National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-25
A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
AN AMERICAN GIRL SUCCEEDS TO
ATITLE IND 4 LARGE FORTUNE.

AN AMERICAN GIRL SUCCEEDS TO
ATIILE IND AL4RGE FORTUNE.
STRANGE vICIssITUDE OF AN ENGLISH
BAROSET-SECRET MARRIAGE WITH AN
AMERICAN GIRL TWENTY YEARS AGO
THE CAUSE OF THE LONG SEPARATION
HAPPY DENOUEMERT.
The ElmIra IN. W Gazette Of August n con-
tains the following romantic story, which, eonsid-
ering that the lady who is the heroine Of the
story is said to be resident Of this city, will be
read with interest:
Not long since there was published IN the Go
settle an allusion to romance which had for fits
Since that time new and important developments
have appeared IN connection with that story, and
We are now enabled to lay before our readers
limited at. The story in its most barren state
ment Of facts is one OF strange and rare romance
which will be followed with the greatest interest
from the fact that the real denOUenent of the
drama took place In this city, where resides
near relative Of the lady who is the chief actor
ROwland-whO resides at No. l57 East Water
street. and who is sister Of the heroine in this
live romance, and partly from scraps published
in relation thereto, we gather
THE STORY OF cAEDAcE TALMADGE,
nee Bliven, substantially as follows: In 1850
gentleman Of high birth and great wealth IN
England came to this country. to travel IoT
pleasure and to study the scenery ana PeopiS 81
varied and picturesque character, he spent some
time in Central New York, going about among
our beautiful lakes and tarrylnR upon their high
lv-cuItivated shores. In these rRmbles he came
to the quiet village Of Dundee, where be made
home for some time with Baptist clergyman
named Currier. While there he fell into CON-
panionship with the daughter Of q Well-to-do
Gentleman named Bliven. The girl was at that
time sixteen years Of age, handsome, engaging
~ ell I'd
into sort Of romantic friendship, and at last the
foreigner, Ebom We may as we'll designate by his
proper name and title-Sir John Gordon Tai
madgG-OHered his hand to Candaee, which was
accepted. The direct narrative is TO the effect
that the two were united by Rev. Mr.. CurTier,
who was pledged to secrecy concerning the mar
rage for the term Of one year. The parents Of
CGndace were not Informed OF the action Of their
daughter, nor did the knowledge Of
THE SECRET MARRIAGE
come to any Of the villagers. Soon after the
turned TO his home across the water, having
promised to record the marriage in due form as
soon as he should arrive, and having additionally
promised that he would return within the year |
and take his wife TO England. Tho year went |
past, and Sir John did not come. Meantime |
Rev. MI. CuTrier, the only person in America be- |
sides the TounR wife who knew of the transaction.
died, and his secret died with him. Another year |
passed, and i've, then ten, almost twenty, and |
still the waited-for husband did not return to |
make good his promises, nor did any udings, we |
reach the ears Of CRndaOe concerning /
him. At last, in March last, we believe, through !
the fundamentally Of personal advertisement |
in one Of the New York papers, the long silence |
was broken, and tidings for which The Dundee 4
bride, now grown &c almost middle age, had so |
long waited, were received.
DEATH OF SIR JOHN GORDON TALMADGE
It appears that the return Of Sir John to Eng
land without his American wife was for the Pur-
pose Of arranging matters satisfactorily with his
parents who he knew would be indispOsed to re-
ceive his bride If she were taken 10 them without
prior knowledge Of their sons step. Shortly after
his return home it happened thatWhilo out riding
with his mCthOr one day the horse took fright,
ran away, threw the two out, killing his mother
and very seriously injuring Sir John. From this
afiction, however, he recovered partially, and in
due time set out for America TO reclaim his wife.
