The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-19
ROMANCE OF HALE a CENTURY.
\ Lovers Quarrel and It's Sequel After the
Lapse of FIFTY Years.

Erie, Pa, Special.
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, young man of industrious and excellent
habits, went into the employ Of Mr. Thomas Bon
nell, of Gospel Hill, this county. At this time o.
became acquainted with Nie.,--tfiriam Avery.
young woman who was doing service in the
family of Thomas Rees. who lived near by.
The young people met often at the country so
cial, and friendship sprdng up between them
which eventually resulted III an engagement to
marry. They were looked upon as likely couple
for she was Of Of good, igh-boundng 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 good viii Of
all in the neighborhood excepting one, dis
carded lover Of Miss Miriam. whose soul was
turned green with envy he contemplated the
success of his rivals suit
Under the guise of friendship the discarded
lover told Leach plausible story rejecting ON
Miss Avery and about the same time wrote her
an anonymous letter containing statements which
Leach could have satisfactorily explained. How
ever, their true love was not destined to run even
roughly, but stormy interview resulted, and
they were separated as they believed, forever
Leach regarded his happiness forever wrecked,
without reparation, and turning his back upon
the scene of his happy courtship, he sought emf
ployment in the then Territory of Wisconsin,
and he was lost to all his friends in Erie county
from that on till one day recently. Two years
later Miriam Avery married James Wilson,
Waterford youth, and shortly afterwards moved
West. Although their marriage was happy
one, Mrs. Wilson always bore within her breast
Il warm regard for her first love, although she
knew not of his whereabouts.
Two years ago a party of railroad surveyors
were engaged in running line along a small
branch of the Columbia river in Washington
Territory, and when in the vicinity of Fort Sim
cOe of them had frightful encounter with q
bear, and when rescued was believed to be in
dying condition. He was carried to a hut neal.
the camp and left to be made as comfortable as
possible under the circumstances. The in
mates of the house, n mddle-aged man and his
aged mother, were very kind to the wounded
man, and gave him such close attention and
skillful nursing that he recovered very unex-
pectedly to all He was very grateful and
while expressing his gratitude to the widowed
mother of his host, and whose name was VIII
son, told her that but for her untiling care he
must have died, and although they both were
far beyond the age when hearts We're given in
marriage, he would most earnestly offer himself,
as she strangely reminded him Of one whom he
had loved half century ago, away or the shores
of Lake Erie. Lake Erie!" said She why, ]
once lived there myself 1t transpired at once
that they were the long-separated Harbor Creek
lovers. Joseph Leach and Miriam Avery. Elk
plantations followed. and the lovers quarrel 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 a farm
near Fort Walla Walla in Washington Terrific
ny. A few days since Lighthouse Keeper Henry
at Erie, received letter from the bride of three
and ten, relating the facts as above stated.
She also inquired about the man whose perfdy
had bighted SO many years Of her life, but he
has long since been dead.