The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-10-25
10 A SOUTHERN ROMANCE.

1863, well-to-do family, consisting of
husband, wife and child, a daughter
about four years of age, settled in
Walker county, Ala. They stated that
on account of the operations of the
two armies on the North Carolina coast,
where they resided, they were forced to
seek home elsewhere, and when they
started from their North Carolina home,
Texas was their destination but upon
reaching Walker county, in that state,
they found it to be a retired, peaceable
and prosperous community, Audience
they concluded tosettleldown there. In
addition to the family-John III. Rey-
noids, wife and daughter, as already
stated--there were several slaves. Among
the latter was a handsome quadroon
Young woman, who was the maid of all
work for the family. She was kindly
treated, however, and most of her time
was occupied in caring for Mrs. Reynolds.
who was an invalid. Ses
After the war closed DIR. Reynolds
concluded to remain in Walker county,
as he had secured good farm and was
in fair circumstances considering the
losses entailed upon Southern men.
When Mr.. Reynolds lived in North
Carolina, one of his warmest and truest
friends was neighhor by the name of
Henry Horton, who was also a farmer
well-to-do, and possessing traits which
render neighbors much attached The
great desire Of Reynolds was to induce
his old friend and neighbof to sell out
his possessions in North Carolina and re-
move to Walker county, to assume, the
same relations he occupied IN former
DAYS. Reynolds addressed many warm,
gushing letters to Horton, describing the
beauties, the riches and bright prospects
of Walker county. There was a farm
near him that would suit Horton exactly,
and if the latter did not have enough
money to purchase it, Reynolds would
assist him. Finally Horton yielded to
the opportunities of his old friend, and
sold out his property in North Carolina,
and with his wife and son removed to
Walker county, where he purchased
farm short distance from where Rey-
nolds resided. Being thus settled down
once more as neighbors and friends,
things went smoothly, and prosperity
smiled upon the two houses. Mark Hor-
ton, the son, and Jessie Reynolds, the
daughter, went to school together in the
neighboring village, and as the years wore
on they grew up to manhood and woman
hood fondly attached to each other, a
fact which gave the greatest satisfaction
to Reynolds. His wife. had died about
the time the war closed, and his daugh-
ter, being his only child, retained all his
affection, and he lavished upon her every
luxury that her heart could wish. The
quadroon woman remained with the
family, while the other slaves scattered
and found new homes when the close of
the war brought their freedom.
When the time came for Jessie Rev
nolds to quit the village school and fin
ish her education at college, her father
sought an interview with Mr.. Horton,
and lost no time in broaching the subject
and his daughter. He reminded the, old
man of the many years friendship that
had existed between them, and how
happy hewould be to have the son of his
dear friend and neighbor wed his only
daughter, who had grown into beauti-
full young lady, the belle of the country
for miles around, the envy of all the
young ladies thereabouts, and the most
popular girl to be found in the county,
Mr.. Horton liked Jessie, and so informed
her father. But he thought both her
and his son too young to enter into
matrimony He desired his son to make
mark in the world before marrying. 1t
was finally agreed that Jessie should 90 to
college for a year, and Mark should do
the same. Upon their return, should
they desire to marry, the parents
then would interpose no objections.
The young people were sent to college =
one in Kentucky, and one in New Jer-
sey. When they returned from their
collegiate studies they became infatuated
with each other ON sight Three months
thereafter there was wedding at the
Reynolds mansion, which proved to be
one of the grandest affairs of the kind
that had ever been witnessed in that
section. The loving pair were made man
and wife under the happiest and most
promising auspices. Each was heir to a
comfortable home and good income. All
the neighbors thought that the match
was the most appropriate they had
known, and everybody predicted happi.
ness and prosperity to the newly married
pair. The father of Mark presented him a
nice farm, and the father of Jessie had a
splendid residence built for them. After
brilliant honeymoon, Mark Horton and
his beautiful young wife concluded to
settle down on the farm which had been
given them, and Mark determined to
adopt farming as his. business Here all
went merry IS q marriage bell Pros
perity smiled upon them, and in due
time, son was born unto them, an
event which was celebrated with great
eciaf andswhieh brought unusual jdy ate
the parents. In She. ,Fiidst of all this
happy condition sof things the whole
neighboEhocd was thrown into a state Of
utter confusion by the report that Mark
Horton had separated from his wife, and
that he had fled bill for divorce, al
leging that fraud had been pefpetrated
upon him in the marriage; that his
wife had negro blood in her vein; and
therefore the marriage was null and
void. There were hundreds Of rumors,
some ridiculous, many malicious, and the