A Diamond in the Rough; Embracing Anecdote, Biography, Romance and History (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1906. Excerpt: ... Chapter 3 AFTER DWELLING WITH THE CHEROKEE INDIANS FOR A TIMB, HOUSTON GOES TO TEXAS The separation of Houston and his wife, without a word of explanation from either, was startling in high degree; and to the death of both, no satisfactory explanation was ever given, that has reached the public ear. The event having occurred in the very midst of a political campaign, in which Houston was a candidate for re-election to the office of Governor, with a strong probability of being elected, added greatly to the mystery. Some years ago while traveling in Tennessee I obtained the following version of the matter, which was corroborated to me at Lampasas. Texas, by one of the old soldiers in attendance at the reunion, above referred to, and is as follows: That on his returning home one evening from his office in the Capitol at Nashville, Governor Houston found his wife weeping, and greatly depressed in feeling. Houston besought her to tell him the cause. But she at first declined to do so. He said to her, "Tell me, and if it is in my power to relieve your distress of mind, I will do so, without regard to the suffering it may cost me.' Mrs. Houston then said to her husband, "Mr. Houston, I married you under the constraint of my parents and friends, when I loved another. My thought then was that I might in time come to forget him, and learn to love, and to be to you the devoted wife you have a right to expect. Anything less would be dishonorable in me. And while I respect you highly, and feel that you have a bright future before you, yet I am profoundly impressed with the belief that I can never be to you the loving and devoted wife 1 should be, and that you would expect. This is the source of my grief and distress of mind, and I am conscience stricken that I lacked the fortitude and courage to...