two after the marriage. This
left the wife and her two children in
destitute circumstances, and she scarce
ly knew where to turn. She, then, like
her first husband, became an un-
easy wanderer up and down the earth.
Led by some mysterious influences.
she, too, came to the United States,
and in the fall Of 1859 she, too, was
in St. Paul. 1t is a surprising state
ment to make, but there is no doubt of
the fact, that the couple met once more,
that the old feeling revived, that the lady
conclusively established her innocence
in the mind of her husband that thew
were married again, and have lived in
the utmost felicity together ever since.
Roehefoucauld says that a love re
chdufe is Of no value, but here is d.
rect case to the contrary, defying all
likelihood and exploding cynical cpl
grams. With an ample fortune, and we
hope, both wiser for their painful expe
rience, the twice-wedded pair have once
more sailed across the sea to settle down
for the remainder of life in their old
home.
Ii would puzzle the incest calculator
of chances 10 determine the precise |
ratio OF probability that so singular an |
event as this should occur When we |
remember the very small proportion of |
like separations that are followed by re-
union at all, the fact that the reunion in |
this case was effected in another coun-
try, and ten thousand miles away from
the place Of parting, and that a second |
marriage on the part Of the woman in
tervened, with fresh impediment, and |
complications-thi story must certainly |
be pronounced one Of the most striking |
and extraordinary ever recorded.