CENTENARIAN LOVERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 17 June 1907, Page 4

CENTENARIAN LOVERS.

CLOSE OF A kiuTANOE OF EIGHTY YEARS AGO. New York, April 20. A bachelor, who celebrated his lUlst birthday iu April, is to cross the ocean in June to ciaim an English lass of ninety l'iue.They will return to America and be married on August 27 —the bride's lootli birthday—at the home of their childhood in Eastern Tennessee. The hero and heroine of this extraordinary romance are Mr John B. Bundren, living in the mountains near Talcsvillil, and Miss Hose McGuirc, of Preston, Lancashire. They were sweethearts SO years ago, and wanted to marry, but the girl's parents, who were English, objected, and took her back to England. Mr Btindron went west, hoping that a change of scene would help him to bear the disappointment. He was in California at the time of the rich discovery of gold, became rich, returned to Tennessee, and bought his birthplace, the adjoining farm where his sweetheart lived, and other property. Recently he decided to hold a reunion of his old friends, asking none under ninety years of age. An English news-, paper copied the announcement., and Mr Bundren received a letter from Miss McGuire. asking: "Are you the same John B. Bundren, who lived in Tatesville long ago?" The letter explained that the writer was ninety-nine years old. and unmarried. Mr Bundren answered with a renewed offer of marriage. He was accepted, and will make his first trip across the ocean in June.

Mr Bundren's nephew and namesake in St. Louis, who recently entertained him. says his uncle is remarkably strong and vigorous: has always felt that some day he would find his boyhood's sweetheart.