Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-06-24
After Many Years.

Lewiston Journal.
"Do you see that lady looking into
shop window just across the street,
said Lisbon street merchant to tn,
Journal scribe. The scribe looked il
the direction referred to, and saw q
well-dressed lady ofrather distinguished
appearance, of perhaps torty-fivt
years, admiring one of the show win
dows in dry goods store.
''The history OF that woman's life !:
stranger than fiction" said the mer
chant. "She lives in Portland. Wher
a young girl she fell desperately in lov'
with a poor fellow, who returned hel
affections, but didn't have money
enough to pay the parson for marry
ing them. After deal of considera
ton by both of them, it was decided
that he should start for China. to
seek his fortune, and that she should
remain behind and wait for his return
She made vow that she should not
marry for three years, and if, at the
expiration OF that time, he had not
returned, she would be at perfect liber
ty to act at her own pleasure about
matrimony.
Accordingly the lover boarded the
first ship he could find that was bound
for that port, and the lovers parted
Six months passed and the girl heard
not word from her lover A year
went by and no letter. The girl grew
almost distracted, for she came to
the conclusion 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 gen
tleman began paying his attentions to
the lady and finally asked for hel
hand in marriage. The girl thought
of her vow and said no, not until the
three years is past. The second man
urged her with all his power. to mar
ry him. He offered her wealth and
every luxury that money could buy
but she was true to her vow, and said
that she would not marry till the ex
piration of the three years. Long be
fore this she had supposed her lover
dead.
The end of the third year was draw
ing to close, and she had promised
the ardent sutton, who had been pay
ing her every honor in his power for &
year and half, that when the timC
was up she would marry him on the
following day, if her former lover die
not return. The day came, and the
man didn't return from China
On that very day the weddin.
bells were rung and they wert
united in marriage. Hardly had the
marriage ceremony been performed
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-reJurn
ed. Imagine, if you can, her grief, wher
she saw him. He came back, abund
antly rich, to clam her as his bride, ana
she had three days before married an
other. The blow carly crushed then
both. But six years wore away, ant
in the meantime the man married ant
went out west to live. In n few year.
his wife died. He had not heard on,
word from his old love for many
years, and one day merely from curl
osity, he addressed a letter to hel
brother, inquirins if she was alive, ant
ifso, where she resided. He received &
letter shortly after that she had beer
widow for several years, and wa'
living near Portland. The gentlemen
left for Portland on the next train
and in less than a weeks time they
were married, and to-day they ar,
living happily together in the suburbs
of Portland.