The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-02-09
A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.

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himself and little family in the
place he then was, and left his home
in Nebraska to seek his fortune in
the far west, intending to leave
those dependent on him for short
time only. Making his wife and
little children-one of whom was a
four-year-old daughter-as comfort
able as was in his power, and with
the determination to conquer fate
in their behalf, he babe them sor-
rowful farewell and turned his face
toward the setting sun.
Both he and his young wife were
upheld by the hope and faith that
the parting was not to be for long,
but "fickle fortune" did not belle
her character in this instance. For
several years Mr.. Miller was able
to earn enough to send back money
to his family, but never enough to
bring them to him, and there was
no use, he thought, of going back
as penniless as he left. After a
time series of unfortunate circum-
stances prevented his being able to
send any money home. Only those
who have struggled through sim
liar experience know how hard it
was for him to procure enough to
live on himself. The months grew
into years, and, not being able to
give any help to his family, the
disheartened husband and father
dreaded even to write home, and the
sorrow of silence was added to that
of absence. Hoping that soon for
tune would smile and he be able to
send for his family, he toiled on with
varying results, but the hoped-for
fortune was long in coming and
the years heightened until nearly a
quarter of century passed away
without the wanderer having writ
ten to, or heard from, his old home.
Meanwhile the lonely wife struggled
and hoped on, until the '.oft de-
ferred'' hope not only made "the
heart SICK" but wore itself out and
died. She had long thought that
the husband of her youth must be
dead or she surely would have
heard from him, when at last the
word came back to her that hel
husband and two other men had
been killed by Indians while out
prospecting. After mourning him
as one dead for some time, the
lonely woman at last laid aside hel
widowhood and married again, feel.
ing sure that death had released
her from her first marriage vows.
The little daughter grew to WON
anhood and married the Rev. J. /
Mitcham. A few years ago they
/ too, turned their faces westward
Unlike Mrs. Mitcham's parents
they did not separate but sough
their new home together They set
tied in Nez Perez county, Idaho
and soon had q comfortable home
and a thrifty farm. Mr.. Mitchan
not only cultivated his land, blu
, devoted much time to the Master
service, in the ministry. He hae
so won the confidence of his fellow
citizens that last November they
, elected him to represent them II
the lower branch of the Legislature
which has just closed its session a
Boise. While in Boise, Mr.. Mitch
am learned that there was Mr.
George W. Miller, about the ag'
that his wife's father would be /
alive, living on Wood River. HI
took the train at Boise last Sunda,
and arrived in Ketchum Monday
All the old-timers about ketchun
know George Miller, so there wa
no trouble in finding him, and hi
friends soon had him in town from
his mine, on which he was working
in Elkhorn gulch. The identified
ton of the long silent father wa
easily made and complete enough
to entirely satisfy the Hon. Mr.
Mitcham that this Mr.. Miller wa
indeed his wife's father. The inter
view between the two men was yer.
affecting, and On seeing photo
graph of the daughter whom he hat
: not seen since she was child fou
years old, and those of her owl
two little children, the father wal
completely overcome. A1r. Mitchan
and his father-in-law spent tn
night at Baxter's Hotel, where, dur
ing the evening, they were serenade,
by the Ketchum Amateur Band
Mr.. Mitcham came ont and Thanked
them for the compliment in a fey
appropriate words, and made
short speech, telling the above stor..
in a way that touched the heart o
every listener. Mr.. Miller and III
son-in.law seemed equally harp.
over the meeting, and Mr.. Mitchan
urged his father-in-law to 60 witt
l him Immediately to visit his daugh
ter, but, though again very mucl
overcome by his feelings and appre
ciating the kindness which prompt
ed the invitation, he declined TO
the present. Mr.. Mitcham left TO
: Boise on Tuesdays train, takin
III l,;,, Tho nromise from MI