The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-02-12
TRUE TO FIRST LOVE|
REMEMBERED THE SWEETHEART
OF HIS YOUTH
WILLED Her His MONEY

WAYS, But After Long Years he
Dies, Willing Ali His Property t.
His First Sweetheart.
Remembrance Of youths frs-
sweetheart days wrote a romantic
final chapter to the life Of John F.
Hughes, who died few days ago at
Marietta, Okla, after leaving all his
property to Mrs. W. Y. Atkinson, OF
Newman, Ca, widow of the late W.
Y. Atkinson, who was Governor Of
Georgia a few years ago.
Mr.. Hughes and Mrs. Atkinson,
who was formerly Miss Susie Milton,
had wandered far apart since their
drst romance; both had married 9TH
er sweethearts they met afterward.
Nj. Hughes wife had died some time
after Mrs. Atkinson's husband had
passed away-but the last Will and
testament Of Mr.. Hughes left his es-
tate to the first sweetheart he had
ever loved. Mrs. Atkinson II post
master at Newman.
A telegram was received In New
nan on Thursday Of last week bring
ing intelligence Of the sudden death
at Marietta, Okla, OF John F.
Hughes, which occurred In that city
on the night previous. This an
ncuncement would have been Of lit
tie concern to Newman people under
ordinary circumstances, as Hughes
was only slightly known there; but
his death brought revelations OF a
personal and romantic nature which
have invested the event with an In
terest almost tragical.
Nearly forty years ago John
Hughes and Susie Milton were
schoolmates and playfellows at Mar
lanna, Fla, where both resided. They
became sweethearts, he being then
about fifteen, and she two or three
years younger. It was their first ex-
oerience in love, and they were ar
dently attached to each other. When
seventeen or eighteen, young Hughes
went of to college. Shortly there
after Susie Milton was sent to Lucy
Cobb institute, ct Athens, to finish
her education, and the sweethearts
of earlier days drifted apart.
Before drifting apart, which was
caused by interference on the part OF
the parents Of Susie Milton, the
young couple mad been very fond OF
each other.
In her senior year, while pursuing
her studies in the prescribed course
for young ladies' at Lucy Cobb, Miss
Milton met at a college reception
William Y. Atkinson, Of Newman,
then a stu7ent in the law depart
ment of the State university. La,er
they were married. The union prov
ed an ideally happy one. Chil;Fen
came to brighten their home, and
high honors were conferred upon the
ambitious young husband by his fel-
low-citizens, eliminating in his cleo
ton to the eovernorship.
His lamentable death shortly az
ter leaving the governors office, the
bravery and heroism with which his
widow assumed the care and resDon-
sibility OF rearing and educating
their children, her splendid success
both in business life and as post
master at Newman, are matters OF
local history.
Meanwhile John Hughes. littl'
Susie Milton's sweetheart OF earlier
lays, married and went out west. He
was a good business man, and pros
pered. About a year ago his wife
died, leaving nc children. In his lone
illness his thoughts turned to the
sweetheart OF his boyhood days, and
he determined to see her again.
inclination lent speed to his
thoughts, with the result that the
,ate holidays found him visitor IN
Newman. He spent several days IN the
city, and during his stay was ire
ouent visitor at the Atkinson home
their first meeting in nearly thirty
years. Early in January he return
Ell to his home at Marietta, Okla.
On the night Of January % he was
suddenly stricken by death.
Since then it has been learned that
he left a will bequeathing all OF his
property to Mrs. Atkinson, the play
mate and sweetheart Of his boyhood
days. The will has been forwarded
to Mrs. Atkinson, duly and properly
executed, the property conveyed by
the testament consisting Of money
and loan notes amounting to several
thousand dollars, besides valuable
real estate in Oklahoma and Texas.
Mrs. Atkinson left Wednesday even
ing for Marietta, Okla. and next
week will offer the will for probate
in that state.
The above Is true romance, II 1t
does read like fiction. Such things
cften happen, but the world never
bears of it. Many man and many
a woman carry stamped on their
hearts the image Of their first sweet
hearts. They marry some other later
sweetheart. but the image Of the
first remains to the end, and after
the old days come back to bring a
sadness that none but the sufferer
can understand. John F. Hughes
could never forget Susie Milton. the
sweetheart Of his youth, and 30 1t Ia
with many others.
sci for the defense jumped to his feet.
"When you say conducted things
to suit myself, you make a very I'M
pertient and improper remark" he