Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-28
A Sad Romance.

A Sad Romance.
The cleveland Herald records case
of welded woe in high life, Of which that
city was the theatre. One w. H. Bir.
ney, while student at Yale College,
married q Miss Hawley, a relative Of
Gov. English Of Connecticut. Owing to
rule of the College that no student
should marry while an inmate thereof,
and Birney not wishing to forfeit his
scholarship, the marriage was elandes-
timely effected. But the bride thought
she could not be happy until she had re-
vealed the fact to her parents, which she
at last ventured to do. The father at
once became very irate, and exposed his
precocious son-in-law to the Faculty.
Birney was therefore obliged to leave the
College, when the couple struck out for
the West. They brought up at Cleve-
land, Ohio, in October last, stopping at
the Birch House.
Birney's funds soon became very low,
and no employment could be found.
Finally he deserted his wife, only four
days after she had given birth to "a child,
and while she was lying very i'll at the
Birch House. Before going he pawned
several articles of his wife's clothing,
using part Of the proceeds to pay the
hotel bill. The truant husband has not
since been heard of by his friends or rel.
atives. The desertion SO excited and
weakened the poor wife as to endanger
her life; and under the most careful and
medical treatment, and the constant nurs.
ing of her mother. she partially regained
her health but a few days ago, when she
was stricken by new bereavement, in
learning of the death Of her father,
which occurred from an illness into which
he had been thrown by his son-in-law's
perfdy.
Mrs. Birney, the Herald says, is are
fined and cultivated lady. Her sad his
tory touched the heart Of all who heard
it, and substantial sympathy was mani
tested for her by citizens of Clevelgnd.
Finding that she had become strong
enough to travel, she and her mother left
Cleveland for the East on Thursday last,
via the Lake Shore Line, having received
passes from the president Of the road to-
Erie, and others from friend from thence
to Buffalo.
Mrs. Birney is a charming vocalist.
and year ago, last summer sang regu.
larly at Trinity Church, New Haven.
On one occasion Mr.. Humiston, Of the
Institute on the Heights, Cleveland, who
was East in search of . music teacher,
heard her sing in the church in question.
He was SO charmed with her voice that
he sought out her residence and offered
her $1,000 year to 60 to Cleveland
This was before her marriage when she
was living at home with her parents.
Her father declined to give his consent
to the proposition.
The young couple were imprudent and !.
their romance has been = sad one, 20 far,
especially for the wife. The "son-inlaw's
perfdy." as the story calls it, Is bad
enough, but the fathsr-in-law's selfwill.
folly, and mortified pride, were fatal to,
him, and nearly SO to his daughter, but
may be instructive to others. Why the
old man should have thought it needful
or proper, to expose his son-in-lrw to
punishment for the technical breach Of
foolish college law, We cannot sea
Bnt it is easy to perceive how much
trouble might have been avoided, had be
been wise enough. to make the best Of
what he could not undo, after it was done.