The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-23
.FIANCEE is
HIS DAUGHTER.
Lucky Discovery Made by Cor
diff on Eve Of Wedding.
WIFE'S PICTURE IN ALBUM.
Miss Cole Said II Was That Of Her Mother,
Who Had'Bsen DEAD 20 Years.
FATHER cLAspED LONG LOST CHILD.
Their Wedding Was Dscspi or and The Young
voman MAJ Nov Take Charge Of R.r
falhs's Homo Ia Ohio.
FATHER clAspED LONG LOST CHILD.

Tolc 10, o., April'23.-But for the acci-
dental discovery in his afflanced wife's
album OF a picture of his dead wife.
Adam Cordiff. of Harrison county, o..
would have been married within twen-
ty-four hours TO his own daughter.
Cordiff was in Charleston. w. Va, in
readiness for the wedding when the dis
covery was made. In company with his
fiancee. Miss Lucy Cole. he was look
ing over the photographs when he saw
one of his wife. dead nearly twenty
years. His exclamation attracted the at
tention of the girl, who said:
THAT is my mothers picture. She
died years ago when / was little"
Excited questions brought out the fun
story. Cordif says his love for Miss
Cole was rather that of an elderly man
for a young maiden, and he is well
pleased to have her for a daughter. She
has not decided whether she will leave
her adopted parents. Mr.. and Mrs. w.
Cole, to make home for her father.
RUNAWAY MARRIAGE.
Cordlff was born near Philadelphia.
and. running away from home while
young, worked for New Jersey peach
grower named Cole. He fell in love
with Cole g. only daughter and a rum
away marriage followed. Cordiff was
compelled TO leave the place, but de-
clared he would return for his wife. He
wrote her repeatedly, but received no
answer. After eight months silence he
learned through friend that Cole was
insolvent and Mrs. Cole was dead.
A few weeks later came the word
that Cordiff's wife was dead and had
left child. baby girl. The child had
been adopted by relative of the Coles
in Baltimore.
Cordiff visited New Jersey and BaIti-
more, but failed to find his daughter.
He returned to Ohio, where he is now
living on a farm near Hopedaie. The
remainder OF the story is best told IN
his own words.
s.In April, 1899. received copy OF
matrimonial paper. j saw the descrip.
tion of a young lady living in West
Virginia who wished to correspond with
a gentleman. wrote 10 her and soon
received a reply from Charleston. A
long correspondence followed.
STRANGELY FASCINATED HIM.
.I seemed TO be strangely fascinated
by the young woman's letters anu 10
be drawn toward her by some unknown
power. On Thanksgiving of that year
/ went over to Charleston 10 see her.
We were wonderfully pleased with each
other. To be sure, there is quite a
difference In our ages, but " was such
a strong attachment we became en-
gagged and the wedding was set.
II came home, where rented small
farm and told my nejghbors OF my in
tended wedding. / arrived in Charies-
ton two or three days prior TO our wed
ding day. Lucy and l were sitting IN
the parior, talking over the plans for
the future. She had brought out an
old album. While looking through 1t
was suddenly startled to find photo
graph Of my wife Of twenty years ago.
my LoNG-LosT DAUGHTER"
1T asked Lucy whose picture IT was.
She told me. She added that her
mothers maiden name. was Cole, but
she had never been told who her father
was. When she had been adopted into
the family where she made her present
home She had received their name.
II was amazed. Lucy thought me III
and called for assistance.
: when came TO my senses elapsed
her 20 my heart not as my bride. but
as my long-lost daughter. 1 under
stood then for the first time the pecu-
liar power that drew me to her since
the time 1 received her first letter.