Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-27
Another Romantic Story.

gently DIS 10 leave doubts Of the genuine
ness OF the article. Chicago has been
harborlng an heiress among her domes
tics whose claims are notmere conjecture.
but proven reality, and who is now on
her way 10 claim her inheritance.
About twenty-one years ago, young
Creole resident of New Orleans. named
George Martinez, wooed, won and welded
the daughter of welI-known minister of
one OF the Evangelical churches. The
young couple, unless portraits taken at
the time deceive, were possessed of much
more than the average amount of natural
beauty, besides being literally endowed
mentally, and they were welcome mem
bers Of the elite Of New Orleans society.
Possessed of a liberal share of wealth and
a goodly stock Of contentment, they lived
happily and prosDered in many ways, and
the breaking out of the rebellion found
them the parents Of two children, Louisa,
girl of five, and George, boy of three,
both the children being named after their
parents. Mr.. Martinez was one of those
fiery Spanish Louisianians who do first
and reflect afterward, and when war was
declared, scarcely waiting to bid his loved
ones goodbye, he Joined the Confederate
army. Like large majority of the Con-
federates, he confidently believed he
was going out simply to participate
in one brilliant series of victories, and in
a few weeks, or months at farthest, would
return a victorious warrior, and again
clasp his wife and babes in his loving
arms. The weeks speedily grew into
months, and the months had become long
and weary, and the end-the victorious
end for which nearly all Southerners still
hoped-seemed as far off as ever. In fact,
to the young wife and mother it was re-
ceding, and dangers Immediately threat
ening New Orleans, from the advance of
the Federal troops, admonished her to
seek safer retreat for herself and babes.
In short time an opportunity was pre-
sented of reaching st. Louis, where her
father then resided. She had not heard
from her husband since his departure, az
he was in branch of the army from which
it was very difficult to get communica-
tions, and she had doubts that he vet
lived, but did not give up all hope until
death released her from the trials and
tribulations of this world. Owing to the
unsettled condition of affairs in New Or
leans, she was barely able to obtain a sui
tlcient sum of money to carry herself and
children to her fathers house in St. Louis.
There for a time she resided, but her
father, never having approved of her
choice of a husband soon made it any,
thing but pleasant home for her, and she
was compelled to seek shelter elsewhere,
and left, making neither effort to conceal
from him or apprise him of her where
abouts. She went to Wisconsin, and
by domestic labor, for which she was
lily prepared by training and nature, as
her health was very delicate, she managed
to support herself and children until lust
after the close of the war, when the angel
Of death claimed her, and the children
were left orphans among strangers. They
had been given to understand that their
father was dead and knew of no relative
to whom they could reasonably apply for
a home, consequently they were placed in
an orphan asylum, whence they WERE
however, soon removed, Louisa being
taken charge of by a family in Delavan,
and George by q kind gentleman in a
town near by. When the war closed Mr..
Martinez sought his loved ones but with
out avail. Their neighbors in New Or
leans only knew that they had gone to St.
Louis, and Mrs. Mariners father knew
or pretended to know nothing of them.
Later the father informed Mr.. Martinez
that his wife was dead, but prOfessed
ignorance as to the fate or Whereabouts of
the children. At intervals since the war,
whenever his business-that of an extern
sive tobacco-dealer in Mobile-would per
nit, the fatherh has sought for his offspring,
and in his travels has been all over the
United States, from Boston to New Or
leans, and from New York to Omaha,
spending many thousand dollars endeav-
Oring to find them.
About two months ago he again started
out, with but faint hope, however, as he
had been too often disappointed to feel
much encouraged. After searching some
time, he made another appeal to his
clerical father iD-law in St. Louis, and the
old gentleman relented and informed him
that the children had been placed in an
orphan asylum in Wisconsin. Thence he
proceeded, and by examining the register
of the various asylums, finally obtained a
trace that led him to Delavan, where he |
learned that Louisa had moved to Chi |
cago, and was employed as a domestic by |
a lady who rents furnished rooms on |
Clark street, within a short distance of |
the Grand Pacific Hotel. fastening here |
he found the place early yesterday morn
ing, and rapping at the sitting-room door
was confronted by his daughter. The |
parents instinct led him to recognize his |
child at once, and he clasped her to his |
arms, greatly to her establishment, as she |
had no idea who the handsome, elegantly |
dressed, dark gentleman with the unfamil-
lar accent could be- He explained |
that he was her father, but was COM
PEELED to make other explanations |