Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1897-04-16
LOVES YOUNG DREAM.
The Child-Wife of the Youthful
Son of Georgia's Governor
Restored to Him.

D1edl1 ID ca H$i1> .
exurberance of its adolescence.
Mr.. and Mrs. John P. Atkins
son have been formerly recog-
nized by the Governor and his
wife, and every effort is being
made to withdraw the wedding
from public view.
The story of the love of the
young son of Governor Akin
son, who passed his sixteenth
year only one year ago, and OF
Miss Ada Byrd, the twelve-year,
old daughter of the publisher,
Mr.. Charles P. Byrd, is one out
of the ordinary run Of roman
ces.
When William Yeates Akin
son came to Atlanta a little over
two years ago as Governor, he
brought with him an interest
ing family, the eldest Of whom
John P. Atkinson, was then but
fourteen, a curly headed, hand
some boy. The ten-year-old
daughter of nearby neighbor
dropped her dolls in admiration
as she looked upon the new
neighbor. At first it was romp
and play, rolling hoops upon the
sidewalks of Peachtree street,
and later on hanging over the
garden gate. The parents paid
10 attention to it, but when,
about a month ago, Governor
Atkinson was called from a Sam
Jones meeting and told that his
son was trying to elope with the
bright young girl, who had now
turned her twelfth year, he be-
came aware of the serious as,
pcct of the matter, and at once
took steps to put all end to the
romance. In this he was aided
by the girls father, who sent her
off to country school. John p.
Atkinson discovered her rural
retreat on "Wednesday last. They
were lost to the sight of parents
and guardians, and a friendly
magistrate did the rest
The news Of the disappearance
of the young couple came as a
great surprise to Governor At
kinson. After the first escapade
he had written to all officers,
whose duty it was to issue mar
riage licenses, to keep a watch
for the precocious John P. and
clergymen and magistrates ove1
the State were put on full notice
by the publication of the i'm
pending prohibition. A reward
of $Ioo for the arrest of the
couple was at once telegraphed
all over the State, to be read by
the sheriff of Rome, who found
the fugitive couple snugly en-
seconded in the Armstrong Hotel.
The balance of the story has all
ready been told. The Governor
and Mr.. Byrd sought that point
by the first train, and took home
respectively, the son and daugh>
ter, the Governor taking the
precaution Of employing two
policemen to stand guard over
the door of John P. Atkinson to
see that he did not escape. His
purpose was declared to pro-
nounce the marriage null and
void, but on the next morning,
when the respective parents be-
gan to think over the situation,
it occurred to Mr.. Byrd that he
would have the worst OF it in
case of a dissolution of the mar
riage. "The honor of my daugh-
ter" said he, "is at stake. l did
all | could to prevent the mar
rage. l co-operated with the
Governor i'll every respect, but
now that | have exhausted every
effort by hiding my daughter in
a school, where | thought she
would be safe, and the Govern
ors's son has pursued he. there
and led her into this entangle-
lnent, | cannot consent to any
thing but that the marriage
shall be fully and freely recog-
nized."
This reasoning when brought
to Governor Atkinson had its eff
feet. He acknowledged that
there was but one thing to do.
1t was to recognize the marriage
and let the couple take their
places as man and wife. The
only compromise he had to ask
was that they might agree to
defer the responsibilities of the
marriage state for at least one
year. This, however, was wholly
with the young people, and there
the Governor left it.
One strong factor in bringing
tie Governor to this conclusion
was the recollection that he was
school boy once himself.
After ALL" said he, at is best
to love young. l am proud of
my son. He is a young man Of
talent. He has proved the pos
session of grit, and l will do all
l can to assist the couple to
take honored places i'll the
world"
And this is why Mr.. and Mrs.