The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-06-12
Genuine Romance in Real Life.

That truth is stranger than fiction, everybody
knows. But real life is not merely more strange
it is often more romantic than anything in
vented by the romance writers. An instance OF
this has recently occurred within our knowl-
edge; and the denouement of the story is so
pleasant that I cannot refraD from giving it to
your readers. I can vouch for its correctness,
as one at least of the parties concerned is we'll
known to me.
About ten years ago wealthy merchant of
this city, having an only child, beautiful girl
of seventeen, became alarmed at certain indi-
cations of consumptive tendency in her, and
to recruit her health sent her to pass some
months al country home among the hills of
Vermont. The young lady recovered her health
but she lost her heart. She made the acquain-
tance of d Young man named C., farmers
son, intelligent and we'll educated, but work
ing machinist. The young people became
warmly attached to each other, and entered in
an engagement conditionally on the consent of
the lady's father. But the latter had more am
bilious views for his girl; and when the young
machinist presented himself as her suitor he
was treated with very little ceremony-was, in
fact, dismissed by the father in manner so of
fensive that pride forbade him to make any
further advances. He went west and entered
into business in st. Louis. Having plenty Of
talent, energy and character, he was successful,
soon had large establishment of his own, and
has accumulated vast fortune. Absorbed in
business, and in the various occupations of
man of prominence and influence, he had
doubtless outgrown his early disappointment in
love; but he had formed no other attachment,
and remained unmarried.
The young girl meanwhile, her lover being
quite lost to her, accepted the husband selected
I r.. kl IL 70 IN,
France. At the end of two years she became
a widow, but continued to reside abroad. She
was in possession of modest fortune, and her
parents having died in this interval there was
nothing to call her back to Boston. Up to
September last year this was the position Of af-
fairs between these two. With each the brief
romance of their early youth had faded into
the memory of tender dream, and nothing
could have seemed less likely than the occur
renee of any event which should reunite their
sundered lives.
However, it so fell out that the requirements
of Mr.. GN's business took him, last year, to
Europe, and he remained abroad several
months. One evening, late in September, he
was on board steamer going from Marsailles
to Leghorn, when there came up one of the
sudden storms for which those waters are un-
pleasantly noted It was very rough, but no
danger was anticipated. Mr.. G. sat on
deck, watching the storm and many other
passengers, among them several ladies, were
doing the same. One of the latter had risen
from her seat to 60 below, and was standing in
an unguarded attitude when the steamer giving
violent lurch, she lost her balance and was
thrown overheard. Mr.. C. saw this mis-
hap, and instantly leaped after her into the sea.
He was fortunate enough to find and support
her but it was dark, the sea was running high,
and though boat was quickly sent out by the
people on the steamer, those in it were unable
to find the missing passengers, and it was sup
posed that they were drowned. But, fortunate
ly for them the steamer people, as soon as the
things for them to cling to. A plank foated
near them and by this they were able to keep
themselves 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 plank in the stormy waters of the Medi-
terranean, they recognized each other They
were reunited, and with no prospect before
them but of speedy death in each others
arms Was it strange that the old love which
had been slumbering not died, in their hearts
was reawakened, and that, on finding them
selves once more possessed of life, they felt it
impossible to spend that life apart At any
rate they were married soon after in the Eng
lish chapel at Malta, and having passed the win
ter there for the benefit of the lady's health,
which had suffered greatly from the exposure
she had undergone, they are at present. ton their
way home to America. And may all true loves
have an equally fortunate issue Chicago 7ri-
bune.