The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-01-12
From the Springfield (Mass.) Republican, of
December 81.
Seduction, Elopement. Adultery, Death.
A SAD STORY OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE.

SeouCtlOn, ElOpements Auultery, Deatns
! SAD STORY OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE.
About five years ago village singing
school was about to be organized in Gran
| by, CT, and the selection of a teacher
became mooted question. The merits
Of one well known in this vicinity, were
canvassed, but he encountered opposition
on the ground that he was licentious
man, an adulterer, His friends carried
the day, however, and he was installed
over the school, and became an inmate
Of the family of Dea Kendall, who had
espoused his cause warmly, believed in
his innocence, and treated him with con-
6dence The music teacher sued the
person in the village prominent in circu-
lating the stories against his character,
| for SANDER, and the case was pending in
the courts at Hartford for some time.
| The defendant obtained considerable ev
idence to sustain his charges, but not
enough to cover and protect them all,
and therefore yielded to settlement, and
paid the costs Of the suits. Dea Kendall
had daughter, young, beautiful and ac-
complshed, and fond of music. After
the singing school season was over, she
insisted on leaving home and taking care
OF herself; her purpose was opposed
there was family quarrel. but she sue
ceeded in eloping, none of her family
knew whittier. For years she was lost
to them all. Meantime, her father died,
and suddenly she reappeared, and claim
ed her share in the estate 1t was given
to her, and she departed again into OBJ
security. refusing to tell her friends any
more than that she was living in the vi
cinity Of Boston under an assumed name.
Then came suspicious and reports that
she had been seduced by the music teach
er, who had been befriended and defend
ed by her father and the family, some
years ago, and that she was living under
his protection somewhere. But efforts to
solve the mystery, and discover the place
of her concealment, still proved fruit
less. Only last week was the veil lifted,
and that through her death. Her friends
received information that she had died at
South Boston, and her remains were at
their disposal. They received them, and
learned the full story of her life for the
years that had intervened since her elope
ment.
1t seems that she was seduced by the
music teacher during the season of the
school, and disappeared TO become, GER
tainly, a mother, and as she expected, a
wife. But her seducer was already a
married man, and his family resided in
the vicinity of Springfield. He was,
however, about this time, clerk in a
store in Boston, and established his vic
tim in secrecy in South Boston, as :" Mrs
JONES' the wife of "George Jones'"
Here she gave birth to boy, and here
she lived, the mistress of her seducer
He visited her but seldom, however, tax
ing the whole time through, aud sup
ported her in but scanty style. After the
death of her father, he became more at
tentve again, and persuaded her to go
and receive her share of the property.
This she did, and paid the money over
to him under assurance, 1t is reported,
that he would establish her in finer quar-
tiers, and live with her more constantly.
But his desertion was now more marked
than before-he robbed her not only Of
character and home, but her money. Her
cruel disappointments and mental and
moral sufferings naturally nursed fatal
disease, and this last and most cruel
treatmen hastened its progress. and last
week relieved her by death. In the last
days Of her life, the woman with whom
she lived wrote to her seducer by his
proper name in Springfield, urging. in
her behalf, his presence, to see her once
more before she died. But he came not.
and she, preserving her mystery to the
last, refused to divulge her real name, or
the residence Of her friends, closed her
own eyelids, and died, proud, neglected.
deserted, heart broken. Her child she
had previously given to Catholic school
in South Boston, and bespoken from the
same institution a Christian disposition
of her body. A few days previous 10
her death she called some of the mem
bers OF the house where she boarded to
her room, and requested them to burn
all papers in her possession at once, in
her presence, in order to prevent, if pos
sible, any facts concerning her fate from
ever reaching her friends, whom she had
disgraced. This was done, and but for
an old album, which contained many
good wishes from her former school
mates, with her own true name and place
of residence upon the margin of the
book, her history would never have been
known. She died on Tuesday, and on
Saturday her remains, accompanied by
her interesting boy, four years Of age
the sign of her sorrow, yet the consola-
ton OF her life-were brought once more
to her native village. u
This is but the warp of the story. Tue
details may readily be supplied by those
who know what sin is, and life may be
. And those who don't-happy few-may
we'll be spared the recital. We have on
ly to add the name Of the other and mos
criminal party to the history-it is tha
Of Edwin w. Reed, who lives, with wife
and children. in West Springfield, has
, piano store in this city. and teaches sing
; ing in the country towns during the win
, tar saasons Ha Is we'll known in all thi