My great-grandparents Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946) and Abbey Ardelle "Della" Smith (1862-1944) married on 11 September 1887 in Wano, Cheyenne County, Kansas. I told their stories in ABC Biography of #12 Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946) of Pennsylvania, Iowa, Colorado and California (27 April 2025) and ABC Biography of #13 Abbey Ardelle "Della" (Smith) Carringer (1862-1944) of Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and California (30 April 2025) based on my genealogical and family history research over 38 years.
I don't have any "family stories" about their early life except what is in the records I have from family sources, books and periodicals, and online record collections. Fortunately, I have a marriage certificate hanging on my wall at home, so I know when, where and by whom they were married. I also know that each of them, and Della's father, owned land in Cheyenne County, Kansas in the mid-1880s, so they were neighbors. I also know that they both were actors in theater plays in the 1880s in Wano, and acually have some playbill images from Della's scrapbook.
I asked several three artificial intelligence tools to provide a realistic but fictional short story about Austin's proposal of marriage to Della.
Here is the short story created by OpenAI ChatGPT4:
"Curtain Call on the Prairie"
The sun dipped low behind the Kansas plains, bathing the fields in a golden hush. The tall grasses of Wano whispered in the breeze, and a lone cicada struck up a steady rhythm from somewhere beneath the boards of the playhouse porch. Austin Carringer sat quietly beside Della Smith, their shoulders nearly touching, their boots dusty from rehearsal.
Behind them loomed the modest theatre they and a handful of neighbors had built by hand just three summers earlier. It wasn’t much—just weathered lumber, a patched curtain, and a few oil lamps—but to them, it was sacred ground. On that stage, they had lived lives far grander than the dusty prairie could offer. There, they had wept, laughed, fought duels with wooden swords, danced in moonlight, and whispered forbidden love in tones that echoed through the sparse rows of benches.
Austin glanced at Della out of the corner of his eye. Her auburn hair was pinned loosely, a few strands playing against her cheek as the wind lifted them gently. In her lap rested a folded copy of The Secret; or, A Hole in the Wall, their most recent triumph, which had drawn nearly the whole township to the playhouse.
“You know,” he said, voice quiet, “there are evenings that feel like a page from a poem.”
Della smiled without turning. “You say that every time the wind calms.”
“Maybe. But this one feels different.” He shifted, reaching beneath the bench for a small parcel wrapped in linen. “Maybe because tonight I’ve come to the end of a script I’ve been carrying in my heart for three years.”
That caught her attention. She turned to face him, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Della,” he continued, “we’ve worn so many names on that stage. You’ve been Lady Audley, tragic and beautiful, with fire behind your eyes. You’ve been the Dairyman’s Daughter, pure and steadfast. And I’ve been fools and lovers and poor Joe in My Cousin Joe, trying not to trip on my lines.”
She laughed then, a soft, bell-like sound that never failed to undo him.
“But none of those roles,” he said, “felt as real as this one now.”
He opened the parcel and drew out a simple gold ring, delicate, engraved faintly with vines that curled like wild prairie roses. He stood, then dropped to one knee in the dirt at her feet.
Her breath caught.
“Abbey Ardelle Smith,” he said, his voice shaking just enough to make her heart swell, “in The Dairyman’s Daughter, you said, ‘Love, like the rising sun, does not ask permission to warm the earth—it simply does.’ That’s what you’ve done to me. Since we became neighbors. Since we built that rickety stage. Since you beat me out for the lead in Lady Audley’s Secret.” He smiled. “You’ve warmed every piece of me.”
Della’s eyes brimmed with tears.
“I want to write the rest of life’s play with you. No scripts. Just you and me. Wano to San Diego, hand in hand, scene by scene. Will you marry me?”
The prairie was silent but for the wind and a distant crow. Della looked down at him, her throat tight with emotion. She touched the ring, then his cheek.
