Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-27
A SAD VIRGINIA ROMANCE.
The True Story ora Too Passionate and
UnforgivIng Father and Proud Son.

EFcE EF6Shs
While visiting an old friend in Vir-
ginia village a month ago | attended wor-
ship one Sunday at the parish church,
and was very much attracted by an aged
and handsome couple who sat in the pew
opposite me. The pastor preached very
affecting sermon on the ''PrOdigals Re-
turn" which, 1 noticed, affected the old
lady to tears and had a marked effect on
the gentleman. l mentioned the eircum-
stance that evening to my friend, when
she related TO me the following sad, true
story:
The old couple we're Dir. and Mrs. Col.
d. They were both Of the most aristo-
cratic, wealthy families of Virginia. Col.
ID. was an honorable, upright gentleman,
but very proud and passionate. He had
one son, GUS" his only heir-a warm
hearted, generous, pleasing young man,
just turning his twenty-hrst year. He
was well known throughout the county,
and was beloved by all who knew him.
He inherited his fathers pride, but not
his violent nature.
About a mile from Col. DIS residence
lived a gentleman between whose family
and the ColOneFs feud of long standing
existed. Col. d. had frequently warned
his son not, under any circumstances, to
visit any member of the gentleman's
family. A daughter of the hated house,
on her eighteenth birthday, gave large
party, to which all the young people
were invited, including the venerable
ColoneIs son Gus. On hearing of the
party and his sons invitation to it, he
sent for him and most positively forbade
him to attend. The son promised he
would not.
The invitations were for four O'Clock,
as a supper on the lawn was part of the
programme. About three o'clock on that
day Gus called for his team, splendid
pair of handsome grays, and ordered the
cOachman to drive him. Some time after
his departure Col. D., who had been away
since morning, returned, and, on asking
for his son, was informed by one Of the
servants that he had driven out two hours
ago. The Colonel flew into a passion,
called for his hunting whip, mounted his
horse and rode swiftly towards his neigh
boris mansion. AS he dashed past he saw
his sons team under the trees and cared
for by bis own c0achman. lie kept on
to a small shady lane leading in an Oppo-
site direction from the house, when he
suddenly came upon his son walking with
young lady, and, without a word, he
rode up, seized him and cut him several
times over the face and back with his
riding whip. "YOu ungrateful scOun-
drelV he said, ''neyer cross my path
again." The COloneFs face was white
with passion as he rode away.
This happened over fifteen years ago,
and, although thousands of dollars have
been spent and every effort made to find
some traces of the missing man, they have
been Intellectual, and not one person who
knew him before has ever seen him since
that day. The sad truth was that the
COlOnePs son, it was found atterward-
lad not gone to that party, but loaned his
team to young friend to whom both his
father and himself were warmly attached,
and who drove Gus as far as the lane
where his father met him and chastised
him in the presence of her he loved, and
whom he had accidentally met. Y.
RichmODd Va