Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-03-07

| ',"'O va hiciaICHOlN, openly
acknowledging that she acceded to
the governors suit only at her par.
ents' solicitation. But it was not I'M
I'll the wedding day came, and thev
were decking her in her bridal tincry
that she confessed to her shame that
she loved another, and though he
nad never spoken she knew he loved
her. But it was too late then. for
soon there was Il Clattcr of hoofs, and
the Governor and his cavalcadp of
friends came galloping up. The
Governor, the bridesmaid told me,
was iauItleSsly arrayed in suit of
oIack velvet, over which was thrown
q VoluminOus Spanish cloak, lined
with scarlet. Shortly afterward the
marriage ceremony was performed.
1t was, as Houston planned il, like a
chapter from the age of chivalry.
The Governor took his bride to
the capital, and there the honey
moon was passed amid great festivi.
ties, the citizens of every rank wing
in attention to the distinguished
couple; never before had the Ey-
ecutivc Mansion been so graced.
After three months of what was TO
outward appearances happy honey
moon the bride went home on a visit.
The Governor followed his wife in a
lew days, and there at the house
where they were married husband
and wife parted forever. What
passed no one knows, as the lips of
both were ever afterward sealed on
the subject.
Gov. Houston returned to Nash
vile and sent his resignation as
Governor to his old cOmrade, Gen.
William Hall, Speaker of the Sen
ate, who succeeded him. After re-
signing, he went into the forest, and
torsaking civilization lived with his
old friends, the Cherokee Indians.
The nation was startled to learn that
in day the Governor Of flourish
ing Commonwealth had been trans
formed into an Indian brave.
Many were the motives attributed
to Houston for this mad course,
which seemed to put an end to his
brilliant career. While it is possi-
bic that he was at one time Jealous
of his wife, still there is little doubt
from contemporary testimony that
she discharged her duties as a wife
with perfect fidelity. Gen. Hous-
ton himself afterward testified to
this in letter to a friend, the only
time he ever spoke of the matter.
ELIZA stands acquitted by me. /
have received her as virtuous and
chaste wife and as such | pray God
| may ever regard her, and trust
ever shall. She was cold to me, and
l thought did not love me-"
In this lies the true explanation.
To man like Houston, all fire and
passion, the constant rebuffS of
cold nature like his wife's were un-
bearable. There can be but little
doubt that he upbraided her, and
then she let slip some hint of the
other love. To the proud, high
spirited Houston, there was but one
course of action-free her. Not by
a common divorce court-in those
days that was disreputable; he pre-
terred rather to throw aside the lau-
rels he had won, to give up home,
kindred and friends. There was
something magnanimous and chival-
rOus in this that appealed to his ro-
mantle temperament.
After the Governor abandoned
civilization, many rumors were rife,
and to repel any blame that might
attach to his wife public meeting
of prominent citizens of the town
and country was held, at which
strong resolutions were passed up
holding Mrs. Houston's good name.
She lived after this at her home in
the strictest seclusion, but honOred
and respected by all. She was a re-
cluse save to her family and close
friends. Here | wish to present a
chapter in the narrative not before
known to the world, which was
given to me by the bridesmaid, who
One day while in the garden of the
manor house on the river bluff, the
housemaid came and announced to
Mrs. Houston that strange, tall
man was in the reception-ro0m ask
| ing to see her. On entering the
room she saw at a glance that the
stranger was Gov. Houston, artfully
disguised. He arose and made his
Old-time cOurtly salutatiOn, which
alone might have betrayed him to a
person less shrewd than his wife.
She requested him to be seated and
did not let him suspect that his
guise was detected. He did not
during the interview give any Px-
planation of the object of his visit,
but cOnVerSed in common place
way about commonplace things, all
the while gazing intently at her as if
to fasten her features more surely
i'm his memory. Then he arose,
made another profound bow and
passed out, going down the river by
a difficult passage in the high bluff
There ne entered canoe. which
had been tied by his own hand, pad.
died to the opposite bank, and dis,
appeared in the forest. His pres
ence in Tennessee was not then OF
afterward known, and the inference
was that he had left his retreat
among the Cherokee Indians in the
western part of Arkansas and jour
neyed 400 or 500 miles merely tt
gaze once more on his early love
who had destroyed for him all hope
Of marital happiness.
Gen. Houston's subsequent career
his life among the Indians, leading
him finally to Texas; the eventfu
struggle for tho independence of tina
State, in which he played so promi
nent part, rising to the rank o
Commander-in-Chief; his success ant
election to the presidency of the re
public, and after the annexation hi
sarYinp az Governor and IInitaI