“In My Neighbor’s Wife, I said, ‘A home is not four walls, but the soul you share it with.’ I always wondered what that line meant. Until now.” She leaned forward. “Yes, Austin. A thousand yeses.”
He slipped the ring on her finger, his hands calloused but gentle. Then he rose and pulled her into an embrace, as the prairie sky blushed violet above them.
They stood like that for a long moment, two players now fully themselves, the stage behind them and a new journey ahead.
“So,” she said at last, eyes twinkling, “San Diego?”
Austin grinned. “San Diego. With twenty dollars in our pockets and every hope in our hearts.”
As the moon rose higher and the wind carried the scent of dust and sage, a curtain in the playhouse fluttered—its final bow for the night. And as they walked home across the fields, fingers entwined, the real play of their lives was just beginning.
Here's the X Grok 3 short story:
Setting: A balmy evening in August 1887, just outside Wano, Kansas. The sun dips low, painting the sky in hues of amber and rose, casting long shadows over the adjacent Carringer and Smith family lands. The air carries the sweet scent of prairie grass and blooming wildflowers, with a faint breeze rustling the cottonwood trees near a small creek. Austin and Della have just finished rehearsing at the Wano playhouse, their laughter echoing from a spirited run-through of “My Cousin Joe.” They’re strolling along a dirt path, the glow of lantern light from nearby farmhouses dotting the horizon.
Characters:
• Henry Austin “Austin” Carringer: A charismatic man in his mid-30s, with a lean build, tousled brown hair, and a warm, earnest smile. His love for the stage is matched only by his devotion to Della, his partner in both life and performance
• Abbey Ardelle “Della” Smith: A vibrant woman in her mid-20s, with bright eyes and a quick wit. Her grace on stage and spirited nature off it have captivated Austin for three years.
Austin: (slowing his pace, glancing at Della with a soft smile) Della, ain’t this sunset somethin’ else? Like the final act of “Lady Audley’s Secret,” when the stage lights dim and the world feels like it’s holdin’ its breath. Makes a man ponder what’s worth holdin’ onto.
Della (twirling a wildflower between her fingers, her bonnet catching the last rays of sunlight) Oh, Austin, you’re waxin’ poetic again. Too many nights as the dashing hero in “The Dairyman’s Daughter”? Or maybe you’re rehearsin’ for some new role you ain’t told me about. (teases, nudging him) What’s got you so dreamy tonight?
Austin: (chuckling, then turning serious as he stops under a cottonwood) Ain’t a role, Della, though I’ve played plenty a fool for you on that Wano stage. Three years we’ve been at this—courtin’ through curtain calls, stealin’ kisses between scenes, walkin’ these fields when the stars come out. (takes her hand, his voice low) You remember that line from “My Neighbor’s Wife”? “My heart is thine, though the world may part us.” Well, darlin’, my heart’s been yours since that first night in Wano, when you laughed at my stumblin’ lines and made me feel like a king.
Della: (blushing, but keeping her playful tone) My, my, Austin Carringer, quotin’ the playhouse to woo me? You’re pullin’ out all the stops! (softens, meeting his gaze) I remember that night too. You were so nervous, you nearly dropped the prop lantern in “The Secret; or, A Hole in the Wall.” But I saw somethin’ in you—somethin’ true. Still, you’re gonna have to do better than borrowed lines if you’re plannin’ to sweep me off my feet.
Austin: (grinning, stepping closer, his voice warm and steady) Fair enough, Miss Smith. No script this time, just me. (takes both her hands, his eyes searching hers) Abbey Ardelle, you’re the melody to every song I’ve ever sung, the light in every scene I’ve played. Like in “Lady Audley’s Secret,” when she says, “Love is the chain that binds the heart forever”—that’s you to me, Della. I can’t imagine a day without your laugh, your fire, your hand in mine. I’ve got this land, a few dollars, and a dream bigger than these Kansas plains. I want to marry you, Della. Will you be my partner, not just on stage, but for all the acts to come?
