Romance in Real Life.

Manawatu Herald, 28 February 1905, Page 3

Romance in Real Life.

A young woman without money or home abandoned her child on the road between Scarborough and Whitby in the hope that some kindhearted person would befriend the infant, says the Daily Mail. Then the mother in a fib of despair tried to end her life by taking poison. That was four months ago. To-day she is the liappv wife of a young settler in British Columbia. The story forms a romance in real life. In the first place, the abandoned child—a baby girl aged 18 months— Was found safe and sound and taken to the house of Mr John Leadley, of the Town Farm, Houghton, who tended it with the utmost care. From various parts of the country he received about 08 offers to ad"pt the child. The mother wus charged at the police court with attempting to take her life, but her pitiful story secured a discharge. While the case was sub judice, Mr Leadley received a letter from a young settler in British Cob mbia, who had read of the affair in a paper. Fie asked for full particulars about the woman, and, if the case were genuine, offered to give her “ a fresh start in life.” The conditions offered were that money for the outfit and passage for the woman and child would be sent, and that, on arrival in British Columbia, if the agreement between the man and woman was mutual, they would be married, and if not, the woman could either remain as housekeeper to her benefactor or a situation in another family would be found her. The writer, who enclosed his photograph, stated he was a gold miner, originally hailing from Nottingham, and save references regarding himself, which, on enquiry, were found highly satisfactory. Mr Leadley accomplished his mission of matrimonial agent with the utmost judgment, and eventually all arrangements were complete, and a second-class ticket was purchased, and the mother and her ififant sailed on July 21st, and reached her destination on August sth. To give the finishing touch to an affair full of interest and romance, the couple fell in love with each other at first sight, and were married by special license the next day.