The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-09
Elopem.nt. suicide and Forgiveness.

"Burleigh," 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 tragcal sequel. A merchant of standing and
wealth had a family consisting of bis wife and
several children. The lady had great personal
beauty, was very accomplished and intelligent, q
capital housekeeper and earnest Christian, and
greatly devoted 10 her family. Not far from her
residence lived young lady OF twenty-three sum-
mers tall, coarse. featured, and as unattractve 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 at
tention. II was known, however, that the father
generally present at the visits of the merchant,
and the community was generally divided about
the matter. Riding and walking succeeded, and
the scandal became general.
"On Monday morning the merchant informed
his wife that he was going to leave-that he was
going TO sail for California, and take the girl with
him. Her father be said, had given his consent,
and agreed to keep the thing secret till after his de-
parture, He told her that no power could pre-
vent his leaving II she kept quiet until after ne
was gone, he would give her the house in which
she lived and $1,000 In money. If she did not, he
would 60 all the same, but would leave her penni-
less. He asked her 10 fix his linen and pack his
trunk, and have II ready By Thursday morning, al
which she agreed to do. He bought trunk for
the girl and gave her two hundred dollars for her
outfit.
"Thursdsy morning he left his home. While his
hand Was on the door-lstch 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 be accompanied the parties to the cars. Ga
The way down the father referred 10 some ex-
penses ne had incurred in giving his daughter mu-
sic lessons. The merchant handed him two hun
dred dollars, which he pronounced satisfactory.
After the train had started, the old man told the
story of the eOpement. When some one re-
marked to him that the merchant would desert
his daughter as he had bis 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 a stop 10 q 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 If he opened his head on the matter till
after she was gone she would poison him and her.
self too; and she would have done it, he said.
"The sequel to this affair is more than usually
tragcal. The parties sailed Immediately for CALI
fornia 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 penness. she succeeded in reaching this
place. deserted, and sent Immediately for her
to 90 home with him in the morning. He called
at the time agreed upon. He found her corpse.
She had committed suicide during the night. In
the meantime the merchant had not been heard
from after deserving the girl at the hotel. Ten
days ego he appeared at the door OF his own
house. True to her promise and true to her
womsnly love, she threw the doors wide open
and babe him welcome. Hidden from the eye Of
his neighbors and friends, he remains indoOrs.n