Della: (eyes widening, her breath catching as she clutches the wildflower tighter) Austin… you’ve been rehearsin’ this, haven’t you? (pauses, her voice softening as she steps closer) Three years of starin’ into your eyes across that stage, hearin’ you say lines like “My Cousin Joe’s” “I’d cross the world for thee, my love, and count it but a step.” I thought those were just words, but… you mean ’em, don’t you? (her voice trembles slightly) Marriage is a bigger leap than any we’ve taken, even when that rickety prop table collapsed mid-scene!
Austin: (laughing softly, then growing earnest) Bigger than that, and twice as thrilling. I mean every word, Della. I see us leavin’ Wano, sellin’ this land, and takin’ a train west—California, maybe, where the sun sets over the ocean. I’ve got $20 saved, enough for tickets and a honeymoon to start our story right. (lifts her hand to his lips, quoting softly) “The Secret” had it right: “No wall can hold a heart that’s true.” Say you’ll come with me, darlin’. Say you’ll be my wife.
Della: (a tear glistening in her eye, but her smile radiant) California? You’re promisin’ me oceans and adventures? (pauses, then steps into his arms) Austin, you’ve been my leading man since that first curtain rose here in Wano. Every laugh, every glance, every moment we’ve shared—it’s all led to this. Yes, I’ll marry you. (playfully) But don’t think you can steal the spotlight in this marriage, Mr. Carringer. I’m still the star of this show!
Austin: (pulling her into a warm embrace, laughing) Never, my love. You’ll always be the star, and I’m just lucky to share the stage. (pulls back, his face alight with joy) Let’s find Rev. Richards tomorrow and make it official. Then we’ll pack our dreams and that $20 and chase the horizon west—together.
Della: (resting her head against his chest, her voice soft) To our final bow in Wano and a new act in California. Lead on, Austin. I’m ready for our next scene.
And the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 short story:
An August Evening, 1887 - Wano, Kansas
The summer sun hangs low over the Kansas prairie, casting long shadows across the small settlement of Wano. Austin Carringer and Della Smith sit on the wooden steps of the theatre playhouse where they've spent countless evenings rehearsing and performing together. The distant sound of cattle lowing drifts across the grassland as crickets begin their evening chorus.
Austin: Della, these three summers here in Wano... they've been the finest of my life. Watching you command that stage in "Lady Audley's Secret" last week—you were magnificent. The way you delivered that final scene, when Lady Audley confesses her crimes... you had the entire audience spellbound.
Della: (laughing softly) Oh, Austin, you flatter me so. Though I must admit, having you as my leading man in all these productions has made even the most dramatic scenes feel... natural somehow. Do you remember our first performance together in "The Dairyman's Daughter"? I was so nervous I nearly forgot my opening lines.
Austin: How could I forget? You were trembling like a leaf, but the moment you stepped into that spotlight, you transformed completely. (his voice growing softer) You know, Della, sometimes when we're up there together, delivering those romantic scenes... it hardly feels like acting at all.
Della: (blushing slightly) Austin Carringer, you shouldn't say such things. What would the other players think?
Austin: Let them think what they will. (taking her hand gently) Do you remember the lines from "My Cousin Joe"? When Joseph declares his love to Margaret by the garden gate?
Della: (her voice barely above a whisper) "My heart has been yours since first we met, though I dared not speak it..."
Austin: (continuing the quote, his eyes never leaving hers) "For love like ours needs no grand gestures, only the courage to speak what has long been true." (pausing) Della, those words... they weren't just lines to me.
Della: (turning to face him fully, sensing the change in his tone) Austin, what are you trying to tell me?
Austin: That's just it, my dear. Nothing has ever felt more natural to me than being by your side. Whether we're running lines for "My Neighbor's Wife" or simply walking between our families' homesteads at sunset, or sitting together after the curtain falls... I find myself thinking that perhaps our greatest performance isn't on that stage at all.
Della: (her voice trembling slightly) Austin, you're frightening me with such serious talk. And yet... my heart races when you speak so.
