The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-27
A WesasAy Casissa saeA ~ Lady -
Cfncinnati for Fallare - meet his
EnSasemeass-An AHectaenats Cor.
respondence, &c.

respondence, &c.
From the Chicago Tribune, September n.
A suit was recently commenced In the
Superior Court Of this city which promises
In its developments to excite an interest
beyond the ordinary current of legal mat
ters. Itprobably involves some of the dol
lars of the accumulated sum to the credit
of the account of Mr.. Elisha c. Sprague,
a real estate dealer of this city, who, If his
own statement be correct, is worth, at the
present value of property, about half
million. He is at least understood to be
the owner of block Of buildings near the
Adams House, for which, in the month OF
August, he was offered $4,000 yearly
rental.
Mr.. Sprague is charged with having
made promise of marriage which he has
neglected to perform, and which he now
refuses to acknowledge. He is brought
into court, perhaps, by little strategy !;
hut if he be found guilty, he will he held
so tightly that the lis pendenS will prevent
him from disposng of the ample means he
has brought together. The complainant
is lady of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the ac-
ton is one OF assumpsit for breach of pro-
mise.
The lady was born in the city of Cincin-
natl, where she has resided with her pa
rents to the present time. She has been
during six years preceding the alleged
promise of marriage teacher in the New
port Seminary. The defendant was an old
friend of the family, but his acquaintance
with the daughter had more recent origin.
Seven years since, in the days of luxurious
peace, and before he made money from the
purses of soldiers during the war, he COM
menced course Of lover-like conduct.
He called often to see her then, acknow-
lodged himself as a suitor, and wrote her
tender epistles, in which from "my dear I"
he progressed to the ecstacy of love-like
language, and addressed her as "my dear
and aforementioned and cherished love-"
Then he always spoke of the happiness of
a married life if only she would share it.
In April or May of 1865 the defendant
returned from the wars. lie is said to
have been about there busy with specula-
ton. He had made Nashville his home,
and he had written letters. In these the
plaintiff was "my ever dear Mandy" and
he closed with prayers and benediction,
and with the remainder that " / am yours
with my affection" His home, be it wher-
ever it was, he made money. lie returned
n man of wealth, and he engaged himself
to the lady. He proceeded 50 far as hav-
ing gained her heart, to ask and receive
the consent and blessings Of her mother
and brother; the existence of her father,
as is usual in these fast days, being ig-
nored. 1t was then agreed that the fall of
the year, the days when the need of COM
panonship is felt, should see the twain
flesh made one. The plaintiff, thus en-
gagged, resigned her situation as teacher.
She could do little else when so short
space of time was allowed by the anx-
iety of her lover in which to prepare
the paraphcrnalia of the day. About these
times he wrote her as "My dear love-" and
prayed on paper thus: ooh Lord, who art
in heaven, bless our 2 harts and souls. BE
with us, and guide us and protect us. +.
c. Spra." Having faith in her lovers honor,
every preparation was made for the nup-
tial ceremony, but the hymeneal altar was
not graccd with the presence of the wealthy
groom. A letter came instead he was
busy "on my houses" but his love was
ovcrtlowing, and the cry was, under even
such circumstances of modification, 81
have bought about $4,000 worth of pro-
perry, or in other words contracted for it."
81 got sick running round the town in the
hot rum shops. But there are bet
ter days coming" You are "my dear and
best beloved, and respected and bpnored
in my heart, my dear"
Time elapsed. The bridal garments and
the orange-blossom wreath were laid aside
for future use, for from the 18th of Sep
TENDER to the 22d Of February the defend
ant wrote he would, and never breatbed he
wouldn't. lie proposed to be in Cincinnati
"anon, anon; sir" but he never went. His
words were, I" | will be in your town soon,"
but the greater breach included the lesser.
Chicago afforded him for long time rest
ing place and q safe deposit for his means,
and here he stayed penning letters, words,
and paragraphs of love, until, unable no
longer to put off the day, he was carried"
by his uncle to see his doc" in Boston.
How much this forced absence grieved him
| he alone can tell. He wrote his love from
there that his heart was aching, and he has
felt badly for not writing for two days. Even
on the day he penned these lines he says !:
81 have looked at your likeness in that
locket twelve dozen times" About this
time, too, he wishes he had wings to fly
to her, that he might be with her for
ever. During the following April the pro-
mise went forth that in ten days or two
weeks the taithess one would return. Money
was required, but its payment was thing
quite sure, and no delay could intervene
between the hope Of the accomplish
mcnt of his happiness and his happi-
ness itself. He went to Cincinnati,
left suddenly, and Porkopolis saw him
no more. His place was in part re-
compenscd by epistles running the gamut
from love to GOODNESS. "My ever dear
love" resolved itself into "My dear
Amanda" hence to "My dear" His pas
sion began to cool, or his inclination to
marry to subside, and he met his betrothed
in the city on the 10th of July with some
show of affection, but with, it is alleged, q
false intention. He engaged to meet her,
but he did not. He sloped-he went-he
fickered, it is said, to Detroit. He di-
rected letters from Mackinaw, but the
stern authorities of the postal department
stamped them in large letters "Detroit,
Mich.," and in these he was still in love,
but sunk deep in sorrow, as the following
specimen will show:
"Oh, Lord Code, pray to the to take
the bitter (cup) from my lips. O! Man
day, i'll could be happy once more, butt
lit is, know 1t will be the cause Of my
death (fair wel), fair well, fair well, may
God bless YOU"
The lady now reminded the gentleman
or b;s vrn,,sso ua bod ,nodo mona huf n q