Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-10-25
a mELANonoLY ROMANCE.

A strange incident took place in New
Orleans few days since. A man, far ad-
yNnced in years, had been employed to carry
box to certain quarter in the city; but,
previous TO reaching his destination, he fell
dead in the street. The authorities ordered
the body 10 be removed to the hearse depot;
the box being meanwhile left in an adjoining
house. The inmates proceeded to examine
tho box, when, to their astonshment, il was
found to contain the skeleton of child, and
the skull and some other bones belonging to
the body of an adult. The discovery was
communicated to the proper authorities,
ana at length the following particulars
transpired:
Don Ramon Duran, q native OF Spain,
married in Catalonia, many years ago, a
wealthy lady, called Donna Isabella Romero,
for whom he prolessed the most tender at
tachment The latter dying alter the emi-
grafton OF the couple to New Orleans, Duran
by some means obtained the skull and some
of the other bones of his deceased wife.
which he ever afterward kept with the
greatest care, wrapped up in piece of black
silk. Some years after the death of his first
wife, Duran married second "a person
much younger than himself BY this wife
he had daughter, on whom he doted but
the latter dying about 1898, 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
embalmed, and put into a box with the re-
mains of his wife; but, in order not to appear
as opposing the laws and established GUS
toms, he went to the expense of mock
funeral.
The loss exercised so strong an impression
on his mind that he seemed Indifferent to all
about him, and Ills affairs began rapidly to
decline. His keenly sensitive mind was,
however, destined 10 feel another, and, from
the attendant circumstances, still more pain
tul bereavement, in the elopement of his
wife, which event almost unsealed his judg-
ment. Ruin made now such rapid strides in
the fortunes OF this hapless man, that, in the
course of a short time, the once wealthy
proprietor was reduced to the condition of a
common beggar. But he had still one trea-
sure left; the humble suppliant, wandering
from door to door, dependant upon public
charity for support, had yet in his possession
an ignored and priceless gem, which shared
with him his fortunes-thc box containing
the bones of his wife and child. He thus
lived for series OF years, and whenever it
became necessary 10 shit his place of resi-
dence, the box containing the precious relics
was ever his first care, and for which he
crayed shelter under the title of important
papers. HIS last residence was 1t the house
of widow who had known him in better
times. Here he lived until sickness over
took him, when the scanty means of his
hospitable landlady not allowing her 10 ad-
minister to his wants, he removed to the
public hospital, where he died about year
and a half since. This lady, who appears
in some degree, to have imbibed his preiudi-
ces, out of respect to his memory, would
not, FOR long time, allow the relics so highly
priced to be removed but the earnest solicit
tations of her acquantances, who were
already, as well as herself, opprised OF tho
contents of the box, induced her at last to
consent. Proper steps having been conse-
quently taken 10 insure their admission 10
the public cemetery, an old man was en-
ployed for the purpose of conveying them
to lie hearse depot, who, as we have seen,
sunk under his burden to rise no more.