The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-07-10
A Leadville Romance.

Leadville is now passing through it's
most romantic period, and from now
until we settle into a city of 10000 in
habitants such instances as we are
about to relate will be of not unfre-
quent occurrence. The circumstances
came to knowledge of the reporter at
the dinner table this afternoon, and,
acting upon the hint, the clew was fol,
lowed up until at last one of those life
histories which occur now and then, and
inspire new faith in human nature was
revealed. Five years ago a young man
whom we shall call Smith because that
is not his name, was married to beau
tiful girl in one of the interior towns of
Iowa. Smith was then only 90 years
old, though intelligent, we'll educated
and active, was only clerk in dry
goods store, depending upon meagre
salary for subsistence. Common pru-
dence should have dictated to the young
couple the propriety Of waiting, but they
loved each other and laughed at the fu-
ture. The father of the young lady was
one of the pioneers of the town, rich,
naughty and proud. He was en-
ragged at the match, and coarsely told
the delicate young girl she had made a
hard bed for herself and must lie
in it, With an amount of money
ridiculously small, considering his
wealth, he dismissed her finally. The
couple went to housekeeping, but, with
all their love and economy, failed to
make both ends meet. The money
which the young wife brought was OK
pended during the first year, and love
which Laughed at locksmths' flew out
of the window when poverty came in at
the door. Misundersta ndings, bicker-
ings and quarrels followed each other in
rapid succession, and finally it seemed
to the unhappy pair that it was impos-
sible for them to live together, and after
q somewhat more violent scene than
usual, Mrs. Smith took her babe and
went to her fathers, only to have the
door shut in her face. Returning to
her own home, she found that her hus-
band had left a note stating that she
should never see him again. In fit of
desperation, she sold the stock of furni-
ture, placed her babe in charge of her hus-
bands parents, with enough money to
make it comfortable for year, and
started for large city to make living.
This was on Y little more than year
ago. The old story of young, refined
and unprotected female in large city
was re.enacted Ill ler case. Always
finding admirers, she drifted from city to
city, occasionally sending little money
for the care of her babe, which she loved
with passionate tenderness. During all
this time, however, she never forgot her
husband, having learned that her love
/ had been clouded, not extinguished. Last
week she arrived in Leadville. As she
descended from the coach she noticed in
the throng of bronzed faces one that
seemed strangely familiar, though COW
cred with an enormous beard. 1t disap-
peared, and she went to her lodging with
a strange feeling of unrest and isolation.
The next day in walking about town she
again encountered that face and met
glance that caused her to tremble In
another instant both her hands were
seized, and she knew that her husband,
whom she had never ceased to love,
stood before her. He had come to
Leadville Immediately after their separa-
ton, and prospered, and supposing she
was still at her fathers, was about start
ing home with sufficient means to
establish himself in business in their
native town. She told him all; he for
gave all; and the next day the strangely
united couple left to begin new and
happier life.-Leadville Eclipse.