The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-24

ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY-A NEW
YORK MERCHANT ACTS IN 4 SECOND Ma
TRIMoNIAL DRAMA" Burleigh," the New
York correspondent of the Boston Journal,
tells the following story:
''Not far from where / write, one of the
most extraordinary Opponents has taken
place, with most tragical sequel. A MGR
chant of standing and wealth had family
consisting of his wife and several children.
The lady had great personal beauty, was
very accomplished and intelligent, q CAPT
tai housekeeper and earnest Christian, and
greatly devoted to her family. Not far
from her residence lived lady of twenty
three summers, tall, coarse-teatured, and
as unattractive 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 walk
ing succeeded, and the scandal became
general.
"0n 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 depar-
ture. He told her that no power could pre-
vent his leaving. If she kept quiet until
after he was gone he would give her the
house in which she lived and $4,000 in mo-
ney. If she did not, he would 20 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 Of which she agreed to do. He
bought trunk for the girl, and gave her
$500 for her outfit. On Thursday morning
he left his home. While his hand was on
the door-latch his wife 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. lie 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 their way down
the father referred to some expenses he
had incurred in giving his daughter music
lessons. The merchant handed him two
hundred dollars, which he pronounced
sdtlsidCtOTy. altcl the iihih Aoo 0'"t 'No'
the old man told the story Of the elope-
ment. When some one remarked to him
that the merchant would desert his daugh-
ter 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 stop to step
that could only be fraught with misery to
all sides, he said that his daughter when
she told him of her intended journey,
showed him bottle of poison, and said II
he opened his head on the matter till after
she was gone she would poison him and
herself too. And she would have done 1t,
he said.
"The sequel to this affair is more than
usually tragical. The parties sailed lmme-
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 ct hotel, penniless. She
succeeded in reaching this place, deserted,
and sent Immediately for her father, VINO
visited her at the hotel. She agreed to 60
home with him in the morning. He called
for her at the time agreed upon. He found
her corpse. She had committed suicide
during the night. In the mean time the
merchant had not been heard from after
deserving the girl at 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 VIDE
open and babe him welcome. Hidden from
the eye of his neighbor5 and TRENDS ut
remains indoors"