Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-12
A SAD STORY OF AN ELNPE.
MENT.
An Unnatural Father Drives His
Daughter into a Life Of Shame.


From the st. Louis Times.l
The circles of uppertsndom have been
terribly excited lately over q case of
heartlessness on the part of one Of our
leading merchants, which has been the
means of first separating his daughter
from her husband because he was poor,
and then of driving her, by continued
acts of neglect and coldness, to life of
shame and crime For the moment, we
suppress the names of the parties to the
transaction, merely exercising the right
of public journalist to chronicle Il e
facts in the case.
The daughter year since, contrary to
the wishes of her father, married clerk
in O Wholesale house on Main street,
whose only crime was his inability to set
up an establishment which could com
pare with the princelY one of that stern
and naughty father He was honored
and respected by his employers, received
q salary of three thousand dollars per
annum, with prospects of further ad,
vancement, was possessed OF a good
character and excellent repute but he
was, in aristocrstic parlance, poor, and
that is crime which our modern Crnsus
can never forgive. Mary loved him
fondly, if not wisely, despite the opposi.
ton of the governor, and insisted upon
becoming his wife. Other elopements
had occurred under just such circum.
stances before, and stern parents had
relented in their wrath, and finally re-
ceived both the runaways back, and Mary
thus fondly hoped would be the sequel to
her hasty wedding. Not so, however,
was the result Mr. s. was made Of
sterner metal He had sworn not to
forgive Mary, and with the same deter
mination of character which led the fair
Julia to exclaim, My honor, Clifford !;
my honor !" he said, II have pledged
my word, and it must not be broken.
With the narrow minded vices Of sor-
did wealth, Mr.. S. received daughter 8
heart and affection as 80 much corn or
tobacco, subject to the fluctuations of
the market alone, and to be disposed Of
to the highest bidder; and this selfish
view of the subject does more, perhaps,
to destroy domestic peace aud quiet,
than any other engine of fashions crea-
ton. For q season the honeymoon passed
of agreeably, naught disturbing the
social happiness of the newly welded
pair, save the continued alienation of
daughter and father. A mothers wrath
cannot endure forever, and Mrs. S. clan
destinely visited her daughter, and as
sured her that if she would leave her
husband, she could return home and be
received as of yore.
To this proposition Mary at first in
dignantly refused to listen, but being
repeated, she argued, hesitsted, and then
consented, and gathering together few
of her souvenirs, placing upon the table
in the parlor a note for her husband
stating, have gone home to my father.
Farewell. Be happy. MARY"
The blow, so unexpected and sudden,
fell with crushing effect upon the young
husband, and at first thought he resolved
to plunge madly into pleasure and vice.
But sober second thought came to his
relief, and commercially he pursued his
regular avocations as usual not even
mentioning the name of her who, de-
spite her almost unforgiveable behavior,
he still loved fondly and devotedly.
Mary returned home and met her
father, and, with arms extended, she
rushed toward him, but to meet no as
suriug reception. He merely extended
his hand, and with no moro familiarity
than he is wont to assume in the count
ing room, or on change, responded II
hope you are well, Mary" Poor girl
she now saw that of the two evils she had
chosen the greater, and despite her
mothers caresses, was mlserably un-
happy. She had deserted her husband,
lost her fathers respect, and now felt in
full force the meaning of what IT was to
be alone in the world. Days passed,
and no letter came from her husband
asking her 20 return. Her fathers house
was so chilling and forbidding to her
that she could not consent to become
the mere child Of charity Again she
packed up her few remaining articles of
dress, and, starting into the world alone,
hired small apartment and took IN
sewing for a living. For while she
earned a fair livelihood, but soon en-
ployment fell of, and rent day came
round with no money to meet the de-
mands Of the landlord.
In this terrible dilemma where could
she got Her husband, though he could
never consent to live with her again,
would eheerlully have rendered her any
pecuniary assistance in bis power, but
She had wronged him too deeply to ever
Iee him sgsin. She went, therefore, to
her father, and begged for Heavens
sake ihat he would loan her sufficient
money to cover her head from the storm.
With as little feeling As stone he per
emptorily refused to assist her in the
slightest degree. She begged almost on
ner knees for little suceor, and plead
inrly Injured, Where shall 90
!" Go to the devil, for ell ! care, was
the response.
Enraeed at the remark, she replied,
81 ssiR 70 10 the devil, father and the
sin BE- upon your head. ! viii humble
vour prido to Tie dust, sven Il peril my
soul" The entreaties Of her mother.
we're in vain. Wildly she rushed IRON
The house into The street. ripe for any sin.
Satan never deserts poor creature IN
ruck an emergency, and she soon fen 10