Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-09-26
ROMANCEIN REAL LIFE.
An AMERICAN GIRL SUCCEEDS To 4
TITLE AND LARGE FORTUNE.

lady who is heroine of the story, is SaiC
to be n resident of this city, will b,
read with interest:
Not long since there was published
in tho Gazsne an allusion to romance
which had for its home the village o.
Dundee, in Yates county. Since that
time new and important developments
have appeared in connection with that
story, and We are now enabled to lay
before our readers something OF a con-
nected narrative of the events 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 dOnOUemsni of the drama took
place III this city, where resides near
relative OF the lady who is the chief
actor III it, Partly from this relative
Mrs Charles Rowland-who resides
At No 457 East Water street, aud who
! is 4 sister Of the heroine in this live
| romance, and partly from scraps pub
lished in relation thereto, we gather
J INV 5IOk1 Ot CANDACE
nee Bliven, substantially as follows:
In 1855 gentleman OF high birth and
great wealth i'll England came to this
country 10. travel tor pleasure and to
study the scenery and the psople of the
New World. A lover of nature in its
most varied and picturesque character,
he spent some time i'll Central New
York, going about among our beautiful
lakes, and tarryiDg upon their highly
cultivated shores. In these rambles he
came to the quiet village OF Dundee,
where he made home for some time
with a Baptist clergyman named Currl-
er. While there he fell into compan-
ionship with the daughter OF well-to-
do gentleman named Bliyen. The girl
was at that time sixteen years of age,
handsome, engaging and sensible. The
acquaintance soon rpened into sort OF
romontic friendship, and at last the for
eigner, whom We may aswell designate
by his proper name and title-Slr John
Gordon Talmage-oflered his hand 10
Candace, which was accepted. Tho di-
rect narrative is to the effect that the
two were Nnited by Rev. Mr.. Currier,
who WAS picdged to secrecy concerning
the marriage for the term OF one year.
The parents of Candaoe were not IN
ormed of the action of their daughter
nfor did the knowledge of
TIE SECRET MARRIAGE
came to any Of the villagers. Soon AT
ter the wedding Sir John left his young
bride and returned to his home across
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.
The year went past, and Sir John did
not come. Meantime Rev. Mr.. Currier,
the only person in America besides
the young wife who knew Of the trans
action, died, and his secret died with
him. Another year passed, and five,
then ten, almost twenty, and still the
waited for husband did not return TO
make good his promise, nor did any
tidings, we understand, reach the ears
Of Candaoe concerning him. At last; in
March last, we believe, through the
instrumentality OF personal advertise
ment in one Of the New York papers,
the tidings for which the Dundee bride,
now grown to almost middle age, had
30 long waited, were received.
DEATH OF SIR JOHN GORDON TALMADGE.
1t appear. that the return OF Sir John
TO England without his American wife
was for the purpose Of arranging mat
tcrs satisfactorily with bis parents, who
he knew would be indisposed to receive
his bride if she were taken to them
without prior knowledge Of their sons
step. Shortly after his return home it
happened that while ont riding with
his mother one day the horse took
fright, ran away, threw the two out,
killing his mother, and very seriously
inuring Sir John. From this affection
however, he recovered partially, and in
dve time set out for America TO reclaim
his wife. As if adverse fate directed
his every movement, when be reached
Liverpool he was taken severely i'll,
and tor long time he lay vacillating,
as it were, between life and death.
Though recovering, his illness 50 preyed
upon ismind that he became dcmented
iu which condition he lived all these
years, unable to made known the OBJ
ject tor whsch he was .journeying when
sickness overlook him.
In the latter part Of last winter san
ity strangely returned to the afflicted
man, but only for short interval before
death relieved him of that lite which
had been burden. During this lucid
interval recollection Of lis earlier life
came back TO him, and the secret wife
in Dundee was uppermost in his
thoughts. lie made known to his broth,
er, now Sir Alfred Talmadge, the true
story Of his marsiage in this country
willed his immense fortune of $4,000
900, hall to his brother and sister, anC
the other half TO his wife in case she
might be found alive. He further
pledged his brother TO send specia
messenger to America for the purpose
Of hunting up his wife.
HUNTING THE BRIDE OF TWENTY YEAR
AGO.
In pursuance of these pledges, mes
senger was, az early az possible afte
the demise of Sir John, dispatched t.
this country with instructions to fn'
the bride by advertisement or by per
sonal search. The advertising was done