The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-03-04
Almost a Romance.

Many of the most startling pen-pictures
in the romances of the past ages and nov
els of the present have for the most strik-
ing and prominent figure a person who
had been incurred for as dead, and whose
memory, though cherished and entwined
with many fond recOllections, though sell
dom spoken, yet often presented to the
minds of fond relatives, had become in the
deep vista of the past years reality lost
forever to the vision of the eye in this life,
and only to be hoped for in the great here
after.
Such was the case in a 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 mother hay-
ing died in his infancy, and his father, a
Frenchmsn by birth, Monsieur lie Tort,
whose profession required constant alb
sence from home, having been reported as
dead in a distant part of Europe some
twenty years ago. The aunts then were
residing in the city of London, and, hav-
ing friends in the United States, came to
this country, where they have since resid-
ed, firmly believing that their nephew was
really an orphan, in which belief he, OF
course, partook. 1t was lately an
nounced in this city that Monsieur
lie Tort. an accomplished prestidigita-
teur, would, on certain evening,
make his appearance at one OF our
theaters. The announcement, IuIl
OF many attractions and extraordinary
feats in his art, brought, of course, large
audience, and among the rest our friend,
young Mr.. Greene (who is known by his
haI hny
for some time, and his aunt endeavOred TO
persuade him not to venture out, tearinga
relapse, but he had determined to go, and
he did. He witnessed the performance,
and was drawn by some unaccOuntable
feeling to consider the performer as per-
son that was not stranger TO him, but
one in whom he hada deep interest, some
what akin to person he had met before
in long past years or seen in a dream. lie
looked again and again to the name APP
pearing in the programme that was some
what similar to the name of his parent.
The age, too, was about the same, and tn c
profession 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 re-
solved to seek the stranger on the neXi
day and ask for an interview to satisfy
their anxiety. The anXiously lOoked-lOT
morning at length came. and the parties
sought Monsieur L. at his hotel, but he
had gone to the rehearsal. At the theatel
| they presented themselves, and after some
hesitation on the part of Monsieur, he con-
sented to an interview, which he had de-
clined at first, on the ground that he had
no acuuaintances in Washington. Imme'
| diately on seeing him the young mans
aunts at once recognized their lUng-lost
brother-in-law and the father OF then
nephew, and he them, when mutual eX'
plantations followed. They had heard pos
| itively Of his death in Europe. and after
ward, when he returned to London, hi
was informed that they had all gone tC
America that on arriving in New Orleans
| thew were struck down by the yellow fever
and all persisted together; so he wandered
| over and over Europe for years lonely
and sad man, though always in the midst
of company and the attraction of the gay
multitude. At length he would visit the
New World, and of course should see the
capital in its gayest season. Here the de
movement: A father finds his long-lost
son; that son 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 remarked
Monsieur lie Tort will return here in few
weeks to rejoin his relatives and make ar
engagements 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 philoso-
phy, Horatio. - Washington Republican.