Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-08-05
EIanameat Extraordinary.

Burleigh," the New York correspen-
dent of the. Boston Journal, tells the fol-
lowing story:
Not far far from where write, one of
the most extraordinary elopements has
taken place, with most tyagical sequel.
A merchant of standing and wealth had a
family consisting of his wife and several
children. The lady great personal
beauty, was very accomplished and intel
ligent, a capital housekeepei' aud earnest
Christians and greatly devoted to her
family. J: Not far from her residence lived
lady of twenty y.three summers, tall,
coarse featured, and as unattractive as
could be imagined. Her mother was dead,
and she kept house for her father The
visits of the merchant to shis house at
tracted considerable attention. 1t was
known, however, that the father vas gen.
orally present at the visits of-the lner
chant, and the community was generally
divided about the matter Riding and
walking Succeeded, and the scandal be.
came 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 de
parture. 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
two thousand dollars in money. If she
did not, he would go 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 two
hundred dollars for her outfit. On Thurs.
day 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. tIe gave
her father some money, and lie accom-
panied 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 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 q stop to a 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 ne opened
his head on the matter 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 i'm
medately for California, and for SOME
reason not explained, took thu return ves-
sci back to New York They landed in
the city, where the girl was left at 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
morning. He called for her at the time
agreed upon. He found her q corpse.
She had committed suicide during the
night In the meantime the merchant
had not been heard from after deserting
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 wo-
manly love, the wife threw the doors
wide open and bade him welcome. Hid
den from the eye Of his neighbors and
friends, he remains indoors.