Smyrna times., 1872-10-30
From the Delaware Gazette of the 23d ins
Romance in Real Life.
TWENTY YEARS IN WAITING-A RARE INSTANCE
OF CONSTANCY AND DEVOTION.

OF CONsTANCY AND DEVOTION.
Years ago, in Kent County, Md, resided a
prosperous farmer, who numbered. among his
family bright little girl Cf three or four Sum
mers, and lad about six years older, the latter
Of whom he had taken to raise. Between this
youthful pair childish intimacy sprang up,
which advancing years served to strengthen and
increase until they reached the years of man
hood and wOmanhoOd, when their trOth was
pightcd and the day of their union ioyously
looked forward to- by two happy hearts.
In 1913, when the California gold fever was
spreading like wildfre over the entire East, our
hero, among others, was seized with the malady,
aud, plte his home connections, and the fond
entreatieS of his almost BRIDE decided to bid
adieu to home and friends, for few years, and
seek his fortune in the great FL Dorado of the
! far West. No amount of persuasion could in
duce him to abandon the project, and hastily
making preparations, he babe adeu 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 tidings of
the absent one, and the conclusion was finally
reached that he lad fallen u victim to the many
pers that then beset that region, and he was
mOurntd f0r as one dead. During this interval
the farmer hal moved to Wilmington, and es-
tablishcd himself in business here. Among the
circle Of acguainances which the family drew
!, around them, was young man OF good connec-
tions and industrious habits, who soon became
: enamOred of our heroine, and proposed for her
hand in marriage. Though her heart was still
faithful to her lost lover, she entertained feel
t lngs OF the utmost respect for this latter
0 suitor, and yielding to the solicitations of
5 parents and friends, she decided to accept
D him, and the day for the marriage was ap-
pointed
y Almost on the eve of the wedding day, when
# all preparations had been completed, and
|. without a word of previous warning, the first
o lover appeared on the scene, rejoicing that he
:, had safely reached home to claim his bride.
k His grief and astonshment on discovering the
If state of affairs can better be imagined than
n described. But, with a nobility of mind and
character that is seldom met with, he
ID acknowledged to the maiden, who would gladly
Of have returned to her hearts allegiance, that
re such state Of affairs was produced by his
e, unloverike negligence, in not acquaintlng her
lg of his continued existence and bravely sitting
ly his ncllnations he Obeyed the stern behests OF
ed duty and returned to his Western home.
ut The marriage ceremony was performed, and
ID since then years of welded happiness have been
he enjoyed by the then disconsolate maiden, who
er although her heart was anothers, possessed
k. the love of loyal heart and in the comforts OF
ia, her home and family, found solace for hel
youthful grief. Children have been born tC
ed her, until now the comely maiden is stait
Is matrOn, with blooming daughters the counter
Ot, part of the wOman's former self. About two
ms years ago her husband died, thus forming
IA, another link in the chain of curious cireum
he stances which We arc briefly chronicling.
in During all this time the absent lover re
wn mained in California, where he succeeded il
IS, amassing a handsome fortune. Occasion
Ia ally, but very rarely. he would communicate b.
,ell mail, with his Eastern friends. A Shcrt tim
ely ago. in correspondence with his brother, in thi
city, in reference to some business affairs, b
les casually inquired for his former love, as t
The whether her marital relations were Of a happ
the character. Back went the answer, "She ha
Pc been widow for two years. !"
he Three weeks ago stranger arrived in thi
ide city and stopped at the Washington House
D n lnquiring for City Directory, he esgerl
led scanned its pages, until his eye alighted upo
list the name for which he was searching, when h
ice Immediately seized his hat and started for tn
in place of residence designated. What the emC
lies tiOns of our hero-for it needless for to sa
lilc that the stranger was none other than he
be must have been, as he stood upon the steps G
Iks the residence, and rang the bell, it is hard t
the imagine. After twenty years OF patient cor
and slant DEVOTION he once more appeared anon
the scenes Of his youthful days, 20 stand agai
or- in the presence OF the object of his life atfe
hit tions, aud sue for the happiness which Cruz
the fate bad so long denied him. The door wa
| is opened by the widow herself, who, however
and failed to recognize, in the bronzed and bearde
his stranger who stood before her, the one upo
CAV whom the affections Of her youth had bee
His lavishy bestowed But when he addressed he
ped the well remembered voice, from which III
ent musical cadence of youth had not yet departed
pile caused memory to flash rapidly back throug
lire all the long years which had elapsed, and th
i've recognition was instantaneous and complete
YES But little more remains to be told Yesterda
by morning, our now happy and contented here
are accompanied by his equally joyous bride an
the her four children, started for his Western hom
to Here We leave him, with the sincere hope th,
the Il cOnstancy and devotion SO rare will be n
ans warde1 by its full mete Of wifely devotion an
,ht, domestic happiness.
the la conclusion, and to show that this sketc
cky is no flight of fancy" we publish the follow
yer ing marriage notice, taken from yesterday
the Gazette feeling cure that all who recognize til
the chief characters of our sketch, will join with
cu- in wishing them all the happiness imaginable
ind BOWERS -KIRKMAN-ln Philadelphia. Oct. 18th. Re
the Mr. Mason Mr. Samuel Bowers OF Forbes Town. Butte
col California to Mary Kirhman of mnEtou. Del
The