The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-10-23
A SOUTHERN ROMANCE.
Some Remarkable Facts Developed by
a Divorce Suit.

characterized the institution of slav
cry has just been illustrated in a re-
mark able divorce suit in an adjoining
county. In qniet, sober commun
ity like this, such an occurrence i
30 0nusual and extraordinary ;ha
many people were thrown into {
state of confusion worse than that
which scattered the tribes at the
Tower Of Babel
Daring the late war, about tho yea
1868, a welI~to,do family, consisting
OF husband, vito aud child, a daugh'
ter about four years of age, settled
in Walker county. They stated
that on account of operation of the
two armies on tho North Carolina
coast, where they resided, they were
forced to seek home elsewhere, and
when they started from home Texas
was their destination, but upon
reaching Walker county, 10 Ala
bama, they found it to be a retired,
peaceable and prosperous communi,
ty, and hence they concluded to set
tie down there. In addition to the
family - ohm IL. Reynolds, wife and
daughter, 40 already slated-therc
were several slaves. Among the
latter was handsome Quadroor
young woman, who was the maid Of
al! work for the family. She was
kindly treated, and most Of hor
time was occupied in caring for Mira
Reynolds who was an invalid.
After the war closed Mr.. Reynolds
concluded foreman in Walker coun-
ty, as be had secured good farm,
and was in fair circumstances con-
sidering the losses entaiIed upon
Southern men. When Mr.. kcy>
nolds lived in North Carolina one OF
his warmcst and trucst friends was a
neighbor by the name Of Henry llot
ton, who was also farmer well-to
do, and possessing traits which ren>
der neighbors much attached. Tho
great desire Of Reynolds was to in
duce his old friend and noighbor to
sell out his posaea9ions in North
Carolina and remove TO Walk or
county to assume tho same relations
he occupied ia former days. Rey~
nold9 addressed many warm, gushe
ing letters 30 Horton, describing the
beauties, the riches and bright pros
poets Of Walker county. Thoro was
farm near him that would suit
Horton exactly, and if the latter did
not have enough money to purchase
it, Reynolds would assist him. Fin
ally Horton yielded to the importun>
tiles Of his old friend, cold out his
property in North Carolina, and
with bis wife and son removed to
Walker county, whore he purchased
q farm q abort distance from where
Reynolds resided. Being thus set
tied down once more 40 nelghbors
and friends, things went smoothly
and prosperity smiled upon the two
houses. Mark Horton, the son, and
Jessie Rey nolds, the daughter, went
to school together in the village
and as the years wore on they grew
up to manhood and womanhooc
strongly attached to each other, fac
which gave the greatest satisfaction
to Reynolds. His wife had dice
about the time the war closed, ano
his daughter being his only child, re,
tanned all his affection, and he Law
ished upon her every luxury the
heart could wish The quadroor
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
Reynolds to quit the village school
and finish 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 and his
daughter. He reminded the ole
/ man Of the many years, friendshiE
that had existed between them, anc
how happy no would be to have ,he
SOD of his dear friend and neiehboI
wed his only daughter, who had no"
grown into T. beautiful young lady,
the belle Of the country for miles
around, the envy Of all the other
young ladies Whereabouts, and the
most popular girl to be found in lhe
country. MIR. Horton liked Jessie,
and SO informed her father But he
thought her and his sen too young
Just then to enter into matrimony.
He desired his son to make a mark
in tho world before marrying. 1t
was fnally agreed, however, that
Jessie should go to college year,
and Mark should do the same. Up
their return should they desire to
marry the parents would interpose
no objections. The young people
were sent to college-one in Keu-
lucky and the other in New Jersey.
When they returned from their OIL
legIate studies they became iufatua>
ted With each on sight. Three
months thereafter there was a we'd
| ding at the Reynolds mansion,
which proved to be one of the grand
est affairs of the kind that had ever
been witnessed in that section. The
loving pair were made man and wife
under the happiest auspices. AL
the neighbors predicted happiness
4