The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-07-23
BLANKS,

]
left alone with her little boy, and we then
occupied the third story in the house,
/ keeping the rooms below fastened most
all the time. Our nearest neighbor lived
some two miles distant, and | could not
get any one to stay with us, because they
! thought the house was haunted. Mrs
Russell came back in about six weeks
She could find no trace of her child. We
finally concluded that she had better move
back on the old homestead where her faith
er used to live. 1t was some sixty miles
distant, and no one was living there, she
being the only child. | had formerly
made it my home at Mr.. BIS, about five
miles from that place. | had inherited
small estate from an uncle, and with econ
omy | could get along very comfortably.
We took what we could in large, Gov
cred, double wagon, and started away
Mrs Russell had been obliged to dispose
cf great deal of furniture on account of
not receiving any money from her husband
during his absence. Mrs. Russei herself
drove the team. We went about halfway
the first day. At night we stopped at an
old looking tavern i'll little country place.
We did not have the team Embarrassed,
because We were uncertain whether we
should remain there all night, as we heard
there was another inn only two or three
miles distant. We had sat in the parlor
only few minutes when cur attention
was arrested by the conversation Of q
couple Of gentlemen who were speaking
about a little girl, apparently, then about
th, h,,,gn ,f th.,,, coil - IL,
opinion, that the little girl was Mrs. Rus
sells.
what reason have you for thinking so? 2
81 have scveral-the landlady told me
in confidence, that the child was brought
here by Mr.. Leslie; he said he had
crazy sister, and out of kindness TO her,
he was taking care Of the child. / knew
that he had no sister; that Mrs. Russels
daughter had been stolen, and that he has
bribed persons to retail the blackcst false
hoods about her. to her husband and his
friends, both before their unfortunate sep
aration occurred, and while he has been
absent from his family"
"Why did he leave her Z"
"He was sensitive, and petulent, and
lC,DOuS, anu lll4S IJCcIlSJ WIN IItltHutu W
be his friend, finally made him believe
that she did not love him, but that she
preferred Leslie to her husband; her fool
iSh hirtations with him and others, after
her marriage, corroborated these state
ments i'll her husbands eyes. The time
he left her he was goaded to madness by
her persistent refusals to listen to his de-
sires, and to discard the treachorous vii
lain who was so sedulously sowing the
seeds Of discord and ruin in their hearts
She left her husband and children, to at
tend party with Leslie as soon as Rus
sci was apprised of it he wrote her an at
fectionate note, asking her, as test of
her love and devotion, that she should
leave Leslie and repair to him immedi-
ately. The summons was unheeded she
did not come. Russols last hope was
crushed, and he left his home, his beauti-
full but erring wife, and his children for
ever. The last time | saw Mr.. Russel,
hc was almost broken-hearted. lie said
he had written several letters to his wife,
and sent her money, but he could get no
answer. | think it is possible, indeed, !
think | may say more than probable, that
she has never received letter, or she
would, at least, have answered his enqui.
ries after the children"
81 don't really know have"
Mrs Russell had thrown her veil from
her face. Do you know where he is
now?" she asked eagerly.
q do not" the gentleman replied,
% he was then in California, but intended
to leave soon"
lie did not recognize her until she told
her name, and asked him to aid her in
getting her child lie told her the quick
est way would be by stratagem. He said
that he would send for the landlady and
whilst she was engaged talking to kim,
Mrs. Russell was to 80 out, and at the end
Of the hall she was to go into a room
where she was to find the child. The plan
worked very well, but had the landIsdy
been less engaged in talking, she might
have heard the voice of the little girl, az
they were passing out, for she was SO
Overjoyed 1t was impossible To keep her
from talking to her mother. As soon ~
saw them IN the wagon, | went out with
the little boy do not know how long
Mr.. L. detained the landlady, but we drove
all night as fast as we could. We reached
1ur place of destination the next day in
he forenoon. left Mrs. Russell there,
Ior business called me elsewhere. She
nad experienced religion, and supported
herself and family comfortably by giving
music lessons, and doing necde-work -
She had lived there about year have
,ften visited her and | expect that she
will be here this afternoon. She often re-
,rets her folly in her treatment to her
husband, and still hopes that she will
sometime see him, though sometimes
ear her error was fatal to her domestic
happiness and peace
" | will remember what you have told