The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-10-16
A SOUTHERN ROMANCE.


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 destihation, but upon
reaching Walker COUNTY, in that state,
they found it to be a retired, peaceable
and prosperous community, and hence
they concluded osettle down there. In
addition to the family John H. Rey-
nolds, wife and daughter, as already
stated-there were several slaves Among
r the latter was handsome quadroon
- young woman who was the maid of all
t7 work for the family. She was kindly
treated, however, and most of her time
h was occupied in caring for Mrs. Reynolds
who was an invalid. ~
-'-I After the war closed DIR. Reynolds
concluded 10 remain in Walker county,
as he had secured good farm and was
in fair circumstances considering the
Lrr losses entailed upon Southern men,
tl aJliWhen Mr.. Reynolds lived in North
tiHT Carolina, one of his warmest and truest
friends was a neighbor by the name of
Henry Horton, who was also farmer
well-todo, and possessing traits which
render neighbors much attached. The
great desire of Reynolds was to induce
his old friend and neighbor to sell out
his possessions in North Carolina and re-
moye 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
49, , near him that would suit Horton exactly,
i and IL the latter didsnot have enough
u money to purchase u 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 a
farm a short distance from where Rey-
%ofs as snd rs0Ss eOSn
things went smoothly, and prosperity
li smiled upon the two houses. Mark Hor-
ton, the son, and Jessie Reynolds, the
l daughter, went to school together in the
neighboring village, and as the years wore
on they grew up to manhood and woman
..a hood fo1dly1 attached to each other,
Fact which, gave the greatest satisfaction
TO Reyholds 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
rs guadroon woman remained with the
s 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
.'. ishlher education at college, her father
al sought ah ntersiew with Mr.. Horton,
gi9fll and lost no time in broaching the subject
$50 ;VliiAof the future, marriaes9ofs Mark Horton
.0Iri and his daughter He reminded the old
man Of the many years friendship that
had, existed between them, and how
happy he would be to have the son of his
dear friend and neighbor wed his only
-EvEg daughter, who had growninto beauti-
thab bol ltc of he
.ea1>foi miles aroand, 1he envy nv 20 Of all the
....., d, young ladies thereabouts and the most
sr 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
f'itls matrimohy. He desired his son to make
Z 'IDp II. markin the world before marrying. II
i.J q lwasfnslly agreed that leslie should go tc
rdll college TOR a year, and Mark should dc
the same. Upon their return, should
they desire to marry, the parent:
.J'1 then would interpose no objections
.Ihe young people were sent to college :
one In Kentucky, and one in New Jer
sey: When they returned from theii
collegiate studies they became infatuated
with each other on sight. Three months
thereafter there was wedding, at tht
Reynolds mansion, which proved to bI
one Of the grandest affairs of the kline
sthat had ever been witnessed. i'm stha
section. The loving pair were made mar
and wife under the hapPiest apd mos
promising auspices Each was heir to
comfortable home and good income, Al
the neighbors thought that the mattel
was the most appropriate they hat
known, and everybody predicted happi
ness and prosperity TO the newly nsarriet
pair. The father of Mark presented him,
pa nice farm, and the father of Jcssehad 4
splendid residence built for them. fIffte
a brilliant honeymoon, Mark Horton anC
his beautiful young wife concluded L
settle down on the farm which had BEEF
given them, and Mark determined h
adopt farming as his business. Here al
went merry as a marriage bell, ! Pros
perity smiled upon them, and In sdu
time a son was born unto them, 20 al
event which was celebrated with grea
ectat, and which brought unusual Joy )
the parents. in the midst of all s'thi
happy condition of things the wliol
neighborhood was thrown into state O
utter confusion by the report that Mar
Horton had separated from his wife an
that he had filed a bill for divorce, al
legng that a fraud had been perpetrater
upon him in the marriage; that hi
wife had negro blood in her vein an,
therefore the marriage was nall am
void. There were hundreds of rumors
some ridiculous, many malicious, and tn
remainder about near the truth As
usual in such cases. The houses on Rey
nolds and Horton were in a flutter, an
were closed TO all outsiders. The cas-
:!s Z ~ Il; 4.
man, Lucy Shepherd, heretofore referre
TO- was taken quite ILL., and when it b,
came apparent that she could not liy
III but few days she secretly reqneste
aVDr. Blackman, the physician stfendin
her, 10 inform Mark Horton that she ha
something of importance tocommunicat
to him, and desired him to call and sc
her at once. Mr.. Horton, in response
this request, called about an hour afte