The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-10
STRANGER THAN FICTION.

MADE ONE AFTER MANY YEARS.
AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF YOUTHFUL
DISAPPOINTMENT AND LIFELONG CON-
SrANCY.
The subjoiued romance in real life is told
10y the Soutn>Bend Tribune as truth stranger
than fiction: While in Victor, Ontario
county, New York. 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
very near of an age, were the chill
dren of neighbors, and spent much of
their youth in each others company,
mutually dividing their Joys and SOrrows as
well as their bread and butter and sugar.
But they couldn't tarry as children, If they
would. Calvin grew into strong imbed
young man, with dOwny upper lip and
deep bass voice, and Nancy rounded into
comedy maiden, the pride of her parents
and the admiration OF the village beauX.
Calvin loved her, of course; hadn't be
always loved her? and Nancy was morally
-qusintance were more worthy of her stfec-
ton than Calvin, and so they were engaged,
and were TO be married as soon as enough
money could be made to give them little
start in lite. II did seem, for once, that the
course OF true love would run smoothly.
The openings for young men to get ahead in
the world in Vermont, at least in their Sec
ton, being few
CALVIN BABE TENDER ADIEU
TO his Nancy, and tore himself away, and
went to seek bis fortune in Cortland county,
New York. Here he labUred hard, and
prscticsd rigid economy to save up enough
TO buy q home, cheered, the meanwhile, by
loving epistles, containing assurances of
undiminished regard and sympathy. But
there came change. 1t wasn't pleasant
thing for Calvin, although, II 1t hadn't &C.
Cured, the pith would have been knocked
out OF this story completely. Nancy's let
ters ceased coming. Missives inquiring the
cause of the silence brought no respOnse,
aud reports came to his ears that Nancy
was smiling on another. He sorrowed over
disappointment bitterly and long, but, as
he didn't commit suicide to start with, he
finally concluded, as majority of rejected
isuitors do, to marry some one else.
He reached the conclusion seven years after
leaving Vermont, and after the ceremony
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. IL would have been
better for his peace of mind If he had stayed
away, for he not only found that Nancy
had not married, but that she had been
patiently though tearfully waiting 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 mystery. Ii seemed that she
had written as faithfully IS he, but his
letters ceased coming, aud the explanation
came too late to mend affairs. The village
mail was distributed by woman, and she
had grudge against Nancy, which she
most
CRUELTY AVENGED
by intercepting and destroying her letters to
Calvin, and mis- replies. The mischief was
done, however, and there was no honorable
course but to submit and make the best of
the dilemma. Bates took his wife and came
off to the West, where he made her a home
of comfort and ease, and she bore him a half
a-dozen children. Seven years ago the
recollection of the old times so worked
upon him that he left his home in California
and visited Vermont again. He found
that Nancy, whom he had left more than
thirty years before, had been married to a
man named Walker and had become IA
.
but was in straitened circumstances, but
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 ali in all had a very
pleasant melancholy time of it. He had
her picture taken to carry back with him,
and on leaving, insisted on giving her an
elegant silk dress and Sl50. 1t isn't proba-
BILE that Mrs. Bates knew anything of
this, but as money was to them, so to speak,
drug in the market, who shall blams the
husband for giving his old flame a helping
shand2 Seven years more rolled around and
left Mr.. Bates a widower. True as the
needle to the pole, his thoughts reverted to
Nancy, aud aiter a decent season OF waiting
he sought her out last fall, and the twain
were speedily made one flesh. She pleaded
Tor little delay TO make wedding prepare
tions, but he would hear no postponement
Jewels, and she was married in the dress he
had bought her seven years before. A little
later they went tor a bridal tour to their
-childhood's home in Vermont, once again
to bring wildly 20 mind the old days when
their hearts were first warmed into the love
tor each other, which had reached its full
frutiOn after The laps5 of so many wear Y
years. They lave now settled near Victor,
Ontario county, where they anticipate
spending the remainder of their days in
peace aud quetude. They are an old couple,
but very happy. and scarcely less fond OF
each other, probably, than when the passion
scOursed through the veins OF youth.
A Minnesota editor announces that tie
= l.