River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-06-10
A Down East Romance,

"DO you see that lady looking into
the shop window, just across the
street," said Lisbon street merchant
to reporter for the Lewiston (Me. J
journal the other day. The latter
looked in the direction referred to, and
saw well dressed lady of rather dis
tinguished appearance of perhaps 80.
admiring one of the show windows in
a dry-goods store.
The history of that woman's life is
stranger than fiction" said the mer-
chant. @"She lives in Portland.
When . young girl she fell desperately
in love with poor fellow, who re-
turned her affections, but didn't have
money enough to pay the parson for
marrying them. After a deal of con-
sideration by both of them it was de-
cided that he should start for China to
seek his fortune, and that he should re-
man behind and wait for his return.
She made VOW that she would not
marry for three years, and if, at the
expiration of that time he had not re-
turned, she would be at perfect liberty
To act at her own pleasure about
matrimony.
Accordingly, the lover boar I'd the
first ship he could find that was bound
for that port. and the lovers parted
six nIIaths passed and the girl heard
A
went BY, and no letter. The ,-irl grew
almost distracted, for she came 10 the
confusion that he had either gone back
on her or was dead. A second year
went by and nothing was heard from
him. At this time another gentleman
began paving his attentions to the lady,
and finally asked for her hand in mar
riage. The girl thought of her VOW and
said no, not until tho three years were
past. The second man urged her with
all his power to marry him. He offered
her wealth and every luxury that
money could buy, but she was true to
her vow and said she would not marry
till the expiration of the three wears
Long bef"re this She had supposed her
lover dead.
L L
ing to close, and she had promised
the ardent sutton, who had been paying
her every honor in his power fora year
and half, that when the time was up
she would marry him the following
dav if her former lover did not return.
The day came, and the man didn't re-
turn from China, That very day the
wedding bells We're ruDg, and they
were united in marriage. Hardly had
the marriage ceremony been perform
ed when a ship came into the bay from
China, and on board was her lover,
who had left her three years ago to gain
fortune for them both-returned
Imagine if you can her grief when she
saw him. He came back, abundantly
rich. to claim her as his bride, and
she had three days before married an
other. The blow nearly crushed them
both. But six years wore away. and in
the meantime the man married and
went out West to live. In a few years
his wife died. He had not heard one
word from his old love for many years,
and one day, merely from curiosity, he
addressed letter 20 her brother. in
quiring if she was alive, and if SO
where she resided. He received a
letter shortly after that she had been a
widow for several years, and was liv-
ing near Portland. The gentleman
left for Portland on the next train, and
IN less than weeks time they were
married, and to-day they are living
happily together the suburbs of
Portland