The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-08-06
An ElOpement Extraordinary and It's

"Burleigh' writes TO the Boston journal,
from B~inghamtOn, n. Y, the sad details of
o story OF crime occurring in an adjacent
town: f.
"a merchant of standing and wealth had
n family consisting of his wife and several
children. The lady had great personal
beauty, was very accomplished and intelli-
gent, a capital housekeeper and earnest
Christian and greatly devoted 20 her family.
Not far from her residence lived a young
lady of twenty-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 this house attracted con-
siderable attention. II was known, how
ever, that the father vas generally present
at the visits of the merchant, and the com
munity was generally divided about the
matter. Riding and walking succeeded
and the scandal became general. One
morning the merchant informed his wife
that he was going to leave-that he was 60
ing to sail for California, and take the
girl with him. Her father, he said, had
given his consent and agreed to keep the
secret till after his departure. He told her
that no power could prevent his leaving. II
she kept quiet until after he was zone he
would give her the house in which she lived
and So, 600 in money. II 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 il ready by
Thursday morning, all which she agreed to
do. He bought q 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-htch, his wife told him
that she should remain lust where she was
aud take care ofthe children, and il 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 he accompanied the party 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
500, which he pronounced satisfactory
Alter the train had started, the old man
told the story Of the elopement. When
some one remarked to him that the mer-
cant would desert his daughter az ne had
his wife, he said that was impossible, for
he had never seen such love Between W.
persons before. When he was asked why
he did not put n stop to a step that could
only be trought with misery TO all sides,
he said that his daughter, when she told
".H " y hANthutu Juuiuegf snOWeQ MIN
q bottle of poison, and said if be opened
his head on the matter till after she was
gone, she would poison him and herself
too. And she would have done il, he
said. The sequel to this affair is more
than usually tragical The parties sailed
Immediately 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 at a hotel,
penniless. She succeeded in reaching this
place, deserted aud ruined, and sent imme-
diAtely for her father, who visited her at
the hotel. She agreed to go home with
him in the morning He called for her at
he time agreed upon. He found her n
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 ago he ap-
peared at the door of his " mouse. True
to her promise, and true to her womanly
love, she threw the doors wide open, and
babe him welcome. Hidden from the eyes
OF his neighbors and friends, he remained
indoors. The community are equally di-
yided whether he ought 20 be tarred and
feathered or forgiven.