Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-04-25
ROMANCE Ru1HLsssLy DESTROYED
But PERHAPS ANOTHER CAN re SUI
sTiruTED FOR IT.

There recently appeared In the Boston
Globe an article relating to the lately
deceased Mrs. Abigail Buck, n somewhat
eccentric woman, widow of Jabez Buck,
who lived In the northern part OF Paris.
The article mentioned called her the last
Countess Of Rumford, and according to
the genealogy given she was lineal
descendant OF Count Rumfor,l, and her
descent traced back To King Henry VIII.
She was described as having been q very
beautiful, lovely and accomplished
Young woman; but her parents objected
to her marriage with certain young
man whom she loved, and as the result
of her troubles over the match there
came sudden change In her demeanor.
and she declared that she would marry
the first man who proposed to her.
.Isbez Buck took advantage OF the decla-
ration, aud they were married.
IL MAS q readable and Interesting
article, Of some length, giving de-
scription Of Mrs. Bucks home and the
yaluables aud heirlooms In her possess
sion. IL contained some matter that WAS
authentic, though much of 1t was the
product Of the reporters Imagination;
aud DIR. Iapham completely spoiled one
of the essential parts Of the romance by
declaring that Mrs. Buck was not the
Countess Of Rumford, nor descendant
Of the old king of many wives. DIR.
Lapham Il authority In matters OF local
history and genealOgy, and his genealOgy
shows that her relationship to Count
Rumford consisted simply In her grand
mothers sister marrying the count.
The real Countess of Rumford died un-
married about 1873.
IL WAS a little cruel thus ruthlessly to
destroy one Of the essential parts OF such
a romantic story, but perhaps there Is n
little more romance connected with the
affair which may In part compensate for
the. loss. Some Of the older residents Of
Paris say that the man whom Mrs. Buck
In her young womanhood wished to
marry, was Que who but recently died
In Paris at an advanced age, and that the
troubles which occurred In the "course
of true love" clouded his Intellect as
well us hers. Whether or not that was
really the cause, IL Is undeniable that In
their early life something upset the bal
lance Of these two naturally bright Intel
lects. Il made her a marked woman, a
"chararter,- one To describe whom the
term "eccentrlc" Il hardly sufficient; II
SO DESTROYED his mental balance that
though ali through his life he showed
traces of a once bright intellect, he was
iucs pable Of fully taking care Of himself,
aud lived for many years burden TO
himself and those around him.
A few years since, the people who had
charge Of him going away for the win
ter, hoard Was engaged for him ut Mrs.
Bucks. Owing to her eccentricitles, ex-
tremely fastidious people would not
have enjoyed life there, and some who
had an Idea that he was not being well
taken care Of Instituted an Investigation
but he declared that ne had "royal" ac-
aud never was happier
In his life than during that winter spent
In her society.
This winter, at an age considerably |
beyond that Of the average mortal, these
two people, with their clouded intellects,
have gone out from this world, within |
lhe space Of few weeks. Whether be
yound tho veil, with the clouds removed,
hey shall meet and know each other. IL
1 question which it 10 not In the province
of this article to discuss.
Such In brief II the story; Part OF u
q true; it may al b true. IL might DO
hard to prove it all; Il would certainly
y diacsk 70 disprovs u. U