The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-05
A SOUTHERN ROMANCE.
Some Remarkable Facts Devel-
0ped by a Divorce Suit.
3
How an Alabama Community Was
Imposed On, and Two Families
Plunged into Distress
A Happy Marriage
Rudely Broken.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial

DHe oil the many eVll6 WHICH CnafACteTtHGQ
the institution OF slavery has just been illus
trated In remarkable divorce suit In an adj
joining county. Tho facts In this remarkable
case would form excellent groundwork for
first-class romance In u quiet, sober COM
munity like this, such an occurrence 10 80 un-
usual and extraordinary that many people
were thrown into state OF confusion worse
than that which scattered the tribes at the
Tower OF Babel
During the late war, about the year 1868, q
weil-to-do family, consisting OF husband, wife
and child, q daughter about four 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 re-
sided, they were forced to seek q home else
where, and when they started from their
North Carolina home Texas WINS their destina-
tion, but upon reaching Walker county, In this
State, they found 1t to be q retired, peaceable
and prosperous community, and hence they
concluded to settle down there. In addition
to the family--John II. Reynolds, wife and
daughter, as already stated-there were sew
erHl slaves. Among the latter was hand
some quadroon young woman, who was the
| maid of all work for the family. She was
kindly treated, however. and most OF her time
| WIS occupied In caring for Mrs. Reynolds,
| who was OIL Invalid.
| After tue war closed Mr.. Reynolds concluded
| to remain In Walker county, as he had &C.
| cured q good farm, and was In fur circum-
stances considering the Losses enAlled upon
Southern men. When Mr. Reynolds lived In
| North Carolina one Of his warmest and truest
| friends was u nelghbor ny the name Of Henry
| Horton, VINO was also farmer Well-to-do,
aud possessing traits winch render nelghbors
was TO induce his old friend and neighbor TO
| sell out his possessions IN North Carolina
| and removet TO walker county, To- assume the
same relations ne occupied IN former days.
Reynolds addressed many warm, gushing
letters TO Horton, describing Inc beauties, the
riches aud bright prospects Of Walker county.
There was farm near him that would
suit Horton exactly, and II tho latter, did
not haYe enough money to purchase
| 1t, 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 aud son removed
to Walker county, where he purchased q
rssasa Being hns sstea d gase once mors
rs neiKhbors and friends, things went smooth
~ and prosperity smiled upon the two
houses. Mark Horton, the son, and Jessie
Reynolds, the daug hter, went to school to-
years wore on they grew up to manhood and
womanhood strongly attached to each other,
@ fact which gave the greatest satisfaction to
Reynolds. Ills wife had died about the time
|
only child, retained all his affection, and he
lavished upon her every luxury the heart could
wish. The qnndroon woman remained with
the FAMILY, Wnlie inc otnef slaves scattered
and found new homes when the close Of the
War proagnt tneir ireeaom; ,,
| When the time came Tor Jessie Reynolds to
! quit the village 5chool and finish her education
Of college, her father souRht an interview
with MI. horton, ana iosJ no time In broach.
ing the subject os the future marriage OF
/
the old man OF the many years, friendship
that had existed between them, and how hap
Ply he would be TO have the son OF bis dear
friend and neighbor wed his only daughter,
lady, the belle Of the country for miles
around, the envy OF all the other young ladies
thereaDonts, and the most popular girl to be
found 10 the country. MI. Horton liked Jes-
sic, and 80 informed her father. But he
Thought her ana hls son too young just then
TO enter Into matrimony. He de-
sired his son to make q mark In
the world before marrying. u WAS finhl-
go to college year, and Mark should TO the
same. Upon tneir return should they eslre
10 marry tae parents would lnterpose nc OBJ
lectlons. Inc young people were sent to col
lege-one ID henn t ana me other IN New
Jersey: Wnen tney returned from their collie
giate studieg tney became infatuated with each
other on sight. Three months thereafter there
was wedding at the Reynolds. mansion,
when PROVED 70 pe one OF Inc grandest affairs
of the kind that had ever been witnessed ID
that section. me loving pair were made
man ana VIE under tne nappleet and most
promising auspices. Eacn was heir to a COM
Portable nome ana good income. All the neigh
bors thought that this match was the most
appropriate they had known, and everybody
predicted happiness ana prosperity to
the newly married pair. Ihe father OF Mark
presented him nice farm, and the father Of
Jessie had splendid residence built for them.
After brilliant honeymoon, Mark Horton
and h1s beautiful young wife concluded to
settle Gown on the farm Whlcn had been given
as mig business. Here all went merry as q
marriage Deii. prosperity smiled upon them,
ana IN que tlme son was born unto them
an event wnlch was celebrated with great
parents. Ia tne midst 81 al TINS happy con-
| . ullion VI Iulngs Tue Wnoie helRnDoTnoou Was
/