Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-06
A X ROMANCE.

A few years & there lived In the west
ern part Of Matagorda county dark eyed,
sprightly young woman named Collins.
She was bright of mind and pretty to
look upon. She went to Colorado to visit
some friends, and there met a hustling
young newspaper man. The newspaper
man fell in love with the pretty Texas
girl, but before his courtship had pro-
crossed very far Miss Collins returned to
Texas. The young newspaper man meant
to have that girl for his wife, no matter
how far he had to travel. SO no left Colo
RADIO and followed her to Texas.
In those days the county seat of Mata-
gorda was at the town of Mntagorda, in
the southern part Of the county. There
was no railroad then and there Is no rail
road now in the county. Matagorda was
the only town OF any consequences in the
county. Once 1t was tho metropolis of
Texas, the wealth IL fashion of tho state
being conferred there. Bus had
! robbed it OF its laurcls. New cities had
grown along the coust and in the interior,
and little vas left for Matugorda but the
memories Of tho past.
1t was necessary for Miss Collins. when
she wished to do any shopping or when
she accompanied one of her relatives to tho
county seat, to drive to the Colorado river
~N 49, - ~ q S1Aibit oVib AIN oC
rowcd down the rivcr to the once great
town. 1t was o long, tedious trip. The
return journey was even more trying, for
then tho boatmcn had to scull against the
eurront of the big stream. The people
who lived in the distant paris OF the cCun-
ty had long been muttering about the in
convenience of having the county seat in
such an out Of the way place. 1t wouldn't
signify, they said, IL Matagorda was bus
thing and attractive, but it was moribund.
The great schools that had been there had
closed their doors. The big emporiums
were moved away, and nothing remained
but the courthouse to attract the outside
public. But although they muttcred and
grumblcd they could make no suggestion
for relief. No town OF any consequence
offered a better site.
Inc young newspaper maj h loved
the bright eyed Texas girl lost no oppor-
tunity to press his suit. 1t was but nat
urai that ha should hear of tho burning
injustice OF having tho county seat way
down in MatasoTda town. One day when
the newspaper man was counting the pref
ty Texas girl she abruptly said:
why don't you move the county scat?"
whats that?" he exclaimed n aston
ishment.
81 say why don't you move the county
oSAo o"SJ iAo'i Sbao ECShy oio bo"I vi
Matagordn:" the girl repeated.
"Miss Collins" replied the newspaper
writer lanehingly, "a man will move
heaven and earth for the woman 10 loves.
Just tel! me where you wish that county
seat moved to-"
"Movc it anywhere yon wish-out on
the prairie CT any place-so persons can
get to it without spending a lifetime in
journeying to and from 1t" was her an
swer,
land if I move tho county scat will
you
eyes, I WILL" was tho reply.
The young man was of buoyant disposi-
ton, and, stimulated with the promise OF
reward, he set to work. In tho north he
Ind known another busting, bus yling
young mar named Magill. To Macin no
explained the project. Magin knew a man
with enterprise and money. These thr ce
men determined to build a city. Or the
bald prairis between the Caney and the
Colorado rivers they chose n site. 1t was
near the geographical center of tho county.
From Mensing Bros. OF Galveston they
purchased 800 acres of the land they wa Mt
cd. From a stockman named Moore riny
got another 800 acres. They paid So an