The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1882-10-19
a ROM AMoE IN SKELETON

A ROMANCE IN SKELETON.
Eleven years ago Charles Ii. Mar
tin and Martha Spencer were mar
ried in this city. After their mod
est wedding the young people, will
their joint savings, bought a smal
farm near Obetlin ADD became resi-
dents of Lorain County, where the.
! lived for year. Martin was the
attacked with the Western fever il
its most acute form, and selling hi
farm, started for Neosho Valley
Kas., which at that time was wide
~ advertised as the original Garder
of Eden fcom which Adam and Eve
were evicted. Mrs. Martin was left
10 Ohio, intending TO remain until
her husband should locate q farm
and send for her.
Martin, when he struck the bound
less West, caught the fever in dead
earnest, and ak months was dry
locked at Usage City, village
short distance south of Topeka, of
which the only metropolitan charac-
teristic is the name. When first
Frustrated the unfortunate man wrote
for his wife, but the letter never
reached her, and shortly before his
recovery he had the satisfaction of
receiving his own missive through
the Dead Letter Department. He
wrote again, but received no re-
spouse, and when able to travel
started for Ohio again with much
lighter purse. He went to Oberlin
aud found that his wife, after wait
ing vainly for a letter from her bus
band, had gone to Chester to her
aunts. To Chester Martin proceed
ed at once, and there was informed
that the aunt had occupied lot 10
the village cemetary for four months
and that Mrs. Martin had gone to
Cleveland. The anxious husband
came to this city and advertised and
searched, but in vain. Heart brok
on and discouraged Martin again de-
parted westward. He lost what lit-
tie money he had remaining, and
wandered about for two years aim
lessIy. The Black Hills excitement
caught him, and he was one of the
first to stake out a claim therein.
He located several in succession,
selling them 10 turn to newcomers,
and at the end of three years found
himself worth in the neighborhood
of $4,000, which he invested in
ranch in Southern Kansas and set~
tied down to the life Of cattle
grower.
Last Monday he again appeared
in this city in response to letter
sent him and was reunited to the
wife from whom he had been separ
ated for nearly ten years. After
the death of her relative, Mrs. Mar
tin had not gone to Cleveland, as
was thought, but had made Paines~
vile the objective point. There she
remained but a few weeks, and tax
ing what little wealth she inherited
from her aunt, started for Kansas to
seek her husband. She returned
three months later, aud has ever
since made Cleveland home, sup
porting herself by sewing. She
was informed Of her husbands search
for her here, bat all efforts to dis
cover q trace of him through letters
to the West were fruitIess, and she
calmly waited for events to occur
without attempting to force results.
Her patience was rewarded, for ear
Iy In the present month lettsr was
received at Chester from the long
absent Martin, asking if anything
had been heard Of his wife,
The last few days have been spent
by long,separated pair in renewing
the courtship of their youth and re-
ceiving the congratulations Of the
friends gained by the lady during
her eight years. residence on the
West Side. Next week they start
for Florence, Kas., near which town
Martins farm lies, and whore his
check is good for $25, 000.- CIeUe-
lond Herald.