The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-09-01

4 suit, Tor such proceeding could arc
can have but one result The father
loaded his double -barreIed shot gun, and
swore vengeance, but filling to find the
! fugitives, he took to the bottle. His
good wife implored him not to give way
to despair, but he drank the deeper, and
accused her of encouraging the elope-
ment. In three months the wife died,
and at the expiration Of a year, when the
young couple returned to Syracuse from
Connecticut, where they remained with
the parents of the husband. they learned
that the old man, after the death of his
wife, of which they had of course been
apprsed, had sold his farm, squandered
the proceeds, and was almost destitute.
Learning of their arrival. Ainsley drank
himself into frenzy, and proceeding to
the hotel where they were stopping, at
tackled the husband, wounding him in
the arm with pistol shot, and then at
tempted the life of his daughter, who
happily escaped uninjured through the
interposition of persons brought TO the
spot by the report of the pistol. Aims
ley was arrested. tried and acquitted on
the ground of insanity. The daughter
and her husband returned to Connect
cut. since which time the father had not
heard from them. He was sent to the
lunatic asylum, from which he was dis
missed after remaining six months. In
1851 he came to California. He had
followed mining for two years, but find
ing his strength unequal to the pursuit,
returned to this city. purchased hand
cart, and-the rest is known. "Since
them" concluded the old man, bowing
his face in his hand in agony. have
not tasted liquor, nor have | seen my
poor child" | have regretted that had
been so inquisitive, and expressed to the
sufferer the sympathy l really felt for
him. After that | seldom passed the
corner without looking for :" Pap Aines-
ly," and never saw him but to think of
the sad story he had told me.
One chilly, drizzling day, in the De-
cember following, gentleman having
purchased small marble top table at an
auction room opposite, proffered to The
old man the job of conveying it to his
residence on Stockton street. Not wish
ing to accompany the carrier, he had Sc
lected the face as probably giving the
best assurance of the careful delivery of
the purchase. al
Furnished with the number of the
house, the old cartman, after a pretty
trying struggle with the steep ascent of
California street, reached his destination
and deposited the table in the hall. Lin
gering moment the lady did not seem
TO surmise the reason, until he politely
informed her that her husband (for such
he took him to be had probably neglect
ed to settle for the carriage. Very well,
| will pay you" said the lady, stepping
into an adjoining room. She returned,
and stating that she had no small coin in
the house, handed the old man twenty
dollar piece. He could not make the
change Never mind-I will call to-
morrow said he, turning to go. "No,
no, replied the lady, glancing plying
ly at the white locks and trembling
limbs II will not permit you TO put
yourself to so much trouble and she
handed the coin TO Bridget, with instruc-
tions TO see if she could get it changed
at one of the stores or markets in the
neighborhood. @ M
"S,ep into the parlor until the girl
returns. The air is chilly, and you must
be cold." continued the lady, kindly.
!" Come," she added, as he looked at
his rough attire and hesitated there
is good fire in the CRATE, and no one
there save the children un n
1t is somewhat chilly" replied the
old man, following her into the parlor.
and taking a seat near the fire. +" Per-
haps l may find some silver in the
house. /" said the lady. leaving the room,
for fear Bridget will not succeed in
getting the twenty changed"
Come here, little one," said the old
man, holding out his hand coaxingly to
the youngest OF the two children--a girl
about six years of age. Gomez
love little children and the child who
had been watching him with curiosity
from the large arm chair, hesitatingly
approached. " Aiat taa
What is your name, dear ?" inquired
the cartman.
Maria" lisped the little one.
Maria" he repeated, while the great
tears gathered in his eyes :" l once had
a little girl named Maria, and you look