Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1880 — An Unexpected Meeting. [ARTICLE]

An Unexpected Meeting.

One of those strange episodes in human life, which makes us sometimes wonder at “the eternal fitness of things.” occurred last night at the Vallejo Junction. The tide being low on the arrival of the Contra Costa, passenger for Vallejo were compelled to make quite a descent from the wharf to the boat, and the ladies required the assistance of the gentlemen present. A Mr. G , a gram speculator, was doing the agreeable in this respect, and one of the last ladies to descend was overburdened with a few feminine bundles, which he gallantly took charge of. and accompanied the lady to the cabin, where they sat and engaged in conversation. The subject finally touched upon the nativity of each, when it was found they were both from the same town in Kentucky. This fact made each other more communicative, when he inquired her name, which was given as Mrs. G . Immediately the gentleman grew pale and excited, and asked: “You had a daughter, did you notP” “I did,” she responded. “Pray, how did you know that?” “ Is that daughter living?” “She is, and at present on a visit to friends in Vallejo, where I am now going.” “Merciful heavens!” he gasped. “My child!” “Sir,” said the lady, rising, “what do you mean?” “ Mean?”* he hastily replied. “Mean p Why, I mean that that daughter is my own child, and you are my wife!” Almost overpowered at this confession, and in doubt as to whether he was an escape from Napa or an adventurer, she plied him with questions—to every use of which he returned a correct answer, when she was convinced that the man was really her husband, from whom she had been separated twenty years. It seems, from what we can gather from a party familiar with the event of last evening, that the twain were married at Paris, Ky., in 1858, and thirteen months afterward he went to Liverpool on business. The vessel on which he took passage was wrecked, and all on board were supposed to have, perished. The news coming to the young wife’s ears, she was utterly prostrated, and was ordered to California by her physicians. Arriving here, she took up her residence in Los Angeles. The husband was picked up from the wreck by a fishing smack, and taken to some remote foreign port, where he was thrown upon a bed of sickness, which lasted some fifteen months. In the meantime he had written Repeatedly to his wife, but received no answer. In his despair he concluded to risk a journey across the Atlantic in the hope of once more seeing Feeble as he was, and his funds being exhausted, he shipped before the mast in a sailing vessel, and in due time arrived in New York. From there he wrote three times to his wife, but received no aiMwer. Almost frenzied at the thought tirat she might be dead, and being without money and no friends he “faced” his way clear to Kentucky," and shortly afterward arrived at Paris. Here he met no familiar faces, and at the post-office he inquired for his letters. They had been forwarded to the Dead Letter Office months before. Inquiries throughout the town informed him that his wife had disapKared a or so before, but no one ew whither. Some said she had gone in search of her husband, others that •she might be dead, and others that she had gone to California. He sought the old family physician, but he had left the town some time before. Mr. G. then went to work at Louisville, and made em u'h to bring him to California a year after his arrival in Kentucky. He searched for his absent wife, but without success, and gave her up as dead, and she also mourned. for his death. Neither, however, had married again, and last evening on board the Contra Costa was the first intimation either had that the other was in existence. The now happv couple arrived here last night, ana to the surprise of the friends of the lady she introduced her husband from whom she had separated twenty years. But imagine his unutterable surprise and joy when the mother led into the parlor a beautiful young lady, his own daughter, whom he had not seen since a babe. But let us draw the curtain lover this beautiful incident. Three souls that yesterday were foreign to each other as the x poles are now basking in the sublimity of united affection, and father, mother and child wiU begin anew the pilgrimage of life. They wiU leave to-morrow for San Francisco, where Mr. G., who is now a comparatively wealthy man, has his business, and where they will hereafter reside.— Vallejo {Cal.) Chronicle.