The Kentucky Gazette

A ROMANTIC NARRATIVE.
A Chapter in the Life of a Red River Trader—A Divorced Wife Seeks Her Former Husband in the Far Northwest.

Among the most prominent merchants in Rio Janeiro, Brazil, some 15 years ago, was a young Englishman, who was possessed, not only of a fine form and more than handsome features, but also of a snug fortune, the result of his own industry, enterprise and business ability. His business required that he should make occasional visits to England, and he had crossed the Atlantic many times. During one of these visits to his mother country, he met his fate, as most young, unmarried men do, sooner or later, in the shape of a beautiful orphan girl, whom he induced to accompany him on his voyage back to Rio Janeiro as his loving and beloved wife. For a number of years they led a happy married life, and two children were born to them as pledges of their union. The husband prospered in business, and continued to make occasional visits to England, leaving his family at Rio Janeiro. It was after his return from one of these visits that he heard for the first time whispers against the fair fame of his wife. Rumors that she had been untrue to him reached his ears—his suspicions were aroused, and being of a naturally jealous disposition, and almost idolizing his beautiful wife, he was driven to madness. He accused his wife of being untrue to her marriage vows, and she being of equally as proud and haughty disposition as himself, indignantly denied the charges made against her, and desired him to produce the proof of his assertions. This he could not do, but a coolness arose between them, which became insupportable to both, and a separation was agreed upon. They were divorced according to the laws of Brazil, the husband settling upon her a handsome annuity, which should continue during her life or until she should marry again, when it should cease, she retaining the custody of the children. Unable to remain at Rio Janeiro, the scene of his happy married life, the husband wound up his business, converted his property into money, and became a wanderer upon the earth. He finally accompanied a party to Fort Garry, where the isolation from the world suited him, and he concluded to remain. Again he embarked in business, and by his means became known to many of the principal citizens and business men of this city, not one of whom ever suspected the hidden sorrow which impels him to bury himself amid the savage surroundings of the far northwest.

How fared it with the wife? In the course of time she loved again, and, notwithstanding she lost her handsome annuity, she married a gentleman of scholarly attainments, but little means. With him she lived happily for two years, when he died, leaving her and her two children in destitute circumstances. During all this time she heard occasionally from her former husband through his letters to his friends at Rio Janeiro, and from them she learned that he still cherished for her a love that would continue until death. The death of her second husband as above stated, left her almost penniless. Convinced of the unalterable love of her first husband, and still cherishing his image as that of her first love, and knowing her destitute circumstances, she resolved for the sake of her children, to seek out her divorced husband and with them throw herself at his feet and implore him to take them back to his bosom, from which they had been wrongfully and unjustly cast out. In pursuance of this determination, she disposed of her little all, and commenced her long and tedious journey from Brazil to British America. She arrived in this city a few days ago, accompanied by her children. It was during her short stay here that we obtained the above particulars from her. She remained only two days in St. Paul, to rest, and then proceeded on her journey to Fort Garry.

The lady is still in the prime of life, and retains all the beauty which first won the heart of her former husband. We suppress the names of the parties out of regard to their feelings, as should we give the gentleman's name many of our citizens would recognize it as that of one of the leading traders of the Red river settlement.

It is possible we may learn the result of this meeting between the divorced husband and wife, and thus be enabled to lay before our readers the sequel to this "o'er true tale," which in many respects sounds more like a tale of fiction than a narrative of facts.