Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-07-23
An Eiopemen, with Tragic Consequences.

A merchant OF standing and wealth. not tar
from Bnghamton. N. ", had a family con-
slsang OF ms Wife and several children. Thu
lady had great personal beauty, was very
accomplished and intelligent, a capital house,
keeper and earnest Christian, ana greatly de.
voted to her family. Net far from her esidenc
lived q young lady of twenty-three summers
tall. coarse featured, and as uuattractIye As
could be imagined. Her mother was dead and
she kept house ror her father The visits OF
the merchant to this house attracted consider
able attention. Ii was known. however, that
the father was generally present al the visits of
the merchant, and the community was gen.
rally divided about the matter. Riding aud
walking succeeded, aud the scandal became
general.
One Monday morning the merchantinformed
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 sgreed TO keep the hing secret
until after has departure He told her that no
power could prevent his leaving. II she kept
quiet until after he was gone, he would give
her the house in which she lived and s2,OOO in
money. IL 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 # ready by Thursday morning, all OF
which she agreed 10 do. He bought trunk Tor
the gIrl and gave her 500 for her outfit
ON Thursday morning ne left his home.
While his hand was on the door latch his wife
toih him that she should remain lust where she
was, and take care of the children aud IL At an Y
time he wished 10 come back the door would
be open TO him. He went over TO the non 40
where the young woman was in waiting. He
gave her father some money, and he accom-
panic the parties TO the cars. On their yay
down the father referred to some expenses he
had incurred I'M giving his daughter music les.
sons. The merchant handed hum 5000, which
he pronounced satisfactory. After the train
had started the old man told the story of the
elorement When some one remarked 10 him
thar the merchant would desert has daughter
as he had done his wife, he said that il was i'm.
possible, for he had never seen such love be.
tween two persons before. When he was asked
why he did not put a stop TO a step that could
only be fraught with misery 10 all sides, he said
that his daughter. when she told him of her in.
tended journey. showed him a bottle of poison.
and said that II he opened his head on the mat.
ter III after she was gone she would poison
him and herself too. And she would have
done it, he said.
The sequel OF this affair is more than usually
tragical. The parties sailed immediately for
California. and for some reason NOT explained.
took the return vessel back 10 New York
They landed in the cIty, where the girl was Jeff
al q hotel penniless. She succeeded i'm reach
ing Binghamton. deserted and ruined. and sent
immediately 10 her father, who visited her a;
the Motel. She agreed TO 20 home with him the
next morning. He called for her al the line
agreed upon. He found her a corpse She
had committed suicide during the night
In the meantime the merchant had not been
heard from after deserving the girl al the no.
tel Ten days ago he appeared az the door OF
ms own house. True TO her Promise and &c
her womanly love. has wife threw the doors
wide open. and baGe him welcome. Hidden
from the eyes OF his neighbors and friends. be
remains indoors The community are co uaIly
divided whether he ought 10 be tarred and
feathered or forgiven.