Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-29
Romance IN Real Life.

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While in Victor, Ontario County, n
Y. recently. we learned the particulars Of
Z romance in real life which rivals the
most ingenious creations of the fancy. W.
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 children Of
neighbors and spent much of their youth
in each others company, mutually divid-
ing their Joys and sorrows as well as their
bread and butter and sugar. But they
couldn't larry as children If they would.
Calvin grew into . strong limbed young
man with . downy upper lip and deep
bass voice, and Nancy rounded into
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 herr 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 TO get
ahead in the world In Vermont, at least in
their section, being few, Calvin babe 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 q pleasant thing for Calvin,
although II II hadnt occurred the pith
would have been knocked out Of the story
completely 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 majority OF re-
iected 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 If he
had stayed away, for he not only found
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 80 long deferred, but never
doubling that he would one day come to
claim her hand and clear away the mystic
nv. It seemed that she had written as
faithfully as he, but his letters ceased COM
ing, and the explanation came toe late to
mend affairs. The village mail was dis
tributed by woman, and she had
grudgc 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 70 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 man named Walker,
and had become q 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 it. 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 hand?
Seven years more rolled round and LETT
Mr.. Bates widower. True as the needle
to the pole his thoughts reverted to Nancy,
and after decent season of waiting he
sought her out last fall and the twain were
speedily made one flesh. She plead for q
little delay to make wedding preparations,
but he would hear to no postponement for
any purpose. lie brought her rich jewels
and she was married In the dress he had
bought her seven years before. A little
later they went for bridal tour 70 their
childhood's home In Vermont, once again
to bring wildly to mind the old days when
their hearts were first warmed into the
love for each other which had reached Its
full fruition 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. -South Bend Tribune.
The London Lancet says: The great
est strength can but retard the day when
anxious labor, prolonged through the
hours which should be those Of rest,
strains the physical powers too far, and
the constitutions of the strongest gives way
1t last under the high pressure Of states
mans life. Against such high pressure
only the unvarying habit of regular and
sufficient rest can preserve in health and
energy those who work with the brain.
The long-continued and unimpaired power
Of one Of our own Prime Ministers is well
known IN have been in great measure