The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-11
Written for the Sunday Timeel
LIFE IN WASHINGTON.
BEFORE THE REBELLION
With Sketches Of Men and Women
Of Celebrity.
STRANGE BUT TRUE.
BY r. w. THOMAS.


Byron has the oft-quoted line that truth
Is strange, stranger than fiction" Who
has not realized it in his experiences of
life? was just admitted to practice law
in Baltimore, and, like most young law
yers, the majority of my cases were Grim
inal ones, when, one day, very beautiful
woman came into my Office and wished me
to defend her before magistrate for an
assault and battery which she had COM
mitted upon her servant girl. She vas
very intelligent, of fine address, and was
living, it appeared, with a gambler, of
whom she got jealous, and this was the
cause of the affair.
defended the lady before the magis-
trate, and he let her off with small fine.
She paid me my fee and I thought no
more about it, only that the woman had
nothing to mar her beautiful face except
the loss of one of her front teeth. Years
afterwards I was in the west, (nO matter
where when was called upon by gen.
tleman whom had known in Baltimore,
to assist him in finishing an acrostic he was
writing upon his wife, just dead. He had
his hat covered with Grape, was dressed in
the deepest black, and had long pendant
strip of black Grape hanging from his arm.
I tried to dodge the responsibility of doing
anything with the acrostic, but he insisted
upon it, and reluctantly took his rhymes
and put them in my desk. How he
mourned over his loss! How l sympa-
thized with him! He was to call soon,
very soon, and begged l would not forget
it, and he would be under million of obi
cations to me- He went to raise monu-
ment over his departed wife, such as there
was not the like to be seen west of the
mountains. Days passed and he came not.
At last, about two weeks after he had
called, in mOurnful mood, with his acros-
tic, he again entered my room, and I OBJ
served at once that he had entirely abated
the Grape on his arm, and that on his hat
was diminished TO strip. / was wonder
ing if he had heard anything against the
memory Of his departed wife. he Slid
into a seat and said not word about the
acrostic. As had been delinquent in
not attending to the matter, waited for
him to breach the subject; but he talked
about various matters, and then in an alb
rupt way asked me what l thought of
certain widow.
81 think very highly of her," said I;
"why do you ask?"
"Well, nothing particular. Then, af-
ter pause, and catching his breath, he
exclaimed-"The fact is, I cannot live
alone, and / won't. | miss the company
of my departed wife so much that must
have something to cheer me; must in
deed. 1 want you to come to my we'd
ding"
"Your wedding!" l exclaimed.
Yes, my wedding. l am to be mar
ried to the widow. l am widower, and
think it proper for widowers to marry
widows. Don't you?" =
eyes," replied, ''there isQonsolation,
then, on both sides"
"Precisely So, exclaimed hi "Thats
exactly y, what we said to each OF r. You'll
replied in the affirmative.
"Ahem !" coughed he, and twisted him
self in his chair Chow about that across
tic on my dear departed wife. Sometime,
when am in better spirits, I'll call in and
see you, and we'll finish it. Duties to the
living will then have somewhat assuaged
my grief"
told him l thought so, and be shook
me cordially by the hand and left; but he
stepped back soon and explained.
"Folks will talk" said he. swell, let
'em talk, It's my own business with re-
gard to how short time / marry after my
wife's death"
Of course l agreed with him.
"There's Susan Simpson; sir, she's
raising the whole city. What's it her bu-
siness? Miss Upton says was attentive
to her. It's no such thing. My poor wife
has been dead so short time that have
not had leisure to be attentive to any one.
But widowers and widows understand all
about the matter. They've been through
the mill have had bitter losses; sympa-
thise with each other You understand
me. You'll be there?"
81 will, replied; and he withdrew.
went to the wedding 1t was gay
occasion The groom and bride looked as
if they had never had "losses," to say
nothing of bitter ones. But it is best so;
it keeps the world moving and increases
the movers in it. Seated conspicuously
on sofa observed lady whose eye 1
repeatedly caught. 81 have seen her be-
fore,"I thought to myself. eyes, I'll
swear to it," went into the next room
and took position where could scrutin-
Use her unobserved. l gazed half min
ute. cts she - exclaimed. "What a
world! IT'S the lady defended in Balti-
more for assaulting her servant girl"
I walked up to the bridegroom and asked
who that lady was.
"One of our most distinguished guests, u
he replied; "the wife of leading lawyer
here. Have you not been introduced ?
Let me introduce you "
l was led up to the lady who arched her
neck and looked cold. The groom did not
see it, and it confirmed my convictions.
When / was presented to her gentleman
who had stood beside her left, and we were
alone. made some remarks about the
bride and groom, to which she replied in
monosyllables.
"We have met before, said.
The lady started, and said, haughtiy-
"Neyer before, SIR"
This provoked me.
"My fair friend" I said, 81 know you.
We met In BALTIMORE YOu had q tooth