The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04
A TENNESSEE ROMANCE.
The Most Remarkable Clandestine Marriage
ON Record.

The Most Remarkable Clandestine Marriage
ON Record.
In one of the most aristocratic neighbor-
hoods in Sumner county, Tennessee, some
eight miles from Gallatin, resides q family
proud of their geneaology, and in princely
circumstances. Scarcely five miles away
resides another family, equally as wealthy
and as aristocratic. For quarter of q cen
tury the heads OF these two powerful fam
tiles have been at war. On several occasions
the code" has been consulted, and only
the intervention OF mutual friends pre-
vented their misunderstanding from being
settled by it years ago. Each thinks the
other has done him deep wrong. Each
cherishes in his bosom eternal hatred toward
the other, and there is no abating it. Both
of these gentlemen have nice. intelligent
families. One has son, the other daugh-
ter. They were reared, though IN the same
neighborhood. entirely strangers. Both had
been off at school for several years. Both
returned home in the early part of the sum
mer OF 1876, full blown graduates. They
met several weeks afterward at q neighbor-
hood picnic, and looked upon each other
for the first time. The young man beheld
the wonderful beauty of the fair one with
feeling we know not how to describe. He
sought her acquaintance, which was
granted, and the youthful and blushing,
though handsome pair, strolled off alone,
and seated themselves upon the velvety sod
beneath the spreading trees.
"Two congenial souls had met,
And were one forever more"
Their superior education fitted them for the
society of none but themselves In flaming
words, full of eloquent meaning, the young
man pledged his love. and asked hers in re-
turn. She gave him in return all be asked,
and in so doing the inimitable ripple of her
voice made music to the sweet sentiments of
her soul, the harmony of which fell upon
his too welcome ears as pure, as soft, as gen.
. a.H4 81
pletely
Tapped him in soft Lydian airs;
In notes with many winding bout
Oflinked sweetness long drawn out;
With wanton head and gfddy cunning,
The melting voice through mazes running,
Untwlsting all the chains thai tie
The hidden soul of harmony"
During this time the fathers of the lovers
were looking on, neither knowing with
whom his child was associating, but both
had expressed themselves complimentary to
the 'fne-looking couple" On inquiry, the
situation was explained to them. They both
became frantic with rage, and left the picnic
thoroughly disguised with the idea of their
children associating with such stock. The
severe criticism that each one of the new
lovers received from their parents that night
may well be imagined. 1t was such at least
as to cast pail of darkness over the bright
path of life which they had SO beautifully
pictured few hours before,
The old folks gave themselves no further
trouble about the matter, thinking. of course,
that their children would never be guilty OF
keeping such company again. But the
| young folks did not think SO. They arranged
another meeting and resolved to marry.
| They both knew if their parents found II
out they would be disinherited, SO they re-
solved 10 keep it secret if possible.
1t was on q beautiful moonlight night IN
October, 1876, that the determined lovers
stole out from the grand old mansion of the
young brides father, and, getting into q
buggy, quietly drove some two miles away
where they met friend and justice of the
peace who had procured the license, and
they were surely and solemnly joined in the
holy bonds of matrimony, but in the open
air at the dead hour of night. OF course, nc
woman but the bride was present, or the
secret would have been out long ago. The
young lady returned to her home, the young
man to his. How often, when or where they
met, nobody knows but themselves. They
have been married now two years and seven
months, and nobody would have thought it
What the old folks will do about it, tn,
misty future alone can reveal. 1t will be
interesting to know how this remarkable
marriage will end.