North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-01-11


| 10 TIE young gallant with the somewhat
pointed information that his presence in the
| neiphborhood Of the Ainsely farm would not
meet with favor. The reader Of course sur
| mises the result. for such proceeding could
taye but one result In less than month
there was an elcpement. The father loaded
his double-barrelIed shot gun, and swore
vengeance, but failing to find the fugtiyes,
! he took to the bottle. His good wife implor-
ed him not to give way to despair, but be
drank the deeper, and accused her of cncour-
aging the elopement. In three months the
wife died ; and at the expiration Of a year
| when the young people returned 10 Syracuse
| from Connecticut, where they had remained
with the parents of the husband they learn
ed that the old man had sold his farm, squan
dered the proceeds, and was almost desti
tute. Learning of their arriving, Ainsley
drank himself into frenzy, and proceeded
| to the hotel where they were stopping, at
| tackled the husband, wounded him in the
arm by pistol shot, and attempted the life
| of his daughter, who happily escaped unin-
|
brought to the spot by the report of the
| pistol. Ainsey was arrested, tired, and ac>
quilted on the plea of insanity. The daugh
ter and her husband returned to Connecticut
since which time the father had not heard
| from them. He was sent - a lunaiic asy-
lam, from which he was dismissed after re-
| naming six months. IH 1851 he came t O
| CALIFORNIA. He had followed mining for two
| years, but finding his strength unequal to
the pursuit, returned to the city, purchased
4 hand cart and-the rest is known ''Since
then" continued the old man, bowling his
face in his hands in agony, II have not tasted
liquor, nor have I seen my poor child"
regretted that had been so inquisltve.
and expresse the sympathy | really fe't for
him. After that, | seldom passed the cor
ner without looking for "Pap Ainsiey." nd
never saw him but to think Of the sad story
he had told me-
One chilly. drizzly day in the December
following, gentleman having purchased
small maj be.top table at an aucti ion room
opposite preferred to the old man the job of
carryin 1t to his residence, on Stockton ST
Not wishing to accompany the carrier be
had selected the face probably giving the
vest assurance Of careful delivery Of the pur
chase.
Furnished with the number Of the house
the old cartman. after pretty trying strug
| gle with the steep ascent Of California street
reached his destination. and deposited tne
table IN the hail. Lingering a moment, the |
lady did not surmise he reason, until lie po-
! ltely informed her that her husband (iori
such he supposed him to be) had probably |
by accident omitted to settle the carriage.
every well, will pay ycu," said the lady |
stepping into an adjoining room. She re-
turned, and stating that she had no small |
change in the house, handed the man TWEEN |
| ty dollar piece.
He could not make change. Never mind, !
will call to morrow" he said. turning to
go.
"No, J" replied the lady, elancng pity |
| ngy at his white locks and trembling limbs, |
| II will not put you 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 neigh |
| borhood.
"Step into the parlor until the girl returns,
the air is chilly, and you must be cold," con
tinued the lady. Come she said as he
looked at his attire and hesitated there is
a fire in the CRATE, and no one there but the
children
"It is somewhat chilly" replied the old
man following her into the parlor, and taking
seat near the fire.
"Perhaps / may find some silver in the |
house, said the lady as she left the room ''for
fear Bridget will not succeed in getting the |
twenty dollar piece changed"
"Come-I love little children" and the |
child who had been watching him with Gu
riossity ran behind the large arm chair, and
| hesitatngly approached. "What is your
name, my aear 2' inquired the cartman.
"Maria," lsped the little one. "a
maria? ?" he repeated, while the great |
tears gathered in bis eyes {; I once bad little
girl named Maria, and you look very much
like she did,"
"Dd you % inquired the child with seem
ing interest, "and was her name Maria East
man, too 2" .... -.....s
"Merciful God p exclaimed the old man
starting from his chair, and dropping into it
with his head bowed upon his breast. ''Ths
cannot be and yet, why not !"
He caught the child in his arms with an
eagerness that frightened her, and gazing into
her face until he found conviction there,
suddenly rose to le ave the house. 81 cannot
meet her without betraying myself, and
dare not tell her that | am that drunken
father that one attempted to take her lfe
| 4 Ii. L L l., h.,