Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-12-01
A REAL ROMANCE.
a Story that Proves Truth Is
Stranger than Efction---
A Couple Reunited
Though Both are Old and Gray
Haired They Are Married
A Second time.

A romance in real life, which
reads more like fiction, and is almost
too strange to believe came to light
at Kent, Ohio, recently by the
marriage of Samuel Smith and
Margaret Risk, both of whom have
almost reached f%ouF-score years, the
groom being IS and the bride II.
just As years ago Samuel Smith was
separated from his wife, whom he
had welded five years before. He
went west, and nothing was ever
heard Of him afterward. After some
years Mrs. Smith was married to
George Risk, and the two made their
home in Kent, living happily
together. A few years ago Mr.. Risk
died, and the old lady has since made
her home with her only daughter,
now the wife of Ir. j. ID. Davis, a
prominent physician of that place.
The cid lady has had remarkably
good health, and has lived a happy
and contented life, the past having
been mostly forgotten, though, of
course, her meraory must have
occasionally carried her back to her
early married days, when she was a
happy bride, with a youthful hus-
band by her side, both looking for
ward with joyous expectations to
the future. But the thought of ever
again seeing her former husband had
entirely passed from her mind, it
being supposed that he was long
since dead, as nothing concerning
him or his doingS had ever reached
the old home. On Friday morning of
last week there alighted from the
southbound train on the c., G. & S.
an old, gray-haired and feeble man.
He gazed about him, but he was not
able TO recognise any Of the surround
ings for some time. Soon it all came
back to him. The buildings were
new, but the hills were just the same.
The old CuyahOga river rolled on to
the southwest just as it used to.
Could it be that he would be able to
meet any one whom he formerly
knew? Could it be that the woman
whom he once led to the hymenial
altar, and promised to love, cherish
and protect, and whom he had
deserted, was still alive? He hoped
so, but hardly dared to inquire, for
fear his hopes might be blasted by a
negative answer. He started up the
street. lie hailed a stranger and
made some inquiry as to his relatives.
He received good news, and it was
not long until he had learned that
the former Mrs. Smith was living.
Even though he had hoped that such
might be true, he was hardly able to
believe the good news. He lost nc
time in finding her home. On max.
ing inquiry, the old lady came to the
door. The recognition was mutual,
Time had made great changes in
both, their hair was gray and hung
down over their shoulders, while
wrinkled were the foreheads and
faces. Lovers once, but strangers
now. But it did not take long tC
renew the acquaintance, friendship
and love of former years. Seated il
two armchairs, they recalled the pas
and the stories of their life were tolC
while down the cheeks of each iloweC
the tears @ fsorrow and repentance
After leaving Kent, Mr.. Smith wen
to Chicago. There he married
i. woman who died a few years late
and he was again left alone i'm tn
, world. He started out to see TIN,
| country and finally wound up il
South America, where he spen.
several years. He also visited Cali
5 ~fornia, spending some years on tn,
coast. After many years of travel h,
! finally located in the wilds o
: Michigan, where he has made hi
home for a long time past, hunting
5 and trapping. He has manageC
| during recent years to accumulate
neat sum of money, to the amount o
sI2,0 900.
Recently his mind began to wande
back to the old home, and he Obtainet
Information that led him to beliey
that his former wife WIS still alive
He purchased property, furnished
neat little home and determined t,
return and ask her to marry hin
again. If she was not alive, Ii
intended to secure someone else, as h
wanted a housekeeper to Look afte
him in his declining years. Witt
that end in view he packed hi
satchel and purchased a ticket TO
Kent. When The old people met the,
had a long conversation, and FINAL
announced to their daughter tina
they intended to marry again. Every
body was willing, and this mornin,
the happy people, their face
resplencent with smiles, boarded al
Erie train and went to Akron, wher
they were again made husband anC
wife. They leave tomorrow 70
their home at Hamilton, Allegai
county, Mich.