The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-08-26
An Elopement.


THE MOST SINGULAR AFFAIR OF THE KIND ON RECORD
Burleigh," the New York correspondent of the
Boston Journal, tells the following stoty:
Not far from where write, one of the most extra
ordinary elopements has taken place, witha most ira
gical sequel. A merchant of standing and wealth had
family, consisting OF his wife and several children
The lady had great personal beauty, was very accom-
plished and intelligent capital housekeeper and
Christian and greatly devoted to her family Not
far from her residence lived young lady of twenty
three summers TALL featured, and as unattract
i've rs could be imagined Her mother was dead and
she kept house for her father The visits OF the mer
chant to this house attracted considerable attention
1t was known however that the father was generally
present at the visits of the merchant, and the commu-
nifty was generally divided about the matter Riding
and walking succeeded, and the scandal became gen
cra
On Monday morning the merchantinform his wife
that he was going to eave-that he gong 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 departure He told her that
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 $1,000 in money. Ii she did
not he would 60 all the same, but would leave her
penniless He asked her to fix bis 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 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 ut 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 parties to the 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 satisac-
tory After the train had started, the old man told
the story of the eopement. hen some one remarked
10 him that the merchant would desert his daughter as
he had his wife, he said that it impossible, for he
lad never seen such love between two persons before
When he was asked why he did not put stop to
atep that could only be raught with misery to all SIDES
he said that his daughter when she told him of her
intended journey, showed bin bottle OF poison, and
said il beopened his mouth on the matter till alter she
was gone she would poison him and herself too. And
she would have done it, too" he said.
The sequel TO this affair is more than usually rag-
ical. 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 hotel penniless. She sue
ceeded in reaching this place, deserted, and sent mme
datey for her father, who visited her at the hotel.
She agreed to go home with him in the morning. He
called for her the time 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 at the hotel Ten days
ago he appeared at the door of his own house. True
10 her promise and true to her womanly love, she
threw the doors wide open and babe him welcome
Hidden from the eyes of his neghbors and friends he
reInains indoors.