The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-12

Am Ger True Love Tale.
While visiting an old friend in a
Virginia village a month ago I attend
ed worship 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 SER
mon on the "Prodigals Return"
which, | noticed, affected the old lady
to tears and had marked effect on
the gentleman. mentioned the cir
cumstance that evening to my friend,
when she related to me the following
sad, true story: The old couple were
Mr.. and Mrs. Colonel d. They were
both of the most aristocratic, wealthy
families of Virginia Colonel D. 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-first 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 mile from Colonel DIS
residence lived gentleman between
whose family and the colonels fued
of long standing existed. Colonel d.
had frequently warned his son not, I'M
der any circumstances, to visit any
member of the gentleman's family.
A daughter OF the hated house, on her
eighteenth birthday, gave large par
ty, to which all the young people were
invited, including the venerable colo
nel's son Gus. On hearing Of the par
/ ty and his sons imitation to 1.-THE 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,
a splendid pair of handsome grays,
and ordered the coachman to drive
him. Some time after his departure
Colonel 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 few into a
passion, called for his hunting whip,
mounted his horse and rode swiftly
towards his neighbours mansion. AS
he dashed past he saw his sons team
under the trees and cared for by his
own coachman. He kept on to a
small shady lane leading in an oppo-
site direction from the house, when
he suddenly came upon his son walk.
ing with a 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 scoundrel," he said, "never
cross my path again" The colonels
face was white with passion as he rode
away. Y - r -T-t ~-y +-v,
This happenee over fifteen years
ago, and, although thousands of dol
lars have been spent and every effort
made to find some trace 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 colonel's
son, it was found afterward, had 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 al
the lane where his father had met hin
and chastised him in the presence
Of her he loved, and whom he had &C
cidentally met Detroit Free Press.
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