Year: 1875

A ROMANCE OF TIE SOUTH.


The following comes from the Ocala
ella } Banner:


Some years ago there lived in Virginia
beautiful and accomplished young lady
a member Of ono Of the oldestand best fam
lies in that State. She was the reigning
belle in the society in which she moved.
In the course Of time she married a young
lawyer of the highest respectability, both
!. as regards talents and family connections.
I'm due time they had a son born unto them.
They were very happy.
+ The lawyer, in the course Of his business
operations, became in some Waa! ,ior: another
entangled in quarrel With q bs6sher law
yer. A duel was the result In the con-
test the husband was killed. The wife be-
came inconsolable. A severe fit Of sickness
followed. When she recovered, the only
thing to lavish the whole affection Of her
heart upon was her son. Her entire atten-
tion was given to him.


After year or two she was surrounded
by an immense number Of admirers, and
several made proposals Of mareiage. She
declined them all. Her heart was true to
her first and only love. At last many OF
heradmirers importuned her to marry them,
Offering her fortune, station, everything
that would be likely to win a woman's
heart, but all of no avail She replied to
them that she could not give them her
hand without her affection-her heart was
with tho buried dead.


The widow found these approaches were
made to her 80 often and so earnestly that
she withdrew herself from society as the
only means Of obtaining anything like qui-
etness; but even then letters would annoy
her. So she determined to get out Of the
way of society entirely and seclude herself
in some retired spot. She did not care
where she went if she could only obtain
quietness and enjoy the pleasure Of train.
ing and cultivating her boys mind and
have his exclusive society. he was noble
little fellow.


Well, after looking about for place
where absolute seclusion could be obtained,
and be unknown, and the climate would be
congenial, she determined upon Florida.
So she removed to retired spot about
mile or two from Ocala, where she found o
small hut already built and suited for her
requirements. She Purchased it, and there
lived for some time, when, unhappily, her
boy was taken sick and died and was bur-
led near her house. Sho planted an acorn
near by that was found after death in
his pocket. 1t has now grown to be large
tree.


Alone in the world, without single soul
to converse with, she fretted and pined her
life away, her only consolation being in her
communings with her maker. She prayed
for peace and obtained it. She had no do
mestic servant to wait upon her, but cooked
her own meals, &c.


Occasionally, she would see persons ap-
p,oach her little home, and, not wishing to
be seen, would retire to a small cave near
by, where she could watch the movements
of strangers until they were gone, when she
would come out and take possession Of. her
shanty. =


One day she walked into Ocala for the
purpose Of obtaining some medicine at the
! drug store. She was closely hooded and
disguised. There was gentlemon in the
town, however, whom she recognized rs an
| old suitor. She INN Lately left and was
lost to sight quickly. Tho gentleman saw
the eyes; he thought he knew them-their
influence in the past had kept him awake
many O. night. He was at first staggered
with the thought that it might be her; in
deed, he was almost paralyzed, for he was
still single and remained 80 for her sake.
When he recovered his senses sufficiently
70 know what he was about. he turned into
the street to look for her, but she was gone,
and no one could tell him anything about
her or in what direction she had gone. BE
searched the country allaround, but his ef-
forts were fruitless. Atlast he gave up the
pursuit. He was very unhappy.


Well, the lady lived for many years at.
terward, still staying at the same place
Az last she found that her health was CIV
;rs was: that the hardships she had to un-
dergo-living in so wild and rude o condi-
+;on-necessitated her making confdant
of somebody 80 as to obtain help. She
called in the assistance Of an honest, quiet
colored woman-Aunt Polly Fudge-whc
belped her to some comforts and did chores
for her. At last she became sick and con-
fined to her bed. Polly faithfully nursed
her, and at length the lady died.


She told Polly her history, suppressine
bor real name, and told her to get her bur
led in the grave beside her dnrling boy un'
dor the oak tree that she had planted
near the cave, and that she was to be bur,
;ed in her wedding dress-a beautiful white
sa,in oue-and on her head the wreath she
wore on the occasion OF her marriage
Faithful Polly attended to matters as she
was told, and Mrs. Neville-for that wa
the name the lady called herself-gave t
Polly all her money, which was $780, an'
her clothes.


so rests. within u mile or two OF Ocala
in one of the hnmmocks, the last mortal re
mains of the poor, broken-hearted widow
THE relatives and friends will never know
her end or her burial place.


So eve point moral and adorn tale'
A WOMAN rode homo from ball IN Bos
ton on a recent cold night, and the driver
upon hearing the door Of the carriage opei


.a sb,t sunnosed she had alighted. IL