Austin: (standing and extending his hand to help her up) Walk with me a moment? Down toward the creek where the cottonwoods grow? There's something I must tell you away from prying ears.
They stroll slowly away from the playhouse, their footsteps soft on the prairie grass. The evening air carries the scent of wild flowers and distant woodsmoke. As they walk, Austin begins to recite softly.
Austin: "In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine." (he stops walking) Do you recognize those words, Della?
Della: (stopping beside him, her breath catching) From "The Secret"... when William finally confesses his love to Sarah through the wall that has kept them apart for so long.
Austin: The wall between them crumbled that night, didn't it? Just as I hope the wall of propriety between us might crumble now, if you'll allow it.
Austin: Della, I've been carrying something in my heart for longer than I care to admit. When I first met you here in Wano three years ago, I thought you were the most spirited woman I'd ever encountered. But these summers here, watching you bring those characters to life on stage, seeing how you laugh with the other players, how you tend to your family's land with such determination...
Della: (stopping and looking up at him) Austin Carringer, what are you trying to say to me?
Austin: (reaching into his vest pocket and dropping to one knee) Then let me tear down every wall between us, Della. I'm saying that I can't imagine a single day of my life without you in it. These three years of courtship, of stolen glances across the stage, of walking you home under these prairie stars... they've been leading to this moment. Della Smith, would you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?
He produces a simple gold band, its surface catching the last rays of sunlight.
Della: (gasping, her hand flying to her heart) Austin! Oh my stars... I... (tears beginning to well in her eyes, her voice breaking with emotion) All this time I hoped... I dreamed you might feel as I do, but I never dared believe it could be true.
Austin: (still kneeling, his voice tender) It's more true than any line we've ever spoken on that stage, my darling.
Della: (reaching down to touch his face) Then yes, Austin Carringer. Yes, with all my heart and soul. I will be your wife.
Austin: (rising and slipping the ring onto her finger, his hands trembling slightly with emotion) Then we'll make our own grand production, won't we? Our own beautiful story that will run for decades, not just a few summer nights.
Della: (admiring the ring through her tears before embracing him) Better than any play we've ever performed. Though I do hope our real life has fewer tragic endings than the ones we've been acting out! No more Lady Audleys meeting their doom, or dairymen's daughters pining away from consumption.
Austin: (laughing and spinning her around, her skirts swirling in the prairie breeze) Only happy scenes from here on out, my dear Della. Comedy and romance, adventure and joy. I promise you that. (setting her down gently) We'll sell our land here, take our savings—modest though they may be—and make our way in the world together. I've been thinking... what would you say to California? I hear San Diego has weather fine enough for year-round theatre, and opportunities for a young married couple willing to work hard.
Della: (her eyes sparkling with excitement and tears) Twenty dollars and a dream? (laughing) It sounds like the plot of one of our melodramas! But yes, Austin, anywhere with you. Whether it's the stages of San Diego or anywhere else this wide world might take us.
Austin: (taking both her hands in his) Then let's make Rev. Richards earn his fee and marry us properly. I can't wait another day longer than necessary to call you Mrs. Austin Carringer.
Della: (standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek) Mrs. Della Carringer... it has such a lovely sound, doesn't it?
As the first stars begin to appear over the endless Kansas prairie, they walk back toward the settlement hand in hand, their voices carrying softly on the evening air as they plan their future. The playhouse grows smaller behind them, but their love story—their greatest and most enduring performance—has only just begun.
Did the marriage proposal happen this way? I sincerely hope so - romantic and touching, with a touch of humor.
Three different creations of historical fiction on the same theme. I can't choose which one to publish so I published all three! (Blogger seems to have no word limit on posts).
Which short story do you prefer? Tell me!!
Should I make this a series of fictional short stories (but based on actual events in their lives) about the lives of Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer? Getting married, the honeymoon trip, to San Diego, having a family, and living their lives for almost 60 more years?
Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.
"
