Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-21
LEADvIL1E ROMANCE.
A Grass Widows Adventures In the New
Town.

N0N
Leadville Eclipse.l
Leadville is now passing through its
most romantic period, aud from now
until we settle into a city of lOO,OOO
inhabitants such incidents as we are
about to relate will be of not unfre-
quent occurrence. The circumstances
came to the knowledge of reporter at
the dinner table this afternoon, and,
acting on the hint, the clew was fol-
lowed up until at last one of those life
histories, which occur now and then,
and inspire new faith in human ma
ture, was revealed. Five years ago a
young man whom we shall call Smith,
because that is not his name, was mar
ried to a beautiful girl in one Of the
interior towns of Iowa. Smith was
then only twenty-five years old, and,
though intelligent, well educated and
active, was only a clerk in a dry
goods store, depending upon a mea-
ger salary for subsistence. Com
mon prudence should have die
tated to the young couple the
%propriety of waiting, but they loved
each other, and laughed at the future.
The father OF the young lady was one
of the pioneers of the town, rich.
naughty and proud. He was enraged
at the match, and %cOarsely told the
delicate young girl that she had made
a hard bed for herself aud must lie on
it. With an amount of money ridicu-
lousy small, considering his wealth,
he dismissed her finally. The couple
went to housekeeping, but with all
their love and economy, failed to make
both ends meet. The money which
the Young wife had brought was ex-
pended during the first year. and love
which laughed at locksmiths," flew
out of the window when poverty came
in at the door. Misunderstanding,
chickering's and quarrels followed each
other in rapid succession, and finally
it seemed to the unhappy pair that it
was impossible for them to live to-
gether, and after a somewhat more
violent scene than usual, Mrs. Smith
took her baby and went to her father
only to have the door shut in her
face. Returning to her own home
she found that her husband had left
a note stating that she should
never see him again. In a fit of des-
peration, she sold the stock of furni.
ture, placed her babe in charge of her
husbands parents, with enough money
TO make it comfortable for a year, and
started for a large city to make a liv-
ing. This was only a little more than
a year ago. The old story Of a young,
refined and unprotected female in q
large city was re-enacted in her case.
She fell, and in three months had be-
come reckless. Always finding az.
mirers, she drifted from city to city
occasionally sending a little money fol-
the care of her babe, which she loved
with passionate tenderness. Durinl
all this time, however, she never for.
got her husband, having learned tina
her love had been clouded, not ex.
tinguished. Last week she arrived in
Leadyille. As she descended from
the coach she noticed in the throng
Of bronzed faces one that seemed
strangely familiar, though GOV.
cred with an enormous beard
1t disappeared, and she wen
TO her lodgings with a strange
feeling of unrest and isolation
The next day in walking abou
town she again encountered that fac
and met a glance that caused her Il
tremble. In another instant both he
hands we're seized and she knew tina
her husband whom she had neve
ceased to love, stood before her. Ii
had come to Leadville immediatel
after their separation, had prospered
and supposing that she was still at he
fathers, was about starting home wit
sufficient means TO establish himseI
IN business ia their native town. 81
told him all he forgavo all, and III
next day the strangely reunited coupl
left 10 begin a new aud happier life.