FIFTY YEARS ON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 178, 31 July 1933, Page 5

FIFTY YEARS ON.

ROMANCE AND AGE. OLD SWEETHEARTS WED. ONEHUNGA MAN'S JOURNEY. They say true love never dies. Here is a story of two people who were sweethearts over fifty years ago. The boy, an adventurous young fellow, proposed marriage. The girl, because she was so young, refused him. They parted, and were separated for nearly fifty years. The man went to Xew Zealand. The girl lived in London. They married and settled down 12,000 miles'apart. In their respective homes they became "granddad" and "grannie." Two years ago the "Darby" in this romantic story lost his wife. Within ten weeks "Joan" lost her husband. The tragedies reconciled them. The old love was rekindled. The man, now 68 years old, and wearing a fine white beard, returned to Britain. He was met at Southampton by his old sweetheart. They embraced each other with tears of joy in their eyes. Love had found a way. That is the story behind the announcement that Mr. Edwin Watson, of Onchunga, Xew Zealand, was married to Mrs. Sarah Baines, of Hartington Boad, Wandsworth, stated an English newspaper in June. " It Just Had to Happen." The "Darby" of this story is a healthy looking business man of 68. He is still very straight as he walks. "Joan" looks small beside him. Her smiling eyes belie her 68 years. Seen before the wedding, Mr. Edwin Watson was taking things quietly. "It may sound an amazing story to you," he told me, "but to me —well, it just had to happen. "Sarah and I met as boy and girl at Hayling Island, just off Portsmouth. My father kept a Baptist school there, and I was a pupil. Sarah came there for

several months on a visit with her family. "We fell in love with each other and were looked upon as sweethearts. "When Sarah had to leave it was a heartrending parting to me. We vowed that we would meet again as soon as possible. "I left school and went to work nearby. Meanwhile Sarah went to London and later to Ewel), in Surrey. "Determined to be near her 1 left my job and went to London when I was 10 or 17. I got a job in a stationer's office. "As soon as I could I went to Ewell to see Sarah. I asked her to marry me. I didn't think at the time that I hadn't much to offer her. "But Sarah was wiser than I. She told me that he felt she was too young to take such a step. I left her feeling that I had been 'turned down.' "I was an impetuous youth, and instead of waiting my time I determined to forget all about her. I felt then that I would never get over my heartache. Took Plunge in Desperation. "In time came a chance to go to New Zealand. I was torn between two desires. I told myself that I wanted to forget her. But I realised that I did not want to be too far away from her. "In desperation I took the plunge. I left for New Zealand. In all the years I have been there, and for many years before, I did not say or write one word to Sarah. It is small wonder that in the meantime sho got married. Sarah had become Mrs. Raines, and as such had a very happy married life. She had four children, and is now the grandmother of four children. "For myself, I also settled down in Xew Zealand. I also was happily married, and pride myself on haying been a good husband. I had three children, and have twelve grandchildren. It was a big blow to mo when my wife died on September 20, 1931. Then for the first time in over fifty years I got in touch with Sarah again. I wanted to write to an S9-year-old uncle of mine at Hayling Island. I didn't know if he was at the same old place, so I wrote to Sarah asking her if she could tell me anything about him. "By the time my letter reached her she too had suffered a bereavement. Her husband died within ten weeks of my wifo's death.

Still Wanted Sarah. I "When she replied to my letter saying how pleased she was to hear of rue she mentioned thi:? fact, of course. We corresponded regularly after this. We comforted one another. "Then one day I decided. I realised that through all those years I still wanted Sarah for my wife. Once the idea was in my head 1 couldn't rest until I had done something about it. It took me some time to pluck up courage to propose to her again. But in the end I asked her to marry me. Imagine my joy when she wrote back and said that she was glad I had asked her, because she had thought of it herself. With this particular letter she sent a picture of herself. She said, 'I'm sure you wouldn't know we after all this time, so here's a picture.' "I'd have known her anywhere. I wrote back and told her so. I also told when I would be arriving at Southampton. As we neared Southampton I felt as jumpy as I did the first t:|ne I proposed to her. "And there she was —the first person I saw as I came down the gangway at Southampton. In a moment she was in my arms, and I realised I was as much in love with her as I ever was (I say this with all reverence and respect to my late dear wife).

"So here we are —a happy gathering of many of onr friend* and relations —a happy marriage—and then a honeymoon trip down to Bournemonth. A bit late for another honeymoon, perhaps, but there was never a happier bridegroom and bride than Sarah and I."

Mr. Watson, who arrived in New Zealand 31 years ago, joined the staff of Sargood, Son. and Ewen, and retired recently after 29 year's' service in the firm's accountancy department at Auckland. Be is a prominent member of the Onehunga corps of the Salvation Army, and lef> *r England some months ago to marry his old sweetheart.