Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-24
A WESTERN ROMANCE.
It's DenOuement Through an AdVel
tisement in the Chicago Tribune.


Those who happened to be at the Union
Depot this morning probably noticed an
old and white-haired man who supported
his feeble body with a pair OF rustic
crutches. A lovely blonde woman, richly
attired and handsome beyond description,
assisted the Old man from the train to the
waiting room, and her marked respect
toward him attracted unusual atten-
ton. A Globe young man approached
the feeble traveller and asked nm
which way he was travelling. In the
meantime the lady went to an adjacent
ticket office to ascertain rates, ETC., While
our young man found the old gentleman a
willing and fluent cOnversati Onallst.
After informing the reporter that his
name was sylvester G. Abernethy, he
was asked who the lady accompanying
him was. ''It is long story" he said,
''but if you have time | will relate her
history in connection with my own" The
reporter agreed, and the old man gave his
entire history, which is briefly given be-
low:
Sylvester Abernethy was once mod
erately rich man in Northern Indiana
town. possessed of a family of three sons
and an adopted daughter. The girl was
little waif whom he had adopted from a
founding asylum at Indianapolis when
but a few months old. At this time his
youngest son was of age, and was doing
for himself. One by one his sons left for
other fields of labor, and in the course of
a few years Mr.. Abernethy found him
self alone with the little girl, whom
he loved as dearly as if she was
his own flesh and blood When
the child was fifteen years of
age a crisis came upon him, and, by a
failure which he did not explain, he lost
all he had. The girl, who had now grown
to be young lady, was constantly de-
voted to his cares and wants. He frankly
acknowledged that his sons had taken the
thOrny path, and he could not call on them
for assistance. The adopted girl, whom
he named Belle Abernethy, declared she
would 90 out and work and earn living
for them both. Finally an opportunity
presented itself whereby Miss Belle was
offered a luxurious position in another
part of the State The old man thought
it best for her to accept it, which she did.
Mr.. Abernethy, although over go years
of age, was not cOntented with his hum
bic home and gathering up his scanty
means started West. Drifting about from
place to place, and his infirmities fast ap-
pearing his money was soon spent. In
the meantime he had lost trace of the girl,
who had removed from her former home
to another city. For five years the old
man worked about at odd jobs as they
presented themselves in Southern Mis-
souri,. spending most of that time in ST..
Louis. From there he went to Kansas
City, and after remaining there
isOn, and went from there
to Topeka. At the latter place he was
taken violently sick, and had to rely on
the city authorities for shelter for his de-
crepit body. They claimed there that, as
he was not a resident, he could not be
kept at public expense. and as soon as he
was cOnvalescent they shipped him of.
He was again thrown upon the mercies Of
the world, and wandered about until he
found himself in an almshOuse in COwley
county. His infirmities prevented his
doing any manual labor, and he was en-
tlrely dependent upon public charity.
During this siege of woe Belle Aber-
nethy. the waif, turned out to be an heir
ess, the manner of her being cast Oft was
fully explained to her. and she was put
in possession of an estate worth $SS,000.
She still remembered the good man who
had adopted her and raised her from
childhood, and tried every means in her
power to ascertain his whereabouts, adj
vertising extensively in the leading pa
pers of the country. A gentleman con-
nected with the COWley county institu-
ton noticed the advertisement in the Chi
cago I ribuRe and called Mr.. Abernethy's
attention to it. The old gentleman pro-
duced the paper which was dated May
u, 1888, and allowed the re-
porter to copy the following
Wv anted-Information leading TO the
whereabouts of Sylvester G. Abernethy
y years of age; slight English accent;
low stature. Address Mrs. ii. NJ. Mar
tin, Box 200l, New Orleans, La" The
old man Immediately communicated with
! that address, and received word that the
advertiser was none other than Belle
Abernethy, who had married wealthy
sugar refner of Louisiana. His helpless
condition was communicated to her; she
wrote to him to expect her in Jbnne, and
true enough she came, and is now on her
way to her home with the man who cared
for her when she was helpless.
The old gentleman declared this to be
the hapDiest day of his life, and as he was
about through with his romantic history
the lady returned, and the reporter babe
him good-by and godspeed.