The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-10-24
A Melancholy Romance.


A Melancholy Romance.
4 strange incident took place in
New Orleans n few days since. A man
far advanced in years, had been en-.
I pioycd to carry u box TO u certain
quarter IN tho city; but previous to
reaching his destination, he fell dead
in the street. The authorities ordered
the body to be removed to the hcarsc
depot the box being meanwhile left
IN an adjoining house. Tho inmates
proceeded To examine the box, when, to
their establishment, il was found 10
contain the skeleton OLA child, and the
-kull aud some other bones belonging
10 the ! ody # am adult. The discUv-
cry was communicated to the proper
authorities, AMI ut length the following
particulars t%runspired Don ltamon
Duran, native Of Spain, married IN
Catalonia, many years ago, q wealthy
lady called Donna Isabel Romero, for
whom he protested the most tender
attachment.
The latter lyidg after the cmigra-
ton Of the couple to New Orleans, Du-
! 'l " Oll sAtlllN JVllllltl NllC HhNll
and some Of the other bones Of his de-
ceased wife, which no aver after kept
with the greatest care, wrapped up In
q piece Of black silk. Some years
after tho death Of his first wife, Duran
married n sccond-a person much
younger than himself, BY this wife
he had n daughter, On whom no fond
ly dotted bot ihe later dying about
1888, when only in her seventh year,
Duran was plunged IN the greatest
grief and determined not to part with
his daughters body, had it secretly
embalmcd and putin Il box with The
remains OF his former wife; but, in )r-
der rot to appear rs opposing the laws
aud established customs, ho went 70
expense Of u mock intermo mt.
This less exercised SO strong nm i'm
preston on his mind that he seemed
indifferent TO all about him, and his
affairs began rapidly to decline. His
kvenly sensitive mind was, however
destined to feel another, and, from tho
attendant circumstances, still
painful bereavement, in tho olopement
Of his wife. which event almost unscat-
cd hiR judgement. Ruin now made
such rapid strides IN the fortunes of
this haplcss man, that, in tho course of
a short time, the once wealthy propri
otor was reduced To- the condition OLA
common hcgear. But he had still ono
treasure lett; the humble supplI"ant
wandering from door to door, dcpcn-
dant upon public charity for
support, had yet in his possession an
ignored and priceless gem, which
shared with him his fortuncs-thc box
containing the bones Of his wife ana
child. He thus lived on for q series OF
years, and whenever il became neccss-
airy 10 shift his place Of residence, the
box containing the precious relics was
ever his tiret care, and for which he
craved n shelter undGr the title Of I'M
portaut papers. His last residence
was at the house OF a widow who had
known him in better limos. Here he
lived until sickness overlook him, when,
the Bcanty means ofhis hospitRble land
lady not allowing her to administer to
his vans, ho removed to tho public
hospital, whero he died about year
and II half since. Tins lady, who
appears IN some degree 10 have Imbib-
cd his prcjudiccs ont oI
respect to is Q or y
would not, for II long time, allow the
relics so highly priced to be removed
but the carnes solicitations of hcr nc
quaintances, who were already, as we'll
us herself. appraised Of tho comforts Of
the box, induced her at las to consent
Proper steps having been consequently
taken to insure their admission to the
public cemetery, M old man was en-,
ploycd for tbs purpose OF conveying
them to the hearsc depot, who, as we
have seen, sunk under his burden to
rise no more.