Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-23
Romance in Real Life.


Y, recently, we learned the particulars of
a romance in real life which rivals the
most ingenious creations of the fancy. We
give the story as it was told to us, every
detail Of which we believe to be strictly
true.
The principals, Calvin Bates and Nancy
Hill, were born something like sixty
years ago somewhere-the exact place is
unimportant-in Vermont They were
D very near of an age, were the children of
neighbors and spent much of their youth
in each others company, mutually divid-
ing their joys and sorrows as we'll as their
bread and butter and sugar. But they
couldn't tarry as children If they would.
Calvin grew into strong. .limbed young
man with downy upper lip and a deep
bass voice, and Nancy rounded into a
comely maiden, the pride of her parents
and the admiration of all the village
beaus. Calvin loved her, of course;
hadn't he always loved beri And Nancy
was morally sure that none of the young
men of her acquaintance were more
worthy Of her affection than Calvin, and
so they were engaged and were to be mar
ried as soon as enough money could be
made to give them little start in life. 1t
did seem for once that the course of true
love would run smoothly.
The openings for young men 70 get
ahead In the world In Vermont, at least in
their section, being few, Calvin bade a ten
der adieu to his Nancy, and tore himself
away and went to seek his fortune In Cort-
land County, N. Y. Here he labored
hard and practiced rigid economy to save
up enough to buy home, cheered the
meanwhile by loving epistles, conveying
assurances of undiminished regard and
sympathy. But there came change. 1t
wasn't pleasant thing for Calvin,
although If 1t hadn't occurred the pith
would have been knocked out of the story
conaHletely. Nancy's letters ceased COM
ing. Missives inquiring the cause Of the
silence brought no response, and reports
came to his ears that Nancy was smiling
on another He sorrowed over his disap-
pointment bitterly and long, but as he
didn't commit suicide to start with, he
finally concluded, as a majority of re-
jected suitors do, to marry some one else.
He reached the conclusion seven years
after leaving Vermont, and after the cere-
mony was performed took his wife back
to his old home, just TO let Nancy see that
she wasn't the only woman in the world,
and that there were those who were glad
to have him if she wasn't 1t would have
been better for his peace of mind II he
that Nancy had not married, but that she
had been patiently though tearfully wait
ing for him all these years, sick at heart
with hope SO long deferred, but never
doubling that he would one day come TO
claim her hand and clear away the mystic
ry. 1t seemed that she had written as
faithfully as he, but his letters ceased COM
ing, and the explanation came too late TO
mend affairs. The village mail was dis
tributed by woman, and she had a
grudge against Nancy, which she most
cruelty avenged by intercepting and de-
stroying her letters to Calvin, and his re-
plies.
The mischief was done, however, and
there was no honorable course but to sub
nit and make the best of the dilemma.
Bates took his wife and came off to the
West, where he made her home of com
fort and ease, and she bore him half
dozen children.
Seven years ago the recollection of the
old times so worked upon him that he left
his home in California and visited Yer.
mont again. He found that Nancy, whom
he had left more than thirty years before,
had been married to aman named Walker,
and had become a widow, that she had
grOwn-up children, but was in straitened
circumstances, and that her home was in
Victor, N. Y. He hunted her up on his
way back, and made her call. Together
they reviewed old recollections, and all in
all had very pleasant, melancholy time
of 1t. He had her picture taken to carry
back with him, and on leaving insisted on
giving her an elegant silk dress and $3.50.
1t isn't probable that Mrs. Bates knew
anything of this, but as money was TO
them, so to speak, drug In the market,
who shall blame the husband for giving
his old flame helping handi
Seven years more rolled round and left
Mr. Bates a widower. True as the needle
to the pole his thoughts reverted to Nancy,
and after decent season of waiting ne
sought her out last fall and the twain were
speedily made one flesh. She plead for a
little delay to make wedding preparations,
but he would hear 10 no postponement for
any purpose. He brought her rich Jewels
and she was married in the dress he had
bought her seven years before. A little
later they went for a bridal tour TO their
childhood's home in Vermont, once again
10 bring vividly TO mind the old DAYS when
their hearts were first warmed into the
love for each other which had reached its
full hultion after the lapse Of so many
weary years.
They have now settled near Victor, In
Ontario Country, where they anticipate
spending the remainder of their days In
peace and quietude They are an old
couple, but very happy, and scarcely less
fond of each other probably than when
their passion cOursed through the veins of
youth.-SOuh Bend Tribune.