American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-06-03
A Romantic Story.

"Nexti" shouted barber in one {
the barber-shops in this city yesterda
afternoon, and in response the chat
was occupied by a tall, fair-looking
middle-aged man who remarked as h
sat down.
"This job over and I will be ready f
complete the work of lifetime!''
The traditional man who talks is tn
barber, and naturally his customer
remark excited his curiosity to the ex
tent that he asked numerous question:
with view to ascertaining what wa
the aforesaid work of the aforesaid life
time, and during the next half hour
while the customer was treated to ;
shave, shampoo and hair cut, the fol
lowing romance was related:
" twenty-five years ago, or in the
spring of 1854, Enos Dalrymple was 3
clerk in a general store near the cor
ner of Jefferson Avenue and Bates
Street. Dalrymple had then been ovel
from England about one year, and dur
ing his ocean voyage had made the ac-
quaintance of Miss Louisa Merkham.
With their parents they came to thi.
city, and were thus enabled to continue
an acquaintance which soon changed to
love, and the consequent engagement
resulted. Louisa's parents being pref
ty well supplied with this worlds goods
were much opposed to Dalrymple as a
son-in-law, chiefly because he worked
for living; but their opposition was
useless. The young couple met in
secret and carried on a correspondence
unknown to any one but themselves
Too poor to get married, young Dali
rymple as soon as he reached his ma
jority started West in search of his for
tune. He had not been absent many
months when Miss Merchants parents
discovered that their daughter was still
corresponding with Dalrymple, and sent
her to Quebec to be educated, ostensi-
bly,, but really to wean her from the OBJ
ject of her affection.
"For eight years." said Dalrymple,
81 heard not word from Louisa, DUR
ing which time moved to Melbourne,
Australia, and established myself as an
attorney and counselor at law. At last,
on the goth of August, 1866, was sur
prised at the receipt of letter bearing
the Liverpool post-mark and the sigma
ture of my lost sweetheart. In the let
ter she stated that she had long thought
me dead, but seeing my name in an
Australian paper her old love had
her to write me, something
telling her that the Australian attorney
was the Detroit clerk of "a.
81 answered the letter promptly and
with the old feeling of affection, but
waited for reply in vain, until at last
| made up my mind that either 1 had
been imposed upon or death had claim
ed my sweetheart.
'sStill bachelor, toiled at my pro-
fession and accumulated wealth, and
last January, filled with a desire to re-
visit Detroit and my old home in Eng
land, also intending to visit the worlds
fair at Philadelphia, took passage ON
the steamer Calcutta for San Francisco,
where l arrived on the 22d of February.
delay I started East, and since
that time have travelled across the con-
tinent three times.
"Last Tuesday evening was at Chi
cago, and to pass away the time 1 visit
ed one of the theaters. What the play
was do not recollect, save that there
was a reunion of the two principal
characters after long separation,
md, as usnal,. the audi
snce was dismissed in high
spirits. Especially was happily i'm
pressed, for in the person of lady who
the part of a kind, matronly
I'D woman fancied that recognized |
he voice and features of the love of my
Fouth, and try as would 1 could not
lismiss the fancy. So deeply was it
upon my mind that after 60
ng to my hotel l examined the play
ill and after long consideration re-
olved to call upon the 'old woman
The next day carried out my resolu-
ion and there occurred mutual recog-
ition, which, had you seen it, you could
ever forget.
"The result is that after nearly ten
ears of life on the stage, Louisa has
eft it for good, and together we will
isit Philadelphia and old England, af-
er which we will return to Melbourne
0 end our days in peace and happiness,
s hope.''
A reporter of the Free Press, who had
verheard the remarks of the man in
ne chair, introduced himself, and was
OF only received cordially, but was
sked to "come up to the Howard
louise at o'clock and you'll see the
equel."
Having accepted the invitation with
hanks, the reporter was on hand, and
18th four or five invited guests witnessed
lie marriage of the Australian lawyer
nd the actress from Chicago, and soon
fter saw the old man with shining face
nd steady hand inscribe with extra
ourish in the hotel register: "Enos
alrymple and wife, Melbourne, Aus
ALA. ''-DetrOit Free Press.
A FARMER at Cohoes, New York,
reamed that he was feeding his cows
lie other night, and that suddenly one
them reached over and whispered in t
IS ear, 81 am going to set fire to this G