Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-03-29
AFTER THIRTY YEARS.


The Romance In the Lives OF Two
south Caroiinian--An Enoch
Arden Case with "a Happy Ending.
A correspondent Of The Atianta fOn-
st,tution has recently had The pleasure
of inlerv ewing II MIR. James II.
Written, who has just returned from a
thirty Years sta, in the " ld west. II S
experience in former front or life. which
is full Of Indian sLirmishes, bear hunts.
ETC.. is quite Interesting; but the separa-
ton from his wife for n period Of
thirty years. and win led to their
meeting. is the most mt ting feature
Of the story.
In January, 1857. Mr.. Wilton was
married to Miss Nancy Fowler, a
beautiful Young lady who res ded near
Westm nster, S. G. Young Whiten
was vcrr ambitious to prepare his wife
commodous home. both be ng very
poor mt the time OF their marriage He
made up his mind 10 try h fortune in
the west. The gold fever was spread.
ing through the west at that time like
a contagon. and Pixies peak was the
objective point. So in the following
spring, when winters winds had given
place to the brcczcs of spring and be-
fore the hone moon had fairl. waned,
vows of everlasting devotion and
iidcl ty were exchanged and Mr.
Whiten turned his face westward.
After roughing it five years among
desperadoes and Indians. and having
gathered considerable money, he decid-
ed 10 return TO his Nancy; but not so to
be. The civil war was then in full
blast. and while passing through the
state of Texas Mr.. Written was called
on for his services and had TO respond.
During his term many letters were
written 10 the precious one. but no an
swcr ever came. Through an acquaint-
ance he was informed that his wife had
refugcd to parts unknown. In the
soldiers camp, in the state OF Kansas.
the news of Lees surrender reached
Inn. Being destitute Of means on
which to travel. and having learned
through an effort to establish a cOmmu-
II cation that tho one was dead for
whom it was his pleasure to ! We. he re-
turned to Colorado. there 10 spend the
rema ndcr Of his da. in the solitude
of the west. For twents two years.
said Mr. VIII ten, Il wandemed over the
plains and prairieS. my thoughts ever
carrying me back to the place where |
kissed her goo'-b,c." 1t seems that
MS grief, instead OF relax NC grew more
poignant In the fall of 1887 he met an
old friend. Joe Steel, N Montana. Mr..
Steel told him that it was very likely
that h S wife was st II wing; that he
had faint recollection of n MARI age
in an adjoining county of MIR. South
crn 10 II Mrs Written. who had long
since given up her former husband for
dead, and that Southern was dead. so
he was informed, and that the W dow s
postof1ice was Fort Madison. S. c.
Elatcd by these GID tidngs Mr..
Whitcn directed three letters to Fort
Madison, one to Mrs. Southern. one to
Mrs. Whilcn. and one to Mr.. -
Whten. supposed son of his. Eager
" did he wait for Il reply. but none
came.
The letters r. NAMED in the office
till one dav the poSlm aster at that
place was Fixing 10 make n legal dis
post on of them. when a cOuntr, man,
Mr.. John Lalhnm chan, cd TO step in.
| The postmaster casually asked
Latham if he knew anyone bv the
name of Nancy Southern or Nancy
Written. Latham happened 10 be well
| arqua ntcd with the W dow. and. by
the request of the postmaster carried
the letters to Mrs. S0u hern. She an
swered him Mt once, explaining her
second marriage; that she mad heared
he was dead, and expressed great
anxiety to SEQ him. Mr. Wilton at
once took the train for Westminster,
S c.. hay NJ been. b her letter, in
| formed that she lived at the same old
lace. Arriving ut Westminster. he pro
ceeded to the old country homestead,
where the parting took place. There
under the willow tree IN the yard.
where they parted thirty Years before,
they met again. Tine and trouble had,
Of course. left its impression upon
black curlS she once wore were streak
cd W tn gray, and the sparkling eye
was dimmed. and the tint of the rose
had left the check. vet she was n:
dear TO me as ever. We are now living
together as happ " rs when we part
Ell in tho spring of 1851 My son came
to sec me last Chrislmas-t first time
ever saw him-and we all had 4 jolly
| 1 mo "