The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-10-23
A SOUTHERN ROMACE.

A Remarkable Divorce Suit in ALBANIA.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.
One of the mnny evils which charac-
terized the institution OF slavery has Just
been illustrated in remarkable divorce
suit. The facts in this remarkable case
would form excellent groundwork for a
first-class romance. In a quiet: sober
community like this, such an occurrence
is so unusual and extraordinary that many
people were thrown into state of con-
fusion worse than that which scattered
the tribes at the Tower OF Babel.
During the late War, about the year
1868, wel[to-do family, consisting of
husband, wife, and child, daug hter
about years of age, settled in Walker
County. 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 a home else
where, 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 retired, peaceable, and prosperous
community, and hence they concluded to
settle down there. In addition to the
family-John H. Reynolds, wife, and
daughter, as already stated-there were
several slaves. Among the latter was a
handsome quadroon young woman who
was 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.
After the war closed Mr.. Reynolds con-
cluded to reman in Walker county. as he
had secured good farm, anil as in fair
circumstances considering the losses en-
tailed upon Southern men. When Mr.
Reynolds lived in North Carolina, one of
his warmest and truest friends was a
neighbor by the name of Henry Horton,
who was also farmer well-to-do and
possessing traits which render neignbors
much attached. The great desire of
Reynolds was to induce his old friend to
sell out his possessions in North Caro-
lima and remove to Walker county, to as
sumo the same relations he occupied in
former days. Reynolds addressed many
warm gushing letters 10 Horton, describ-
ing the beauties, the riches, and bright
prospects of Walker county. There was
farm near that would suit him exactly,
and if the latter did not have money
enough to purchase it, Reynolds would
assist HIM. Finally Horton yielded to
the opportunities of his old friend, sold
out his property IN North Carolina. and
with his wife and son removed to Walk
er county, where he purchased farm a
short distance from where Reynolds re-
sided. Being thus settled down once
more as old neighbors and friends, things
went smoothly, and prosperity smiled
upon the two houses. Mark Horton, the
son, and Jessie Reynolds, the daug liter,
went to school together in the neighbor-
ing village, and as the years wore on
they grew up to manhood and woman
hood tondly attached to each Others
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 lavisAed upon her every
luxury the heart could wish. The quad
room 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 of
the future marriage Of Mark Horton