The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-14
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
SAM HOUSTON AND
ELIZA ALLEN
y Albert Pcyson Te-hune
Copyright. by the Author.

ed in mystery and will never be
known. A hundred guesses have been
made in explanation Of its hidden in
cidents But the full truth remains
forever in the graves OF the man and
woman who enacted the unusual little
drama.
Sam Houston, pioneer and son of a
pioneer, had been intended for
storekeeper. He had soul for ad-
venture and loathed mercantile life.
So as a boy he ran away TO the In
dians, was adopted by them. and
learned from the tribesmen all the
wondrous art of the wilderness. When
the war of 1912 broke out Houston
was not yet 20. Yet he fought with
a reckless courage that won him many
wounds, not little glory. and the
lifelong affection of Andrew Jackson.
under whom he served. The war over.
he studied law and rose rapidly in po-
litical rank. from district attorney
to congressman, and, within nine
years, to the governorship of Tennes-
see.
4 splendid future seemed to stretch
before him. He was the idol of the
southwest He was the friend of
President Jackson-who never forgot
friend. He was
wa" young, handsome,
Oes''hy' Brilliant The
presidency itself seemed almost with
in his reach. The world was at his
feet ready to do his bidding Not
a public character In America had
brighter prospects than Sam Houston.
He was spoken Of as a Man of Des-
tiny Then came the love affair that
changed his whole life.
While he was governor of Tennessee
Houston met Miss Eliza Allen, the
beautiful daughter of rich Nashville
man. Miss Allen was local social
queen, and was the acknowledged
belle of that part of Tennessee. Hous-
ton simple, direct, honest, was quite
captivated by the girls dazzling charm
and became her devoted adorer. She
had many suitors more polished and
better versed in the ways Of the world
than was the sturdy young statesman
soldier who governed the state. Yet
to the surprise of more than one Of
her friends, she listened to Houstons
ardent wooing and soon became en-
gagged to him.
Whether Miss Allen really loved
Houston, or merely saw how splendid
a future seemed to lie before him, is
not known. At any rate she married
him, amid such imposing ceremonies
as the little frontier city could mus
ter. With so lovely and ambitious a
wife, people predicted that Houston's
star would rise to unequaled height
Gayety ruled supreme in the govern
or's house and the young executive
was apparently the happiest man in
Tennessee.
Then something happened. No one
knows what. But shortly after the
wedding the whole state was scandal
ICED to learn that bride and groom had
separated. Not as the result OF a
petty lovers quarrel that could be
readily patched up-but that they had
parted forever. Neither Houston nor
his wife would tell what had caused
the sudden break in their supposedly
happy relationship. But while the
bride returned to her fathers house
Houston resigned his governorship,
gave up his hard won honors and gold
en- prospects, and left Tennessee. His
friends argued, pleaded and stormed
in vain. He was set on throwing away
his future and would not tell even, his
most intimate friends why he did so.
The secret of Houston's separation
from his wife remained mystery,
and remains SO to this day. That
hn h1
judged by the fact
that he not only
'o'a'' abandoned h S
career, but turned his back on civiliza-
ton as well. Journeying to Arkansas,
he Joined the Cherokee Indians. don
ming paint and blanket. living among
the savages for years as a member of
their tribe and refusing to go back
to his own people or to regard himself
as anything but an Indian.
Yet to Houstons parting from his
wife the United States owes the an,
nexation of Texas. For in time Hous-
ton left the Indians and plunged into
the warfare the American settlers
were waging to wrest Texas from
Mexico. He freed Texas and made a
republic. being chosen as it's first
president. Then he arranged annexa
ton of the new republic to the United
States, and was elected governor OF
the state of Texas. Meantime he had
married again. and his second welded
life is said to have been very happy
] He tough, bitterly against the seces
/ sion of his state when the civil wal
began, and. for his fierce loyalty to the
union was deposed from the governor
| ship.
| When the secession Of Texas was
| announced, and his own son entered
| the confederate army. Houston said &c
| his wife: My heart is broken" Two
| years later he died: his last gaspins
| word being the name of the beloved
| state he had built up and so wisely
| governed. and which had at the las,
| deposed him.
| Then He Went.
/ IT think ynusf he going rom 4