Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1874 — A Kansas City Romance. [ARTICLE]

A Kansas City Romance.

The Kansas City’ Times of a recent date tells the following story: It was over forty years ago, in—the State of Indiana, that two lovers ripened into one and started out in life with one resolve. Hand in hand two forms turned to the West to seek a fortune, which seemed to stand upon the mountain tops and beckon them on. It was summer in the shades of the forests upon the slopes and spring time in the valleys, so that the journey was made while nature was tendering an ovation to the earth. For two years these two dwelt together away from kindred and early associates, fortune meanwhile laying its treasures at the door of their household. To add to their comforts and joy’s a beautiful child tripped before them and learned songs from the murmurs of the sea, which she sang beneath the thatch of the house that opulence had built in the valleys. Suddenly there came a change which caused as strange a story’ as has seldom been told. The Wife, still in the bloom of womanhood, abandoned the roof of her husband, taking the child, with her. No reason was left for her action, and the husband went on about his worldly affairs, trusting time to bring a solution of what appeared to him to be the most mysterious, occurrence * in the world. After awhile he beard that she was married anil living in the States. He kept the secret close in his heart and continued to amass a fortune, which today is estimated at SIOO,OOO. Soon he received an appointment as United States Interpreter of the Flathead Indians in Oregon Territory. But in the midst of his cares he forgot not the days when he had loved a fair thing in the East, and the pilgrimage they had made together across the Western main. Twenty-five years ago he came back with the hope that he might find the object he still cherished with the fondness of youth. Inquiry was of no avail, and he returned I to the spot where the only delightful ! period of his life had been passed. Fifj teen years were added to his life, and still the story of the old, old love came ■ back to him.' He was growing infirm, ■ and once more, he reasoned, before the ■ summons would corqe, he would make another effort to find the only bride his life and heart had ever known? He arrived in Kansas City Tuesday .morning, having heard that the object of his search was living with her seeond husband in Water Valley, Clay County, i Mo., four miles distant from this city. ■ Tuesday night he was under her roof, i Forty years of separation! The bride > had grown gray and the innocent child ’ was in the prime of Hfe, married and i living happily with her mother. < The father and husband told the story

of his life and his fortune, dnd again askecT the wife of his youth to make another journey with him ,to the land over the mountains. This she refused to do at this time. An arrangement was made, however, which will, if carried out, again bring the twain beneath one roof,, to close the last chapter of life as .they began the t-arlier one—as man and wife. He is to visit Indiana, where he will remain during the winter. On the opening of spring he is to call this way on his return, where he will be joined by the one he has loved and to whom he'has been faithful for forty weary years. This is the story as it came from the lips of. a man in whose face there was a shadow, yesterday, of the sunlight of spring;, upon whose lips there were whimpers of hope, and in whose heart there sprang up anticipations that seEfhed to make age forget his burdens. Who will not wish him another bridal I ourney over the mountains for the sun when the next spring-time shall come?