The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18


had just heard Of tho marriage, also enter
ed. lie was sternly questioned a. to the
truth Of the report and he boldly svowed
it, making no apology for the unauthorized
act. but assuming the attitude Of one who
was entitled to admiration for most sue
cesfal maneuvre. He demanded permission
to see his wife; she was called, and in their
presence, the guardian bewailed the impru-
dencc Of their conduct, and for the first
time, the heretofore daring groom learned
that by her marriage the bride had forfeited
the entire fortune Of her father.
Baficd, disappointed, cheated, the late
wooer stormed and nvcd he turned upon
the poor trembling woman, to whom, but
few hours before, he had pledged eternal
love, and charged her with basely decsiving
him. Overcome with grief, she tainted, and
before she recovered he had left the house
and the city. She heard no more Of him
for years. During oil that time, with tho
incomprchensibility Of woman's devotion,
she had loved him. His name, which for
many months had been coupled with re-
proaches and contumely, never passed her
lips. She would not believe him the mer-
cenary villain he had been represented
She still clung fondly to the hope that oil
the love he had prof,ssed was real but weak,
and broken in spirits, that hopc seemed to
keep her alive.
During March Of last winter, the courts
had set aside her marriage ON the ground Of
fraud, and no one contesting her right, she
became posscssor Of the magnificent fortune.
The case was noticed in the papers, and
some weeks after there came letter to her.
II was from her lover and husband. He
had seen that notice Of the annulment Of
her marriage. That was relief to him,
for he was on the eve Of marrying again
But as money was his main idea, disguised,
he had visited the place, had heard her sto-
ry repeated with no favorable reference to
himself; had heard II more than hinted that
she still retained an affection for him; but
more than all he ascertained that she was
now sole possessor Of that fortune which
had so strongly tempted him to wrong
He returned, and addressed the letter we
have mentioned. II was full Of repentance;
II proclaimed that his life since he had left
her had been ono Of continuous misery
He professed to be unacquainted with what
had passed, and with great humility tender.
ed again his love, declaring that as he had
been the cause of her losing her wealth,
justice required that he should share with
her the fortune he had amassed in the grow
ing city where he lived. Unknown to any
one she answered that letter, accepting his
love, forgiving and vcnturing excuses for
his past conduct, and informing him that
she was now prepared to give him that in
heritancc which had been to him the source
Of 50 much unhappiness. That letter Of
hers was destined never to reach him. To
avoid any conjecturcs which might arise IL
seen to deposit u letter directed to that name,
she induced by liberal reward u ncighbor's
servant, whom she knew could not read, to
take the letter to the post Office. This SER
want, to get leave Of absence took with her
one of her MISTRESS children. To amuso
the child, she allowed 1t to carry the let
ter and the little one, pleased with the red
stamp as they walked along succeeded in
removing it. The letter was deposited in
the Office without stamp, and never, Of
course, sent.
A few words more closes this brief history.
A month later, the lady's former guardian,
who was politician, received Chicago
newspaper, which had been sent to him be-
C use It contained political speech deliver.
ed in the city after reading 1t he laid II
down with some remark about the eItraor-
binary growth Of the city in which it was
printed. The name Of Chicago was heard
by the lady she took the paper, glanced
over it, and, with shrek, fell fainting to
the floor. In that paper was the announce
ment Of the marriage Of her destroyer.