New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-31
EIop ement, suicide, and Forgiveness.

Elop emSnlS Hulctuea ana Forgiveness.
''Bureigh," the New York correspondent
of the Boston Journal, tells the following
story;
"Not far from where / write one of the
most extraordinary elopements has taken
place, with a most tragical sequel. A mer-
chant of standing and wealth had a family
consisting of his wife and several children.
The lady had great personal beauty, was
very accomplished and intelligent, CAPT
tai housekeeper and earnest Christian, and
greatly devoted her family. Not far from
her residence lived young lady of twenty
three summers, tall, cOarse-featured, and
as UIattractiVe as could be imagined. Her
mother was dead and she kept house for
her father. The visits of the merchant to
this house attracted considerable attention,
1t was known, however, that the father was
generally present at the visits of the mer-
chant, and the community was generally
divided about the matter. Riding and
walking succeeded, and the scandal became
general.
"On Monday morning the merchant in-
formed his wife that he was going to leave
that he was going to sail for California, and
take the girl with him. Her father, he said,
had given his consent, and agreed to keep
the thing secret till after his departure. He
told her that no power could prevent his
leaving. If she kept quiet until after he was
gone he would give her the house in which
she lived and $1,000 in money. II she did not
he would 60 all the same, but would leave
her penniless. He asked her to fix his linen
and pack his trunk, and have it ready by
Thursday morning, all which she agreed to
DO. lie bought trunk for the girl, and
gave her two hundred dollars for her outfit
On Thursday morning he left his home.
While his hand was on the door-latch, she
told him she should remain Just where she
was, and take care of the children, and if at
any time he wished to come back the door
would be open to him. He went over to
the house where the young woman was in
waiting. He gave her father some money,
and he accompanied the parties to the cars.
On the way down the father referred to
some expense he had incurred in giving
his daughter music lessons. The merchant
handed him two hundred dollars, which he
pronounced satisfactory. After the train
had started, the old man told the story of
the elopement. When some one remarked
to him that the merchant would desert his
daughter as he had his wife, he said that
it was impossible, for he had never seen
such love between two persons before.
When he was asked why he did not put
SecP W q ptSP bh0b bOulu OulY De ITauRlt
with misery to all sides, be said that his
daughter, when she told him of her intended
journey, showed him bottle of poison, and
said if he opened his head on the matter till
after she was gone she would poison him
and herself too And she would have done
it, he said.
"The sequel to this affair is more than
usually tragical. The parties sailed imme- |
diately for California, and for some reason |
not explained took the return vessel back
to New York. They landed in the city, |
where the girl was left at a hotel penniless
She succeeded in reaching this place,
deserted, and sent Immediately for her |
father, who visited her at the hotel. She |
agreed to go home with him in the morn
Sng. HE called at the time agreed upon.
He found her a corpse. She had commit
ted suicide during the night. In the mean
time the merchant had not been heard from
after deserving the girl ct the hotel. Ten
days ago he appeared at the door of his
own house. True to her promise and true
to her wOmanly love, she threw the doors
wide open and babe him welcome. Hid
den from the eyes Of his neighbors and
friends be remains indoors