The age-herald., 1897-11-06
SAM HOUSTON'S
 HISTORIC MYSTERY

men may rlSe on SlepplnB SlO0eS Ol Aucli dead loves to higher things.
 Alexander H. Stephens, disappointed in love when a young man, sought relief in action and became one of the foremost southern statesman.
 A bunch of old love letters found not long ago presents the romantic s.de to James Buchanans history. The death at Lancaster Pa, in 1919, of Annie Cole man brought such mental anguish that life was for him for many years what Whittier calls "a cry between the si- lences" As a respite from his suffering it is possible that he entered upon the career which landed him in the white house. a s General Sam HouStons disappointing first marriage is known to every reader of American ilstory-so all-pervading is the love of the romantic that such incl dents impress themselves upon the mind when others are forgotten. His misfortune no doubt tended to change the current of his life. While he was ambitious before, and while the pros pect of reaching the height of his aspira- tiops was bright having been a district attorney y4general, twice member of con- gress and then governor of Tennessee before he was 35. the blighting of h!s early years drove him ultimately to a course which brought him not only a local reputation but imperishable fame. The subject of his marital infeIicity has been under discussion for nearly three quarters of a century, but it is still in teresting when anything tending to solve the mystery is advanced. Connected by AL. H. Miss Eliza Allen. and having heard a version of the affair by members of that family, hope to be allowed to contrib ute my mite to current history without creating a feeling of fmpatience on the part of the public.
 During the first quarter of the cen- 'tury there lived in Sumner county, Ten nessee, an eminently respectable and well-to-do family by the name of Allen. A member of it, John, who lived on the banks of the Cumberland river, three miles from Gallaltin, had daughter who was unusually beautiful and accom- pllshed for that section. She was per haps as nearly the ideal woman, physi- ,cally, as existed outside of an artists brain-may be a little above the medium height, beautifully proportiened. possess ing black eyes and hair, and. while de- scribed as rather cold, she had Q cer- tain charm of manner and conversation that made her belle. She numbered among her admirers the young men of Gallatin and Lebanon, and even had I suitors from Nashville. Among the last was young Houston, who had received during his political struggles considera- l.I A., father While he did not win her affec- tions as readily as he had hoped, he per- severed and finally gained her consent to become his wife.
 Love is said to be blind-it proved to be so in HoUston's case. Not a little opfnionated, obliged to see that he was the idol of a majority of the people of a1is state, and f1attered by friends and acquaintarces. hs naturally supposed that his affection would win hers in re- turn, and so went into the marriage a completely deceived man. On that we'd ding day of January, 1929, as he and his friends came riding up to the AIlsn home, he presented fine appearance. The governor of the state, honcrs clus- tered around 1lin and msn held him in reverence. lSensuous, strong in animal spirits and loving mad4y, as only such a person can love, the tall bridegroom, dressed in the conventional black broad cloth, looked eag =rly toward the windows of the room of his affianced for a glimpse of her face, a waving of ller handkerchief or some little token of affection which love coyets. But nothing of the kind was s4en, and there was a lack .of heartiness of welcome which might we'll have created some misgivings. Another might not have attributed it solely to timidity and nervousness superinduced by tha occasion.
 Nhe truth was, the bride did not love him, and acknowledged as much to a cousin before the marriage. "Goy. Hous- ton is noble and loves me-" are tine words which have come down through ths years. ''But my heart is not his. yielded to his wish to become his wife to please my parents. I feel now, even though the welding hour is drawing near, that have made a great mistake I should have tod him that I have no heart to give hin--it befongs to one who as far as I know, does not prize it. know that can never mest his advances as person of his impulsive nature ex-
  And this was tine secret of their es- trangement-lovs such as the bride groom's would be centented with noth- ing less than love.
 
 iHouston had been elected governor two years before, and was at the time of his marriage about 36 years of age Those who saw the bride congratulated him on winning one whe would add a distinct charm to his administration, socially speaking, and as the weeks went by the public had no idea of ths rapidly approaching trouble that would make bitter the lives of the couple. Mrs. Houston before three months passed, not enjoying the nzw life upon which she had entered. went to her fathers for a short visit. History chronicles the se- queL Her husband. longing for the so- .ciety of his bride, followed hsr within a