Year: 1874

The Elmira On. Y.) Gazette, of Au-
gust 2lst, contains the following roman
tic story which, considering that the
lady who is the heroine of the story, is
said to be a resident of Washington, will
be read with interest:


Not long since there was published in
the Gazette an allusion to romance


which had for its home the village of
Dundee, in Yates county. Since that
time new and important developments


have appeared in connection with that
story, and We are now enabled to lay be-


fore our readers something of connect
ed narrative of the events limited at


The story in its most barren statement of
fact is one Of strange and rare romance,


which will be followed with the greatest
interest, from the fact that the real de-
noument Of the drama took place in this
city, where resides a near relative Of the


lady who'is the chief actor in it. Partly


from this relative-Mrs Charles Row


land-who resides at No. 457 East Water
street, and who is sister of the heroine


in this live romance, and partly from


scraps published in relation thereto, we
gather the story of Candace Talmadge,


nee Blivcn, substantially as follows:


In 1855 a gentleman of high birth and


great wealth in England came to this
country, to travel for pleasure and to
study the scenery and people of the New
World. A lover of nature in its most
varied and picturesqe character, he spent
some time in Central New York, going
about among our lakes and tarrying up
on their highly cultivated shores In
these rambles he came to the quiet vii
lage of Dundee, where he made home
for some time with Baptist clergyman
named Currier. While there he fell into
companionship with the daughter Of a
well-to-do gentleman named Bliven The
girl was at that time sixteen years of age
handsome, engaging and sensible.
The acquaintance soon ripcned into
sort of romantic friendship, and at last
the foreigner, whom we may as well des-
ignate by his proper name and title-Sir
John Gordon Talmadge--offered his hand
to Candace, which was accepted. The
direct narrative is to the effect that the
two were united by the Rev. Mr.. Curri-
or, who was pledged to secrecy concern
ing the marriage for the term of year.
The parents of Candace were not inf r,ned
of the action of their daughter, nor did
the knowledge Of the secret marriage
come to any Of the villag ers. Soon after
the wedding, Sir John left his young
wife and returned to his home across the
water, having promised to record the
marriage in due form as soon as he should
arrive, and having additionally promised
that he would return within the year and
take his wife to England. The year went
past, and Sir John did not come. Mean
time Rev Mr. Curricr, the only person
in America beeidcs the young wife who
knew of the transaction died, and his Sc
cret died with him. Another year pass
ed, and five, then ten, almost twenty,
and still the waited-for husband did not
return to make good his promises, nor
did any tidings, we understand reach
the ears Of Candace concerning him. Al
last, in March last, we believe, through
the instrumentality of personal advcr-
tisement in one of the New York papers,
the long silence was broken, and tidings
for which the Dundee bride, now grown
to almost middle age, had 50 long waited,
were received.


1t appears that the return of Sir John
to England without his American wife,
was for the purpose Of arranging matters
satisfactorily with his parents, who he
knew would be indisposed to receive his
bride if she were taken to them without
prior knowledge of their sons step
Shortly after his return home it happened
that while out riding with his mother one
day the horses took fright. ran away,
threw the two out, killing his mother,
and very seriously injuring Sir John
From this affiiction, however, he recov-
cred partially, and in due time set out for