Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-16
A ROMANCE.
Return After Thirty Years Alb
sence Of Bartholomew Fred
eric Lloyd.
Chicago Special

<IlCdtO DpoNluAs
There is great rejoicing in No. 10.
South Ann street, where a widow,
Mrs. Lloyd, and her family have re
sided for many years. Thirty years
ago her husband and fourteen year
old son started for the California gold
mines, hoping to make a speedy for.
tune and rejoin their family. Three
months afterward, Horace, the son,
ragged and half starved, reached
home, saying that The train he and his
father started with was attacked by
Indians and he alone escaped.
Mrs. Lloyd cherished the hope for
seven years that her husband might
still be alive. But they were not
years of poverty. She started a mil
linery store, which proved successful,
and also made judicious s~peculations
in real estate, which made her indie
pendent in a few years. Not hearing
of her husband Tor SO long, she put
on widows weeds and mourned him
as dead.
Mrs, Lloyd was still young at forty
five, and several gentlemen sought to
console her. She, however, valued
her Independence, and resolved not to
sacrifice it until seven years had made
it certain that her husband was indeed
dead.
1t is not essential to the story to
namo The man who offered himself
while the widow was poor, and re-
manned constant almost as long as
Jacob served for Sarah. He won
eventually and the twain became one
flesh. The marriage, however, was
anything but happy. Mrs. Lloyd, to
provide against the possibility Of being
sought for her wealth, had transferred
her property in trust to her daughter.
As soon as her second husband ascer-
tanned this fact, his protested love
turned to bitterness. Peace fed from
the family and was only restored after
the merciful law of Illinois had dis
solved the matrimonial bond which
bound them together. Resuming her
name Of Mrs. Lloyd. she also resumed
her business and prosecuted it with
diligence, until very recently she
found herself able to retire with an
easy competency. Her son, Horace
II. Lloyd, lived with her.
On Sunday morning Mrs. LLOYD
answered a ring at the front door bell.
A tall, handsome man, with hair as
white as snow, wrinkled but still erect.
and wearing a patch over bis left eve,
asked to see DR.. Horace II. LLOYD.
Tell me your business and III tell
you # you can see him" said Mrs.
Lloyd.
Il am Bartholomew Frederick
Lloyd" the man began, but Mrs.
Lloyd waited to hear no more. Her
limbs almost refused to do their duty
as she tottered toward her son sleepine
on the lounge, and babe him see who
il was would speak with him.
"Don't you know your father" the
old man asked
You are not my father" the son
rejoined, making a motion as If to
throw him off the sloop. His mother
staid his arm, aud in a few minutes
the fog was cleared away, the wife
recognized her husband and the SON
his father. The sons joy was extrava-
CANT. The old man, weak from recent
sickness, was placed tenderly in the
best bed, and the sisters and their
children we're summoned from their
homes 10 participate in the rejoicing.
He was among the refugees who
temporarily resided in Cairo, when
compelled to flee to the protection Of
the British feet off Alexandria when
the present unpleasantness was ripen-
ing, he vas landed at Malta, and made
his way thence TO Baltimore, which he
reached a week ago. A Chicago al
rectory contained the name of Horace
II. Lloyd, and he journ.yed hither.
hardly daring to hope that it was his
son, and fully persuaded that his wife
had long since joined the majority.
His welcome from his children was
u~naffectedly joyful, and his wife hopes
that she may be in time to get used TO
elieving him alive.