Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-04-22
ROMANCE IN REAL HISTORY.
The Apparition that Fitted
About the Streets of 0swego
and the Astonishing Results
OF Treating, the Mysterious
Stranger Kindly.

About a year ego there dropped In here
tattered, gray-bearded individual, about
sixty years old. Where he came from
nobody knew, but lie attracted attention
by bis seedy appearance and the meIan.
choly air with which he wandered aim
lessly through the streets. AT irst he
was taken for tramp who had struck
the town dead broke, but as be contin.
ucd to stay around an atmosphere Of
mystery gathered about him, and il was
supposed that he had escaped from some
asylum for the insane, or wasa man with
DOT a country, or something Of the kind.
Pretty soon he began to patronize the
reading room, and was constant atten>
dapt on all the literary and religious ex>
ercises, ard those with whom be talked
said he had the air of cultivated person I;
hal more than ordinary intelligence, and
evidently had once been somebody
They noticed, however, that he said little
about himself, bis origin, or his destiny.
The old man at length went to board
with Mrs. L. o. Hammond, reputable
and respectable resident. Mr.. Hammond
has fne family and in it daughter Of
twenty years, an intelligent, cultivated,
beautiful girl. With this girl the un,
couth boarder of sixty soon became deep
ly enamored, and he made frequent pro-
posals Of marriage to her, and was
promptly rejected on every occasion. He
was so gentlemanly in all his relations with
the Hammonds, that they besitated about
turning him away although they we're
terribly annoyed by his attention TO the
daughter. He paid his bills promptly,
aud was not guilty Of an act to which they
could take exception. He was still as
tattered as usual, and was not warmly
welcomed in his wandoriDgs about town.
The stranger went to Grace Church, the
most aristocratic in the city, on Sundays,
aud his shabby appearance shocked the
pious worshitpors beyond expressions,
aud pretty soon some one of them init
mated to him that his presence was not
altogether acceptable. This reused the
old mans ire, and he dropped Grace
Church in hurry, and went to the east
side Episcopal Louise Of worship. The
first Sunday he was there he put SIS
bank note in the contribution box, aud in
a short time he announced to the officials
that he desired to carpet the church anew
aud he did so; and in giving he was
not behind the most liberal. This Of
course made considerable talk, ind the
mystery Of the old man Of the tattered
coat deepened.
Meantime the Hammonds herd that
their boarder was throwing the cash
freely among the east side of Episcopa.
lians. and they began to open their eyes,
When he next resumed his proposals Of
Of marriage to the girl, she drew from
him his history, which put an entirely
new phase to everything lie showed her
papers aud other proofs that he was from
New York city, and had possessed great
wealth that his property had become in
volved. and tired Of litigation, he had
stolen away from the city disguised him.
self, and had gone to Oswego as a retreat
until his affairs should be wound up.
He did not wish to have his friends know
where he was. Within month his business
had been successfully settled, bis financial
embarrassment were over, and he was iu
possession Of large property.
Mss Hammond waited long enough tC
allow nm to substantiate his story, which
he did to her satisfaction, and that Of hel
parents, and then she was married TO The
tattered old man by Rev. Mr.. EmmersoD
The marriage was kept quiet until yestcr
day, aud then the old gentleman sent t.
the newspapers the notice of the marriag'
af John II. Garfield, Of New York, Il
frankie S. Hammond, Of Oswego, an(
the pair took the noon train for New
York. Mr.. Garfield having laid asid'
his rags and donned an elegant weddin!
suit.
Garfeld's property is known by thos
Of Mr.. Hammond's family, who have in
vestisated, to be at least s5OO,0oo. Th
, bridal trip includes a summer tour +
Europe, and the BRIDES mother is to b
ore Of the party.
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