The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-28
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.

age. and Mrs. Shelby, hfty-four.
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
Tie New York World OF recent date
contained the following
This le a voritable romance In real llte-
a love affair. Of the charming, old-fash'
!oned sort.
The hero IS 4 gallant gentleman or sew
cnty-eieht summers who tell In love WIN
"a lady's portrait. lie had never seen the
lady herself hut II was none the less
passion inspired at FIRST sight.
with an the ardor OF a youth OF TWEEN
iy. he sought her out. wooed and won
her lie viii marry her next month. ana
tho wedding will take place In New York
Much interest IS added 20 the tale by
tho fact that the hero aforesaid Is quite
n famous author and physicist. His SCI
entiac publications on the theory or sound
and many other subjects are WORKS ot
authority. Furthermore. he is the father
~ Professor Graham Bell Inventor Of the
telephone.
Professor A. " Bell SIS an ideal repre-
sentative Of the finest type Of manhood
that the generation now passing or the
stage could produce. Tie lives In su-
perb old mansion In Thirty-hfth street,
West Washington
lie rose In some surprise. but with
hosUtahle air and a pleasant smile OF
greeting. a very impressive figure he
presented with his magnificent beard
snow-white. Ike his hair.
IN LOVE WITH 4 PORTRAIT.
'It is true" he said that fell in love
with a portrait. why not? May not
character be dlsccrncd In q face? And,
n 90. why no, moral worth and amiable
qualities in q Photograph The photo
graph 7 speak Of Is there. on my desk Is
n not n lovely face? None have l seen
IN my later life 50 attractive.
During his talk Mr.. Bells eyes wander
cd constantly 20 the picture. And no won
der. Not only did n express HIS IDEAL
hut 70 an ordinary observer 10 might have
appeared a beautiful type. Amiabilty
and womanly dignity. with no smon
amount Of intellectually. were expressed
IN every line of the feature7
''The first time that I ever saw IT, said
Mr. Bcll. 'It held me with a strange fasci-
nation But ] DO not Ike to speak about
g. Some things are too sacred to dis
cuss."
The professor leaned forward on the
couch where ne sat and c1zcd at the por-
trait fxcdiv for "a minnie or so. Then he
said ms 81 h1lf-unconsciously; ct was
love O. FIRST sight There can be no de-
nyinC That ] saw the photograph, and
the effect upon me was instantaneous.
II amounted 70 nm emotional recognition.
She was meant for me and ] for her.
"But had you never even heard or her
before
RONANTIC WEAKNESS
.'ph. yes, had heard Of her. certain
ly" replied Mr. Bell. I'VE had friends
in common and each had heard he other
spoken o. But that was all confess
7 Welded .o romantic weakness such
as Is frequently condemned and laughed
go in Young Non whose grandfather !
am ol cnoulh to Doe. Should ! roprOach
mye e,lf ON tAat account? BY no means.
Our emotions ore often excellent guides.
~ course they are not 20 be depended
upon and We lust correct their errors
bv the exercise OF judgment. / have
taken precisely that course In this in
st1ncc 7 have met the lady since and
navc ha2 plenty Of opportunities 20 test
mr frs. impression
"yrll you no; tell me something about
hero"
"Wth pleasure" said the professor.
"i had o. make the same sort of inquiry
myself no the beginning. II was on an
occasion when 7 was visiting "a friend at
Perth. Ont. that 7 saw this photograph.
J looked upon 20 and thought I had never
seen so sweet face. I put it aside. but
somehow 7 could not Danish II from my
mind. Finally I asked whose portrait il
was. and my host. Dr Kennedy. told me
thar 10 was w!dow-Mrs. Il. G. Shib-
lev
Though forced 20 be content for the
'ime being with this information could
not -ct rid Of "A longing % SEQ the original
~ the photograph. AZ length like a
schoolboy. ] made a confdant 81 my
friend Dr Kennedy. 7 confessed 20 him
that 7 was fascinated. Very likely he
was amused Al an events ne seemed
% take II with seriousness. lie said:
THE FATAL CURE"
We'll. thera IS no cure that can
imagine n a case Ike this except seeing
'he original suppose We drive over and
SEQ The lacyr II ls only sixteen miles
Rather hoping that the infatuation
by which ] was overcome would be cured
hv this simple prescription. accompa-
nlc6 the doctor and We called upon the
lady together. Was IL a cure2 By no
means. On the contrary. found the
lady roie fascinating and more lovable
even than she had appeared 10 my imagi-
nfaion. The visit was a very pleasant
one. and others followed"
NO" he said raising himself in re-
sponsc 20 a query. IL ala not propose 10
her the FIRST time We met. nor the second
tine either. From What I have subse-
0ucntly learned I fancy that the attrac-
ton between us was mutual from the
first You viii easily realize that II is out
of The question Cor me q enter into de-
tails respecting this part Of the story.
may leave Il 90 'our Imagination"
QUITE Personal.
did she accept you as soon as you pro-
posed MARRIAGE asked the correspon.
dent
"Nc" replied the Professor "She took
a lttle time 10 think il over. Then we
both came q a decision thar we would
accept each other for better or for
worse
when shall you be married."
Next month" said Mr.. Bell. "and
probably on January eth Mrs. shelby
has been a widow three years. am
wi9ower Therefore. We think IL best al
matter Of taste. 10 he united very
quietly and without much show or cere-
nonv She Is hfiy-four years old. SO fir
~ rig remarrylug Is concerned feel as
~ hnl my late wife's sanction. 20 soric
forty wears Afo wrote iiltle 90 iet
10 verse OF which sns highly approved.