The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-02
ROMANCE In THE LAND.
TIE sEysl TTOEAL AND NOVEL
FEATURES or THE GRAY CASE.
A Determined Mother Who Followed Her
Husband Across the Continent In
Search Of Her Child.

sTAUJNToN. VA. Dec. l.1speciai'-
Romance in real life, a plot lor 80
saticnal novel, can oe iou,lq iro Oh ' az
records, OF a virginia, r, 0ou' states, whose
shores washed by the waves OF the NJ
lantic. catch the first blush OF the rls-
ing sun, and California, the eoluet eonn-
monwealth OF the PaciHc Slope, lur l,,s,
the personnel, the incldehts' anu s0ei'eS
for this exciting noVeiette. l., Ia
William ID. GRAY, was born in Har-
rIsonburg, Va, some thirty Years vi
more ago. OF highly respected paren taee;
He is connected with some OF Ihe Hlos MS
distinguished families 81 r 9siheE was ga
profes scr i'm a Virginia State institution
and his mother belonged to wel,KnoWh
family OF old Augusta, tne oentra ~, cQuh-
~ of the Shenandoah NaheS. " I'u a
love for roaming and a desire 10 see
for himself the new land OF this great
Republic, I'm 1887 he left his home ana
friends and native lana, am lound ms
way 10 the State of California lhere
new life awaited him, ana ne entered
with all the energy OF youth into the
activities of an existence or mover en-
vironments, and strange attractions.
Loves gentle sway makes itself felt
everywhere, and II Is pod-slEeh POM
of union among all the inhabitants or
earth, and in this far OF land, William
Gray met and wooed. ana won MISS
Ysidora Couts. OF San Diego. They were
married February ~ NV "a, ana ,h oeg fu
ture. Miss COuts Is or Spanish pareh-
tage. She is wealthy and had all the
traits OF the race from which she sprung
TBE OLD. OLD STORY.
It is the old, old story. for a while al
went we'll love and happiness were
resident in the household of the young
couple. A child. boy, blessed the
union. ~,
In 1880 Gray heard OF the great Vir-
gfnia boom, the magic buildings or new
cities, reached his ears, ana the burn OF
the new industries sent puisat lhs tlIop
which this young Nirglnlan leit across
the continent and erected i'm his bosom
n longing desire 10 return 10 his native
land and take part in the regeneration
OF the grand old State. lie came, he
saw and was conquered; put IN inns
short time the seeds Of evil had been
sown, and when Gray returned 10 MS
California home the pleasant ripple OF
the old life had been broken, "a Is al
ways the case, IL went from bad 10
worse, and the climax was reached when
Gray surreptitiously spirited away from
its mother Chalmers Scott Gray. her
four-year-old boy, the darling or her
heart. Gray eluded all attempts TO over
take him. escaped from the borders OF
the State of California and quietly and
liesurely took up his trip TO the East;
Naturally his footsteps turns to his old
home.
Mrs. Ysldora Couts de Gray remain
Cd In California long enough 20 insti-
tute a suit for divorce, and then IN
company with a relative Col. Chalmers
Scott, started East TO hunt up the ~
creant husband and regain Possession
OF the lost child She Travelled on the
hyiT trains across the continent The
strong feeling OF mother love sped her
en-, and reaching Staunton, even before
the fleeing husband, she registered at
the hotel under an assumed name, ana
Immediately employed an attorney 10
T. Osecute ~ case.
ANovIL CASE.
1t was a novel case for the Young at
torney. He was fired with zrLl, .Or mis-
fair client. There was fascination
about it. She went TO work with great
energy. The Judge of the District was
sitting in a neighboring town-time was
an important factor; the parties must
be met upon their arrival In stanton,
with the mandate of the law. 4 novel
proceeding was instituted. The Judge
was asked TO appoint receiver for the
child, and the Sheriff OF Augusta was
named for this important function. The
young attorney pressed his case, The
judge was convinced OF the pr)pricty OF
the proposed plan, the papers were sign
ed, and the darkness OF midnight found
the persistent and energetic advocate on
his return to StIunton, to have the pa
pers served. Gray, the father. and the
child were expected 20 reach stanton al
2:30 A. NJ, from the West.
The train must be met by the officer
Of the law. There was no train by which
the attorney could return, until morning
50 private conveyance was secured, and
the driver urged 10 make the time And
when the 2:3O train rolled into the depot
Of the G. IL O. Railroad. Sheriff Watts
and his deputies boarded il and took
possession Of young Chalmers Scott Gray,
under the orders OF the Judge OF the
Circuit Court Of Augusta.
IN THE Gus oDY OF THE SHERIFF.
The child and mother have for the
past month, been in the family OF Sheriff
Watts, and never for a moment have
they been from under the watchful eye
OF the sheriff or one of his faithful dep
uties.
The case was regularly docketed and
stands on the order book Of the court.
Ysidora Courts de Gray Prtf
agar st
william -. Gray, Deft
On petition Of plaintiff claiming the GUS
tody Of her infant son, Chalmers Scott
Gray, against the defendant, her hus-
band and said infants father
The order OF the court Is that the faith
or be perpetually enjOyned from all in
reference with or control of the child.
and that Chalmers scott Gray De de-
AFered INTO the possession Of has mother,
NsidOra Couts De Gray, until he is TWEEN
ty-One years old.
The Superior Court Of California also
DEGREES that the parties be divorced IA
rinOuld matrimOni." and that the rights
of unmarried people be given 10 each par
~.
Thus is again verified the trite old
saying. true love never runs smooth"
The mother ana her child have returned
70 their Western home, the father has
lost home and wife and child, and has
been given time and opportunity for re-
Election and repentance.