The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-13
ROMANCE oFl Hale Al CENTURY.
Lovers Quarrel and Its Sequel After
the Lapse OF Fifty Years. t

tuo Ahpbo OF Futy Nehfos |A
0 [Erie. Pa. Speoiall n 5ts
Erie County has romance wherein the
facts are much stranger than fiction, and
the story, which Is vouched for upon the
best Of authority, Is as follows: In the
summer of 1880 Joseph Leach, a young man
Of industrious and excellent habits, went
into the employ of Mr.. Thomas Bonnell, OF
Gospel Hill, this county. At this time
Leach became acquainted with Miss Miriam
Avery, young woman who was doing
service in the family of Thomas Rees, who
lived nearby. Theyoung people met often
at the country social, and a friendship
sprang up between them which eventually
resulted in an engagement TO marry. They
were looked upon as likely couple, for.
she was of good, high.bounding spirits, and
endowed with beauty Of face and figure, Of
which she was quite conscious, and the
swain was the accredited possessor Of good
common sense, an excellent character, and
enjoyed the goodwill Of all in the neigh
borhood excepting one, a discarded lover
of Miss Miriam, whose soul was turned
green with envy as he contemplated the
success Of his rival'ssuit.
Under the guise Of friendship tho dis
carded lover told Leach O. plausible story
rejecting on Miss Avery, and about the
same time wrote her an anonymous letter
containing statements which Leach could
have satisfactorily explained. However,
their true love was not destined to
run evenroughly, but stormy interview
resulted, and they were separated, as they
believed, forever. Leach regarded his
happiness forever wrecked, without repa-
ration, and turning his back upon the scene
OF his happy courtship, he sought employ
ment In the then Territory of Wisconsin,
and he was lost to all his friends in Erie
County from that on till ono day recently.
Two years after Miriam Avery married
James Wilson, Waterford youth, and
shortly afterwards moved West. Although
their marriage was happy one, Mrs. VIII
son always bore within her breast warm
regard for her first love, although she
knew not of his whereabouts. '"
Two years ago party OF railroad sur
veyors were engaged In running line
along small branch Of the Columbia River,
vicinity Of Fort Simcoe one of them had a
frightful encounter with bear; and when
rescued was believed to be in a dying con-
| ditipn. He was carried to a hut near the
camp and left TO be made as comfortable as
was possible under the circumstances.
The inmates Of the house, middle
aged man and his aged mother,
| rfnI a. Nka IaA
man, and gave him such close attention
and skillful nursing that he recovered, very
unexpectedly to all. He was very CRATE.
full, and while expressing his gratitude to
the widowed mother Of his host, and
whose name was Wilson, told her that but
for her untiring care he must have died,
and although they both were far beyond
the age when hearts were given in mar.
riage, he would most earnestly offer him
self, as she strangely reminded him of one
whom he had loved half a century ago,
away on the shores Of Lake Erie. Lake
Eriew said she, "Why, once lived there
myself" 1t transpired at once that they
were the long-separated Harbor Creek low
ers, Joseph Leach and Miriam Avery. Ex-
plantations followed, and the lovers quar-.
rel of fifty years ago was settled, and as
soon as Leach was fully recovered they
were married, moved from the ranch, and
are now living on farm near Fort Walla
Walla, in Washington Territory. A few
days ago Lighthouse Keeper Henry, at
Erie, received letter from the bride of
three score and ten, relating the facts as
above stated. She also inquired about the
man whose perfdy had blighted so many
years of her life, but he has long since
been dead.