Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-04
Almost a Romance.

MANY of the most startling pen-pict-
ureS in the rOmances of the past ages and
novels of the present have for the most
striking and prominent figure a person
who had been mourned for as dead, and
whose memory, though cherished and
entwined with many fond recollections,
though seldom spoken, yet often pre-
sented to the minds of the fond relatives,
had become in the deep vista of the past
years a reality lost forever to the vision
of the eye in this life, and only to be
hoped for in the great hereafter
Such was the case in private family
who have resided for several years in the
First Ward of this city. A young man,
gifted with many talents, resided with
his widowed aunt and her younger sister,
and was looked upon as a son, his moth
er having died in his infancy, and his
father, Frenchman by birth, Mons.
LIE Tort, whose profession required con-
slant absence from home, having been
reported as dead in distant part of Eu
rope some twenty years ago. The aunts
then were residing in the city of London,
and having friends in the United States
came to this country, where they have
since resided, firmly believing that their
nephew was really an orphan, in which
belief he of course partOok. 1t was late
ly announced in this city that Mons.
LIE Tort, an accomplished prestidigita-
faIJI
his appearance at one of our theaters The
announcement, full of many attractions
and extraordinary feats in his art,
brought, of course, a large audience, and
among the rest our friend young Mr..
Greene (Who is known by his aunt's
name). He had, however, been ill for
some time, and his aunt endeavored to
persuade him not to venture out, fearing
a relapse, but he had determined to go,
and ne did. He witnessed the perform
ance, and he was drawn by some unac-
countable feeling to consider the per-
former as a person that was not a
stranger to him, but one in whom he had
asdeep interest, somewhat akin to a per-
son he had met before in long past years,
or seen in a dream. He looked again
and again to the name appearing in the
programme that was somewhat similar
to the name of his parent. The age,
too, was about the same, and the profess
sion Identical. With these thoughts in
his mind he returned to his home and
communicated them to his relations,
who partook soon of his interest, and it
was resolved to seek the stranger
on the next day and ask for an
interview to satisfy their anxiety. The
anxiously-looked-fo morning at length
came, and the parties sought Mons.
T. at his hotel, but he had gone to the
rehearsal. At the theater they present
ed themselves, and after some hesita-
ton on the part of Monsieur he consented
to an interview, which he had declined at
first, on the ground that he had nouac
quaintances in Washington. Immedi te-
ly on seeing him the young mans aunts
at once recognized their lOng-lost broth
er-in-law and the father of their nephew,
and he them, when mutual explanations
followed. They had heard positively of
his death in Europe, and afterward when
he returned to London, he was informed
that they had all gone to America; that
on arriving in New Orleans they were
struck down by yellow fever and all per
ished together; SO he wandered over and
over Europe for years a lonely and sad
man, though always in the midst of com
pany and the attraction Of the gay multi
tude At length he would visit the New
World, and of course should see the cap
ital in its gayest season. Here the de-
nouement: A father finds his long-lOst
son; that son a father, and the aunts
brother, dear to them as the loving huS-
band of dear sister, to whose memory
he has ever been true, for he never re-
married. Mons. LIE Tort will return
here in a few weeks to rejoin his rela
tives and make arrangements for having
his son near him, who cannot, however,
think of leaving his aunts, who have
been so fond of him.
Verify, one may say with Hamlet:
"There are more things in heaven and
on earth than are dreamt of in thy phi
losophy, Horatio. Washington Repot5l5-
can.
TO Cook Cabbage.-Chop the cab
bage-head fine, or cut itas small as you can