Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-06-19
THE WIFE OF PROMINENT CITI-
ZEN ELOPEs WITH A DRY GOODS
CLERK.

ZEN ELOPEs WITH A DRY GOODS
CLERK.
Something less than year ago, George
Brown, a young man with more money than
beauty, became smitten with the seductive
charms Of female who was acknowledged
to be beauty; one Of the most exquisitely
lovely damsels on the North side. Her name
was Mary Turner, and her father, poor
but honest man, pegged and patched boots
and shoes in little shop of his own. The
only capital of the cobblor's daughter was
her beauty, and with this she determined, to
use homely phrase, to Feather her nest. +"
A few sweet smiles fairly captivated George
Browns heart; he fell into the matrimonial
trap willing prey, and after very short
courtship, Mary Turner, the shoemaker's
daughter, became Mrs Brown, the wife of a
man of means Brown loved his pretty
wife, and she loved BIS greenbacks, his
jewelry, and the wealth Of costly presents
he bestowed upon her, but as for Brown
himself, to love man with hooked nose,
squint eye, and one leg shorter than the
other, was unreasonable, out of the ques-
tion, absolutely impossible. She didn't care
fig for the flesh and blood of poor Brown.
But woman must love somebody; it is hp-
man nature TO love and be loved. Instead
of her husband, the only object which made
Mrs. Browns heart fiutter was young and
| foppish clerk in Lake street dry goods es.
tablishment, named Smith-not John Smith.
! the immortal, nor Joe Smith, the father of
polygamists, but simple William Smith, who
measured tape and calico, and catered to
the various tastes and desires Of the fair and
ugly ones who patronized tho establishment
in which he was employed This young
scapegrace did not resist, as he should have
done, the advances of another mans wife.
On the contrary, he was at first pleased,
and afterwards smitten. An interchange of
sentiment took place between the guilty
twain. They met, not by chance nor in the
usual way, but clandestinely. surreptitious
interviews resulted in resolution to elope;
not to 'fy on the wings OF love-" but to take
passage on. sleeping car, and let the iron
horse widen the space between them and the
only obstacle to their happiness, Brown.
The latter was taken down with rheumatism
in his shortest leg about two weeks ago, and
on Saturday morning had so far recovered
that he took short walk. On his return to
the house Mrs. Brown met him at the door
with the information that his dear old mother
was seriously ill; that a messenger had COM
municated the fact in his absence, and that
no time must be lost, if he would once more
witness alive his mother in this vale of tears.
Mrs. Brown urged him to go, but insisted
that he should walk very slow, in order that
his game leg might not be injured by over
excitement. She kissed him as he left the
cottage where he loved to dwell, and waited
at the gateaAntil he turned corner: Then
the time for action had arrived; she collected
all the yaluables in the house, the silver
plate, the gold watch of her husband, and
81, 400 in greenbacks, hurriedly packed them
up, and Smith drove up with q carriage. the
two entered it and turned their backs upon
Chicago, in the direction of Calumet station.
Here they procured tickets for Detroit, and
there all trace Of the Illicit lovers ends.
Brown found his mother engaged in the
sensible but not polite avocation of peeling
potatoes He concluded that some cruel
friend had perpetrated practical joke, and
did not hurry back, remaining under the pa
ternal roof until afternoon. Then he leisure
| ly walked home, expecting TO be welcomed
at the Threshold by loving kiss and an af-
iectionate caress from the wife whose extra
ordinary beauty was his boast and pride.
He was not so welcomed The idol of his
heart was at the time far away, and It is OK
tremely probable that she was caressing. the
dry goods clerk. AS fast as his long and his
short leg would carry him, he proceeded to
the houses of all his friends, frantically
searching for his lost, his loved, but his false
Mary. But he found her not. The husband,
nearly crazed by the conduct of his wife, as
certained that they had taken the cars for
Detroit, and the next train bore him, also,
to the same destination. He cares little for
the money, the watch, the jewelrY and the
plate, for they can be replaced from his am
pie means; but he is distracted at the loss ol
that other piece of furniture, whose cruel
deception left him without companion in
his desolate home, and he is determined to
find her and bring her back. To effect this
end the rash act will be forgiven, and the
false beauty reinstated in the home she de.
serted; but, if there should be meeting be-
tween Brown and Smith, woe be to Smith
He could undoubtedly outrun the crippled
husband, but he could hardly dodge the
leaden missive that Brown has in store fol
the seducer of his wife.
There is a moral in this resl-liie episode
A handsome woman does not usually place
her affections on homely, deformed man
and in all such unions it IS well to keep
close scrutiny over their conduct, and, above
all, to take good care that money and valua
bles are not accessible without the husband
knowledge. Chicago Times.
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