Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-09
4 ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.

HOwTwo Young Lovers were Separa-
ted and How They met Long years
Afterwards ON a Plank I'm the MedI.
terranean.
Boston Correspondence Chicago Times.
That truth is stranger than fiction every
body knows. But real life Is not merely
more strange-it is often more romantic
than anything invented by the romance
writer's. An instance of this has recently
occurred within our knowledge, and the de-
movement of the story is so pleasant that
can not refrain from giving it to your
readers. l can vouch for its correctnesss,
as one, at least, ofthe parties concerned Is
well known to me:
About ten years ago wealthy merchant
of this city, having an only child, beauti-
full girl ofseventeen, became alarmed at GER
tain indications of a consumpive tendency
in her and determined to pass some months
at home among the hills of Vermont. The
young lady recovered her health, but she
lost her heart. She made the acquaintance
of young man named c., farmers
son, intelligent and well educated, but q
working machinist. The young people be-
came warmly attached TO each other, and
entered into an engagement conditional on
the consent of the lady's father. But the
latter had more ambitious views for his
daughter; and, when the young machinist
presented himself as her sutton, he was trea
tel with very little ceremony; was, in fact,
dimissed by her father in q manner $50 Of
fensiVe that pride forbade him to make any
further advance. He went West, and en-
tered into business in st. Louis. Having
plenty OF talent, energy, and character, he
was successful, soon had large establish
meut OF his own, and has accumulated q
handsome fortune. Absorbed in business
and in the various occupations of q man Of
prominence and influence, he had doubt
less outgrOwn his early Disappointment in
love; but he had formed no other attach
ment, and remained unmarried.
The young girl meanwhile, her lover be-
ing quite lost 10 her, accepted the husband
selected by her father, v - marie Lard went
to live IN France. At the eud Uf two years
she became 3 widow, but continued TO re-
side abroad. She was In possession Of a
modest fortune, and, her parents having
died in this interval, ther3 was nothing to
call her back to Boston. Up to Septem-
Der of last year this was the position Of af-
fairs between these two. With each the
brief romance of their early youth had fad
ed into the memory of tender dream; and
nothing could have seemed less likely than
the occurrence of any event which should
reunite their suudered lives.
However, it so fell out that the require
ments of Mr.. G--'S business took him
last year 10 Europe, and he remained
abroad several mODhs. One evening late
in September, he vas on board little
steamer going from Marssilles to Leghorn,
when there came up one of the sudden
storms for which those water are unpleasant
ly noted. 1t was very rough, 0us no dan
ger was anticipated. Mr.. G.-sat Cd
deck watching the storm; and many other
passengers among them several ladies',
ware doing the same. One of the lStter
had risen from her seat to go below, and
was standing in an ungu2rde5 attitude,
when, the steamer giving violent luTch,
she lost her balance and was thrown over
board. Mr.. G--saw the mishap, and in
stantly leaped after her into the sea. he
was fortunate enough to find and support
her; but it was dark, the ses was running
high, and, though a boat VAS quickly sent
out by the people on the steamer, those in
it were unable to find the missing passen-
gers, and it was supposed that they were
drowned. But, fortunately for them, the
steamer people as soon as the aceident was
known, had thrown out various things for
them to cling to. A plank doated them,
and by this they were able to keep them
selves from sinking. They were picked up
on the following day by vessel bound for
Malta, and carried to that port.
And thus it was that these long separated
lovers met at last! In the darkness Of night
on a plank in the stormy waters Of the Med
iterranean, they recognized each other!
They were reunited, but with no prospect
before them bat of speedy death in each
others arms. Was it strange that the old
love, which had abated, not died, in their
hearts, was awakened, and that on finding
themselves once more possessed OF life
they resolved that they would no longer live
apart? At any rate, they were married
soon after, in the English chapel a. Malta,
and, having passed the winter there forthe
benefit of The lady's health, which had suf.
fsred greatly from the exposure she had
undergone, they are at present on their way
home to America. And may all true loves
have al equal fortunate issuel