Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-06-01
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
BY Albert PGySon Terhune
SAM HOUSTON AND
ELIZA ALLEN
Copyright. by the Author.l
BY Albert PGySon TerhHne

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 adj
venture and loathedl mercantile life.
So as a boy he ran away to the IN
dams, 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. -cei
A splendid future seemed to stretch
before him. He was the idol of the
southwest. He was the friend of
President Jacksonville never forgot
a friend. He was
young, handsome,
brillia mt. 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. Hons-
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 Houston's
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 q
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
lied 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 a mystery,
and remains so to this day. That
the cause was terribly serious may be-
judged by the fact
co'mes that he not only
IhoId"' abandoned i
career, but turned his back on civiliza-
ton as we'll Journeying to Arkansas,
he joined the Cherokee Indians, dom
ming paint and blanket, living among
the savages for years as member OF
their tribe and refusing to go back
to his own people or to regard himself
as anything but an Indian.
Yet to Houston's 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 wrestN Texas from
Mexico. He freed Texas and made a
republic, being chosen as its 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 fought bitterly against the seces-
sion Of his state when the civil war
began, and, for his fierce loyalty 20 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 to
his wife: MY heart is broken!" Two
years later he died; his last gasping
word being the name of the beloved
Rod built I'm ond