The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-01
A Life Romance.

Nearly twenty years back there lived
in Rio JaneirO an English merchant,
whose life seemed entirely devoted 10
the pursuit OF fortune, He had come to
Brazil poor, and, by resolutc work and
some luck, acquired competency. This
done, after many vicissitudes, he went
home fora visit. While at home he met
beautiful orphan girl, She was lovely
in mind as in person, and the compass
sion wrought by her iorlom situation in
life soon ripened in our merchants
breast to a warner feeling, In brief, as
the story writer's say, the pair were mar
ried, and returned together to Brazil.
Two children were born to them, and
life glided on for space like single
Summers holiday. Worldly prosperity,
too, still attended the merchant, who
from time to time repeated his visit to
England. On one Of these occasions
strange rumors came to his ears, preiu-
dicinl to his wife. They were little
needed at first, but like the poison of idgo,
soon "burned like the mines of sulphur" ="
BY degrees, suspicion became Jealous
fury, and the wife was directly accused
by her lord of infidelity. The lady be-
ing proud and sensitive to q fault, indig-
nantly denied the charge, challenged her
nccuser to produce evidence, and with
drew rs much MS possible from his So
ciety. 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 wore cold
ly received In time their mutual rela-
tons became unbcarablc to both. A
separation was agreed upon, mn annuity
was settled on the wife, and the day of
welded love that had opened so brightly
ended in darkness and sorrow.
Hcartsick and weary Of old Rssocin-
tions, the merchant wound up his affairs
in Brazil, and came to North America.
Wandering vaguely about in the West,
he sell in with party Of Red River
Traders, md subsequently did n good
deal Of business in and about ST. Paul.
In that town he made many friends,
while avoiding close intimacics, 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 Rs n man
who labored under ineradicable suffer
ing. Thus years rolled on, and the wife
had married ngnin-the terms Of separa-
tion under Brazilian law allowing that
step. She, however, forfeited her an
nuity by it, which proved in the end n
serious misfortune. Her second hus-
BAND was poor, although nm educated
gentleman, fell into bad health, and died
n year or two after The marriage, This
left the wife and her two children in des-
tltutc circumstances, and she scarcely
knew where to turn. She, then, like her
first husband, became nm uneasy wan
derer up nnd down the earth. Led by
some mysterious influences she, too,
cpmc to the United States, and in the
Fall Of 1869 she, too, was in st. Paul.
It is a surprising statement to make, but
therr no doubt of the fact, that the
corl met once more, that the old feel
ing vived, that the Indy conclusively
established her innocence in the mind
Of her husband, that they werc morried
again, and have lived in the utmost fell
city together ever since.