The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-11
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
,ovs THAT SLEPT FOR 20 YEARS
.N0 AWOKE TO SLAY ITSELF.


AND AWOKB TO SLAY ITSELF.
-o Nemesis of Youthful Romance
Ta-nont's Bachelor Governor in the
,,+a.Bellunn Days, Whose Honey
T,-ned to Bitterest Gall Upon His
+tns-The Secretary of state in Rem
,.,scant Mood-Tells a True Story
-,o-e Remarkable Than Any Flc-
won About a Famous New Yorker.
v~.postmastsr General James of
Nav York Afterwsrd Confirms Its
Truth.
From the Netc York Press.
rbsv had been talking over the coffee
.,d cigars at q gentleman's dinner party in
washington about experiences which were
Granger and more unreal seemingly than
40 ~ the romances written by the great
-N,i,ars Mr., Blaine, who was then Secre-
80 ~ State In Garfield's cabinet, listened
the various anecdotes that were told with
.bo ksenest interest, and now aud then he
.ad 81 have no donbt that is true. Its
..rv irnprobability indicates that it could
rotbave been an imaginary tale. The i'm.
.,obahiitv of stories of fiction does not
bssr analysis. The seeming improbability
ofstories which have actual foundation in
fact does bear close analysis"
After all the gentlemen present had mar
-sted some anecdotes coming within their
nsrsonal knowledge, Mr.. Blaine said that he
poorld tell a story which he knew to be true,
ond vet which seemed 80 improbable that
avsn the most daring writer of romance
would not have dared use It as the basis of
Mot. And the Secretary of State, in that
fascinating manner which made him, when
ba chose TO be, the most brilliant of all
nsrrators of anecdotes among public men
Of his generation, went on to tell the tale.
SECRETARY BLAINE's TALE.
man was elected governor of Vermont
a GOOD many years before the war of seces-
SION Mr.. Blaine said that he would not
tall the company what the name of the gov
ernor was; it was not essential to the story.
He was a very young man when chosen to
that high office. He had been a favored
youth, having what was regarded
in Vermont as wealth, and he was
ambitious in proper way-proud with
out offense, sensitive and handsome. He
entered Marlborough College and was
graduated with high bonors, and began at
once an active career. He also became in
terested in politics, and, being a man of 6ue
presence Of disposition which brought to
him great personal popularity, and having
also cultivated the habit of speaking upon
the stump, so that he became quite effect
i've in that way, his political progress was
rapid, and when he was not more than AZ
years Of age he was governor of the state.
He was a bachelor governor and every
one who did not know the romance Of his
early life was amazed that he should have
chosen to remain single. With his personal
advantages, his fortune and his political
prominence he could easily have made a
home for any brilliant woman who might
have engaged his affections. He was al
ways courteous and seemingly fond of the
society of cultivated women, but a plant
i've mannerism suggested TO women whose
intuitlons were keen that his heart was
buried somewhere, and so it was.
While he was a student in college he be-
came acquainted with a young woman Of
great beauty and much charm of character
and was betrothed to her. The infatuation
of each for the other was an absorbing pas
sion, and for time it seemed to interfere
with the young mans studies. He was
anxious to marry her as soon as he was
graduated, but she, with womau's pru-
dence, regarded it as unwise until he had
become established in his profession.
A LOVERS SEPARATION.
The young woman received an urgent in
vitation to spend year or two in the fam
lily Of planter Of great wealth living in the
south. She was to become not exactly a
governess, but sort of companion, who,
at the same time, would have charge for a
year or two Of this planters little children.
She was relative of the planters wife, and
these southern people had seen her once or
twice upon their summer visits to the
north
Her young lover was almost distracted at
the thought OF separation, and for three or
four days before her departure for the south
be was constantly in her company, and if
she had given him the slightest encourages
ment he would have married her and gone
solth with her
Less than year after her departure the
young man received letter announcing
that bis betrothed hal died quite suddenly,
ana that her last words were a message Of
love to him. He was almost crushed by this
SAD news, and 1t was to distract his mind
tnat ne was led first to enter political activ-
10y. That was the reason why the young
governor of Vermont was bachelor, but
very few of his friends knew of this
romance. He had lost his sweetheart more
than twenty years before, and, of course
tne recollection Of that romance was dim
excepting in his own mind.
me young governor took summer vaca-
Iion and went to Saratoga, which at that
1ine was a resort for politicians from all
pafts OF the country. At the hotel at which
u .I was staying be was introduced to gen.
s'enah OF charming manners and great
reaIIn, who was spending the summer
Suete with his family. This man was of the
nIghest type Of the southern gentleman of
we ante-bellum days, and an intimacy
sprang up between him and the young gov
efnor which shortly extended to the family.
NATURAL AFFINITY.
4, there were several children, some of
"a o1em matdens, and one was a girl of about
81 VINO was singularly beautiful The
youug governor of Vermont seemed to be
attracted to this maiden from the moment
.uat ne was presented to her and she on her
"a part seemed pleased at the manifestation OF
n us interest in her. He no longer sought the
companionship of the father exclusively
t uuS seemed rather to covet the society of
we daughter. He walked with her. and
"nen sne went in the morning to the springs
ne was her escort He drove with her, and
"uol some OF her fathers friends were dis
poSel 10 have gentle jest with him and to
e3 IuaO northern politician had been
go a.4ue captive by his daughters charms, the
49, smiled rather strangely, shook his
esu and said: "No, that is impossible -
n Duu lt was not impossible, for it was true.
V Oue evening while the young governor was
tcalAing with this southern maiden he con-
'eeu 10 her that his heart was callous until
ns net her, but that he was now proud to
waoi. Ler himself, his aspirations and his