Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-08-09

signed. 1t Is now the property of Sena-
tor Bayard, who makes 1t his Delaware
home, and has resided here for many
years.
This was the home Of the celebrated
lilgant until she reached womanhood.-
She was brought here when quite child
by Col. Davis. He was friend Of her
father. and he was made her guardian. -
When Daniel Clark, the proud Southern
planter, had married Myra's mother, he
was not willing to acknowledge his wife
before the world, and for some reason
not clearly explained sent the future
Mrs. Gaines to Col. Davis. Here she
remained for long years unconscious of
the mystery surrounding her birth, till
she married VIM. Whitney, Of New
York, her first husband, and started out
into the world with him to lay bare the
secret of her birth and battle for the
rightful Inheritance. in all the strange
experience of this brave and indOmita-
bic woman there Is no incident more in
toresting, romantic and characteristic
than her marriage with Mr.. Whitney,
the father Of her son, whose tragic
death In Washington short time ago
has occasioned such general interest, In
1t Is revealed but an early evidence Of
her spirit and pluck, which she showed
to such remarkable extent in after
years. Although Mrs. Gaines has fig
ured prominently in the newspapers for
more than two score years, the story has
never been published. 1t will be found
interesting.
When she came to Delaware Place
from her fathers plantation in Louisiana,
the child Myra Clark was too small to
know that her father had ordered her
to be sent away to be known by another
name. She was ut once taken into Col,
Davis household as one Of his own chill
dren. AS she grew up she was taught
that he was her father, and, of course,
grew to regard his rs such. Col. Davis
was Of an old Delaware family. His an
ccstors fought with distinction in the
revolutionary war. His father was in
the war Of 1912, and won great State dis
tlncton IN his defense OF Lewes at the
Delaware Brcakwater when the British
attacked that place. He had three sons,
and he named them peculiarly, through
State pride. One was named Delaware,
another Sussex, after the lower county
IN the State, (thc one In which he was
born,) and the third Kent, after the mid
die county. 1t was u saying here dur
ing the life Of Col, Davis that he should
have had another son, whom he could
have named after Newcastle, the upper
county, and then he would have had the
State and all three counties represented
by name In his family. Col. Davis was
very rich and lived at Delaware place IN
magnificent style. In society he and his
family were leaders, and his home was
the scene of much gaiety. He was also
n man of intelligence and education, bNt
had an impcnous will and hot temper.
q In this social atmosphere the girl
grew into beautiful woman Of many
accomplishments and full Of grace aud
vlyacity. She had many sutors, but
turned deaf ear to all their plcadlngs
until she met Whitney, wealthy New
Yorker Of much learning. They grew
to love each other, and met much wton
Myra was away from home. FIJI Aly
Whitney came to Wilmington to ask
Col. Davis for the hand of his supposed
daughter In marriage. lie was conf
dent of success aud not prepared for the
cold reception hc received. His offer
was indignantly refused, and the gu0rdl-
an ordered Whitney from the house.
They both plead with him, but his angor
got the better of his habiiun courtesy, |
and had whitney elected from the house. |
Myra still urged him TO give hls consent, |
aud finally lac declared that he was not |
her father, but II he was he would lock |
her up for the rest Of her life. Had Col |
Davis been prudent man ho would not |
have let the secret out. To let Myra |
Clark know that nc wns an impostcr, |
aud one who had now no right to cXor-
else any control over hcr--a thing she |
had never before suspcctcd-was 10 put |
nm end to all of hls plans aud careful |
ronccnlmcnt of the truo fhcts Of her his
tory. Why he had persistcntly kept the |
fact Of Myra's birth u secret has since |
been discovered. I'm his hands Daniel |
Clarke, before his death and after he |
had separated from his wnyward wife, |
placed $500 900, fearing business trouble.
Davis was ~ hold n In trust, but he nov |
rr told hla ward about the money until |
HE secret was wrung from his llps.-
II Il also known that Col. Davis 80 |
objected to the girls mar
riarc with Whitney because he had De. |
signed that she should we'd one of his |
sons, aud keep the large sum of money |
which was hers by right In hs posses |
sion. llnylng learned from her guatdi-
an that BE- was not her father, Myra |
Clark NJ once determined to net for her. |
self. Col. Davis still insisted on acting |
The part of her guardian, aud refused |
io permit the marriage TO take place.
The young couple met by stealth and |
planned en- clopomcnt, In arranging |
for the Runaway match they were ussist-
rd hy u Miss williamson, who wns d |
Iuading belle, particular friend of My. |
ra. aud n daughter Of Nicholns q. VIII |
about ihnt time Mayor Of the |
ity. The details Of the cscapadc were |
1uictly fixed mp aud as quietly put into |
and before Col Davis knew |
ANYTHING Of the march which had been
stolen upon him the young couple were
In place of concealmcni awaiting the |
arrival Of minister. Old citizens slill |
tell with intcrcal how the doughty Colo
mel noted when he first learned of The !
exploit. lie tore around The |
house IN frantic rage, yowlng vengeance |
nn whitney md The girl. md finally or. |
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