Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-10-23
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
TWENTY YEARS IN wA,r1So-ARARE INSTANCE
QE QQNarANCY AND nEYnrIh>f

ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE:
TWENTY YEARS IN wA1r1No-AnARE INSTANCE
OF ooNsrANcY AND DEVOTION.
Years ago, in Kent County, Nd. resided a
prosperous farmer, who numbered, among his
family, bright little girl Of three or four Sum.
mers, and lad about six years older, the latter
oi whom he had taken to raise. Between this
youthful pair, a childish intimacy sprang mp,
which advancing years served TO strengthen and
increase until they reached the years of man.
hood and womsnhood. when their trotL was
plighted, and the day Of their union ioyousv
looked forward TO, by two happy hearts,
In 1S4S, when the California gold fever was
spreading like wildfre over the entire East, our
|hero. among Others was seized with the malady
and, despite his home connections, and the fond
eltreaties Of his almost bride, decided to bid
adieu to home and friends, for a few wears, and
seek his fortune in this great I'll Dorado OF the
far West No amount Of persuasion could in.
duce him to abandon the project, and hastily
making preparations, he babe adicu to the
weeping maiden, assured her of his undying
devotion and eternal constancy, and departed on
his long and perilous journey.
-Four years passed BY, without any tidinps o,
the absent one, and the conclusion was finally
reached that he had fallen victim to the many
perlls that then beset that region, and he was
motlrned for as one dead. During this interval,
the farmer had moved TO Wilmington and estab.
iished himself in business here. Among the
circle Of acquaintances which the family drew
around them. was young man Of good connec.
lions and industrious habits, who soon became
enamored Of our heroine, and proposed for her
hand in marriage Though her heart was still
faithful 10 her lost lover she enertaine. feelings
OF the utmost respect for this latter suitor, and
yielding to the solicitations Of parents and
friends, she decided to accept him, and the day
for the marriage was appointed.
Almost on the eve Of the wedding day, when
al preparations had been completed, and
without wori Of previous warning, the first
lover appeared on the scene rejoicing thai he
had safely reached home toclaim hi, bride His
gr'ei and astonishment on discovering the state
OF Affairs can better be imagined than described.
bnt, with nobility of mind and character that
's seldom met with, he acknow lodged to the
maiden. who would gladly have returned TO her
hearts allegiance, that such state of affairs
was produced by his unlover like negligence in.
not acquainting her Of his continued existence
and bravely sitting his inclinaiions, lie obeyed
the stern behests Of duty and returned to his
Western home
The marriage ceremony was performed. and
since then years OF welded happiness have been
enjoyed by the then dsconsolate maiden. who.
altnough her heart was another's, possessed the
home and family, found solace for her vonthfnl
grief. Children have been born to her. until
now the comely maiden is a staid matron' with
blooming daughters, the counterpart of the
mothers former SELF About two years ago her
husband died, thus forming another link in The
chain OF curious circumstances which We are
briefly choniclng.
During all this time the absent lover remain.
ed in California, where he succeeded in amassinc
quite handsome fortune. Occasionally. hnt
very rarely, he would communicate by mai.
with his Eastern friends. A short time apo. in
with his brother in this city. in
reference to some business affairs, he casually
inquired for his former love, as to whether her
marital relations were OF happy character
Back went the answer, "She has been a widow
for two years."
Three weeks ago. stranger arrived In this
city, and stopped at the Washington Honse
lnquiring for City Directory, he eagerly |
Its pages, until his eye alghted upon
me name for which he was searching, when he
Immediately seized his hat and started for the
place OF residence deslgnated. What the emo
lions ofour hero-for it is needless for M 10 sav
NAT the stranger was none other than he-mnst
nave been, as he stood upon the steps of the
residence, and rang the bell, it is hard to imag-
ne. Aiter twenty years Of patient, constant
ieyotion. he once more appeared among the
Genes Of his youthful days, TO stand again
n the presence Of the object Of his life's afiac.
ions, and sue for the happiness which cruel
ate had SO long denied him. The door was
pened by the widow herself who however
allied TO recognize, in the bronzed and bearded
lranger who stood before her, the one mpon
7hom the affections Of her youth had hean
avlshly bestowed. But when he addressed her
he we'll remembered voice, from which the
,usical cadence Of youth had not vet departed
aused memory to flash rapidly back throngh
II the long years which had elapsed, and The
acognition was instantaneous and complete:
But little more remains to be told. Yesterday
forming, our now happy and conten,ed hero.
rcompanied by his equally joyous bride and
er four children, started for his Western home
lere we leave him, with the sincere hone that
consistency and devotion SO rare will be re.
arsled by its full mele of wifely devotion and
omestic happiness
In conclusion, and TO show that this sketch is
hight OF iancy,' We republish the following
arriage noticetake from yesterdays 8 GAzErTs
cling sure that all who recognize the chief ,
.aracters of our sketch, will join with rs in
lshlng them all the happiness Imaginable
: sr,kIkKMAN.-ln Philadelphia. Oct. Il I
by ker: MIR. Mason, Mr.. Samuel Bowers OF Enrbes :
?l, iomil, Butte county. California, to Mrs Mary n |
\ rkman. Of Wilmington, Del. s' -
hent News please copy.