The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-18
A SKAGIT ROMANCE.
Meeting of Husband and Wife
After Twenty Years.
IT COST THE FORMER AFoRTunE
An Episode That Occurred in . Mount
Vernon Hotel Week Ago-Al-
versions Rich Find.

Prfor to the completion of the Northern Paci-
nc railroad BY the inhabitants OF tn states be-
yond the Mississippi the Puget sound basin was
regarded not only % wild and distant corner
o. tneir own country. but one OF the most re-
mnss ano Isolate regions Of the world. This
isolation drew to the shores Of the Sound many
sdyenturers who sought, In its wild forests 10
bury themse yes from the world and society,"
and shake OF from their lives ell records Of the
past.
Among those who come t, this country whose
pest has been the subject OF more or less specu-
iaton. was native of the mountainous regions
OF Ken ucky, who made. In coming here his last
move IN . checkered and adventurous career,
some chapters which have recently been un-
raveiied much to the profit of the scheming indi-
vldua who discov re the ravelei thread.
This man entered the civil war in q Kentucky
regiment OF the Union army when Z youth
afout 20 years OF age, leaving his young wife at
nome. During his absence she died and at the
close Of the war he returned to Kentucky. mar
ned ano her woman and moved to Indiana
Alter few years he tired of this wife, deserted
her and returned 70 Kentucky He could not
resist her family. however, for he left Kentucky
with her sister, without obtaining any legal
8 paration from his vile, and took up his abode
In . 500 house on the scorched plains of Western
Kansas then Almost unfnhehited. After living
here many years he made another advance
beyond encroaching civilization and came to
Puget sound. There were then many settle
msnts on the Sound, but this immigrant avoided
all Of thes..
The rich Skagit valley was one OF ire latest to
attract settlers. and ar this time was almost to-
tally un nbabifei. except by q few loggefs.
This frontfeIsman took up his abode In this
valley, going ND the river into the wildneress
sixty miles beyond any road He moved his
family and household goods up the river In a
canoe, and for years this river was his only
highway. and his canoe the only means OF
communication with the world aud TRANSPORTS
ton OF supplies. He took up 800 acres of land
ana bHilt him cabin on the river. His wife
was the only white woman living above Mount
Vernon. His home was at point on the river
where its valley narrows between spurs of the
Baker range and the foothills OF
the Cascades. Directly oppo lite from
ms mousse two mountain paaks
rise abruptly to an altitude of nearly 5000 feet.
their bases sloping down to within few rod. of
the river bank. oue of them rises to a sharp
peak. The other presents broad, iimbered
slope extending far up the river, and q deep
gorge separates the two SUBMITS.
This rufe setter was q stronr. resolute iron.
willed man. always ready to maintain his rights
as he conceived them. He knew and recognized
no law but his own rude will. This. however,
never led him far beyond the law, for since his
who'll, good citizen. But no settler has dared
to cross bis will. The settlers that afterward
moved into the valley have regarded him as a
peculiar character. appearing to them en-
Swallowed in mystery. whisperinps of his
former record have reached the valley from
time to time. but little OF his story ever became
known.
One morniny this rude frontiersman awoke
and found himself rich man. The develop
ment of the Skagit valley the last few years ab-
sorbed q larTe proportion of the great tide of
Immigration that has poured into the Puget
sonnd basin. Coal and iron mines were opened
in the mountains across the river. and the town
of Hamilton was born on the Kentuckian's
ranch. His properly hecame desirable. but buy
ers were afraid Of it 1t was whispered that the
fi'le was clouted. A syndicate. however, was
formed last June. and this pioneer rarted with
por ion Of his ranch and received SEQ 0D0 in god,
more money thsn ever circulated in the back.
words district where his youth was passed,
where a thousand dollars was . fortune.
After the sale was made, Mr.. c. Alverson, q
real estate DEALER who hal an inkline of our
hero's matrimonial exploits in the states, made
q voyage of discovery TO Kentucky. with q view
to whatever there might be in 1t There proved
to be considerable in II. He returned after
few weeks absence. with the legal wife of the
pioneer, who appeared on the scence, claiming
an intsrest in the property. Her pre sence here
proper time. The woman was taken TO Mount
Vernon. and dispatch was sent to Hamilton.
summoning her husband to Mount Vernon on
business With ut any anticipation Of what IL
mesnr he obeyed, and arrived Tiers one week
ago last Saturday,. He was taken to the hotel,
ard into the room where his deserted wife
was awaiting him IN the presence of Mr.. Alver-
son and Mr. Joseph Mcknight representing the
syndicate who purchased the property.
s.Is this your wife?" asked Mr.. MnNauy ht
The rude frontiersman recognized at once the
woman from whom he had fed across the CONT
nent nearly qnsrter OF o century ago, but not
with the Joy that should mark the meeting of
husband and wife after so long and so wide
separation.
He had been ssked when he conveyed his
properly il there was any truth in the rumor
that he had another wife living In the states,
and he denied II. He was now confronted with
the man to whom he sold his land,
guaranteeing to warrant and defend the
tile forever, snd by his former wife,
with legal interest in the property. There re-
mains blu. little to be told. In about fifteen
minutes after the meeting the husband put up
1880 on his part. and the wife. on her part.
voluntarily Joined her husband in q conveyance
OF all of his property.
1t is said that Alverson receives the lions
share Of the sblood money!" In this selfish age,
when IL behooves man to rustic for himself. q
real estate dealer could not be expected to make
a trip 70 Kentucky sctuated solely by a desire
to restore 10 her riehts . simple old lady whom