The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-03
Giving Up Wealth for Love.

Giving Up Wealth for Love.
A reporter of the Express learned
from Mr.. James Holt. of Concho, the
particulars of history that if properly
handled would make the web and wool
of as romantic a novel as was ever
written. 1t is the story of beautiful
girl who voluntarily leaves all the lux
uries and eegances of beautiful home
in Philadelphia to follow lover to the
wilds of Texas Blanche Thomas was
the only daughter of wealthy and fond
parents, who lavished upon her all that
wealth could purchase. A graduate of
celebrated seminary, naturally bright
and vivacious, and with a beauty match
less in its loneliness, she became with
out an effort a society belle. Her
dresses from Worth, her equipages, her
brown-stone house on Chestnut street,
were the envy of many and the ambi-
ton of few. Her father took her with
him to Paris, where she became the
rage in the American colony there, and
her toilets were described at length in
La MinerUe and Figaro. Many admir-
ers had aspired to her hand-many
wealthy noblemen had offered them
selves in marriage. but all in vain. She
was the theme of conversation alike in
the salon and the cafe, and while adj
mired for her many charms, she was
considered cold and heartless.
Her parents at last became vexed at
her continued refusal of such splendid
offers, and did ali in their power to
make hermarry wealthy English baro-
net, but without avail. When pressed
by her father for an explanation of her
strange conduct, she reluctantly ac-
knowledged she was in love, and had
been since her childhood, with the son
of the manager of her fathers coal
mines in Pittsburgh. This so enraged
her father that he forbade her even to
mention the young mans name again,
and unthinkingly told her she must Sc
lect some eligible party within six
months, or cease to be his daughter.
Thinking him to be in earnest, and
knowing him to be man of his word,
the poor girl packed up a few clothes,
and, taking what money she had in
her purse at the time, took passage
on an outward bound steamer
for New York. Arriving there she tel
graphed to her lover in Pittsburgh, who
did not even stop to change his mining
clothes, so afraid was he that he would
miss the fast train that was to carry him
to the object of his affections.
There was quiet little marriage at
Grace Church the next day, and the
spoiled child of fortune was the wife of
brawny, muscular miner.
But the question now arose, what were
they to do? for she had no money, aud
what little he had would not last long,
as he sacrificed his position in the mines
when marrying her. After much thought
and a great amount of planning it was
decided to come to Texas and here
build for themselves home. He pre-
empted and purchased land and sheep
in Taylor County, built house of two
small rooms, and while she cooked,
washed and attended to the humble av-
ocations of household drudgery he
looked after the sheep and cultivated
few acres of land No thoughts of past
splendor came to disturb her calm tran
guilty and perfect happiness, but every
day seemed to be fuller of pleasure than
the last, and their happiness was as deep
and eternal as the occult skies above.
Their very isolation brought them closer
together and strengthened a love that
was as pure as it was eternal.
A year of perfect but quiet happiness
passed by. when the husband broke his
leg, and the work of watching the sheep
devolved upon the wife. Nursing her
sick husband and looking after the out
door department took up most of her
time. But one afternoon as she was
walking toward the house in her simple
country dress, a party of gentlemen
rode up, and one of them was her father.
who had been searching for his daughter
since her departure from Paris. Hear
ing of her marriage in New York, he
bitterly rcpented his hasty words, and
had followed her to Texas. Calm re-
lection had taught him that hers had.
after all, been the better choice, and he
was only too glad to recognize in her
husband a son-in-law. He persuaded
them to give up their home in Texas for
time and return with him to Philadel-
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