AS If adverse fate directed his every movement,
when he reached Liverpool he was taken severely
III and for lg Eng TING he lay v9SiiiGtng as It
ing, his illness 60 preyed upon his mind that he
became cemented, In which condition he lived all
these years, unable to make known the object for
+ hich he was Journeylng when sickness overlook
him.
In the latter part Of last winter sanity strangely
returned to the afflicted man, but only for short
interval before death relieved him of that LIE /
" hitch had been q burden. During this lucid fn-
teryal recollection Of his earlier life cSmo back to
him, and the secret wife in Dundee was upper
most in his thoughts. He made known to his |
brother, now Sir Alfred TRlmGge, the true story "
Of his marriage in this country, willed his i'm
and sister, and the other half TO his wife in case
she might be found alive. He further pledged
his brother 10 send special messenger merlcl
Tor the purpose Of hunting up his wife.
HUNTING THE BRIDE OF TWENTY YEARS AGO.
In pursuance Of these pledges, q messenger
was, as early as possible after the demise Of Sir
ohm, dispatched to this country with instruc-
lions to md the bride by advertisement or by per-
scnal search. The advertising was done, as we /
have seen, but the messenger, following the direc
tons given him by the husband before death,
came from New York TO Dundee soon after land !
Ing. At the latter place he found the parents Of |
the lady, who directed him to Elmira, where she !
was then visiting. This was in the latter part OF
May last On arriving In this city the messenger
Inquired for the residence Of Cherries Rowland,
brOther-in-lAW Of the lady whom he sought. He !
repaired to that gentleman's residence, No 4S7
waiting and long-sought bride Of twenty years
ago. The lady happened to be alone at the time
The messenger called: The eommingling Of as;
constituent, pleasure and sorrow which contended
Tor mastery as the sadly romantic history Of her
long ago bridegroom was Untolded, can be better
imagined than told.
LADY TALEADoE.
Soon after this denouement, Mrs. Talmadge !
another sister. Mrs. Rowland was at first reluc-
tant to say much about the affair but she finally /
talked freely and Interestingly concerning her |
sisters romance. She stated that the messenger |
from England LETT with her sister q considerable |
package also letters and documents from her late |
husband. She said Candace talked little about |
the strange events, and Il was probable she had |
gone to Washington for the purpose Of avoiding |
impairment inquiries. Mrs. Talmsdge had eX-
Of the strange messengers visit, but whether or
not the documents contained conveyance Of the
half Of Sir Johns estate, as IL has been salo he
y =. q, Mrs. Rowland was not prepared 70 say |
oIl,..Tia has received large humber OF CON-
securing the fortune nt as shs has unI
fOrmly declined all such offers saying that she |
had no need Of legal aid IN the premises. Itisun-
deTstOOd by her friends that she Will before q |
great while be visited by her 6rother-in-law, Sir
Alfred Talmadge, with whom she Will 20 to I
England TO possess her vast estate. The sister
who shares equally with Sir Alfred also married |
against the parents wishes. Her husbandis name |
e Stanley. The last known Of them they were at |
Key West, Florida. It is understood the sur
wing brother has instituted q search for this
sister. Should she be found Il Is likely reunion
of the family, including or Dundee girl, Will be
Lady TaImadge's sister states that the clergy
man who performed the secret marriage twenty
years ago came to her fathers house two or three
times during the year Of pledged secrecy, evil
1ently determined TO reveal what he had done. |
His manner ls now remembered to have been sin
yular, but at the time It attracted no unusual at
entton. He was q Baptist clergyman and the
BltTCns were PresbyterianE, and at the time we
peak Of no relations socially required the sinEu-
ar calls from the former. 1t is also stated that
he secrecy was maintained at the solicitation OF
he bride, tho husband having urged her to 20 l.
with him to her home and make known their new
citation. This she refused to do out OF respect
or his wishes respecting his own family. cor
espOHdCnce was maintained after TalmadRe left,
tut CGndace was always careful to dispose Of the
etters and stcGdfastly retained her secret locked
= her own heart.