The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-09-29
In Search Of His Wife.

HOW A HASTY MARRIAGE WHICH CAN
= cELED A MORTGAGE REsULrED-AN
OLD MANS wANDERINGs FOR FIJI
TEEN YEARS.
IFrom the Galena (Ill.) Gazette.] a
The following similar story was re-
lated to us last evening by an old man
whom we accidently met at he depot.
We did not learn his name. He was
man of more than ordinary intelligence.
however, and at least sixty years OF
age, tall and erect his hair, which was
slightly tinged with gray, long and
straight. His eyes were dark and pierre
ing. His general demeanor betokened
a man of wealth and .refinement.& lie
accosted us in asgentlemanly manner,
and after making numerous inquiries
in regard to the dead man, who was
found on the island in our river, the
other'day, proceeded to explain his rea-
for asking the questions. We give the
story for what it is worth. 1t certain
ly reads Hike Fonance.a
He said; Presided in New Orleans
about twenty-five years ago, 4 married
the daughter Of Southern planter.
She had been educated Mt the North.
After her education had been cOmplet-
ed, she returned to her fathers planta-
ton. held mortgage on his proper
|ty, and was at that time attempting TO
negotiate settlement, bat Ifound
that he had become % deeply Involved
in debt that in order TO collect the
amount due me on the mortgage
should be compelled to sell the entire
property, and thus leave her father
beggar. had decided that such a
course would be the only alternative,
when, one afternoon, as was engaged
in taking an inventory of the furncure
servant presented me with a mes
sage from the young lady, who request
ed an interview in the ,parlor. re.
paired Immediately. to the presence OF
the young lady, whom | found sitting
behind the curtains OF aSbay wincow.
she opened the conversation immedi-
diateiy, by stating that she had sent
for me for. the purpose OF eficcttng
some kind OF settlement by which her
fathers property might be saved. Ny
countenance perhaps betrayed the sur
prise that I experienced in being adj
dressed III such bnsiness-like manner
by such q mere girl, for she FASTENED to
add that, although, it might seem
strange to me- she had thought OF Q
plan By which satisfactory settlement
miRl,t,be Effected located myself ana
asked her to explain. She looked me
full in the face aud asked if l thought
she was beautiful: II answered very
ttrntAfully when I told her that !
thought abe, was the, handsomest wo-
man that had ever met, Every 5000,
said she, show would yon, Ike to ea az
me for wife n The singularity OF the
question; and the audiences Will
which it was put, made me start a,
, though I had been shot. She noticed
nv tremor and requested me to retain
my composure, adding that we were
stalking business" and such a display
/ of nervousness might answer very vel
/ in woman, but it was decidedly nm
| becoming in, o man. > ,.a.r cd, ~ 'Tv
o Yankee like, in order to eyade an
? swering her, l asked her what sucl
9 a question had to do with sestlenien
3 LOT her. fathers debts. She said it hat
. every thing to do with it, and begge'
me to give her an immediate answer.
= do, not know what influenced me
d answer her as did. Perhaps it wa
# my innate gallantry. told her that
should consider myself blessed bcyon
all earthly bliss. Z" That settles tll
ouestion. y said she. We will b
married this afternoon. She rang y!
hell and instructed the servant to rid
n over to the minister's and request hil
: to call at two o'clock. "DO not disaI
point me,r she said tn me-, as l left IL
room. "Wc will he married as soon
4. the minister arrives" thought mu
he, dreaming; but no, it was all too rea
What was I to do I was at that tin
aboutl forty years of age. Inever Y.
+. been married, and never had thoug
lserio,isly Of such a thing. tried
reason with myself in regard to I!
matter. The more thought upon q
v subject the further I was from arrivii
~ at satisfactory conclusion. l hnal
lcOncludcd to let the matter take.
n own course, and "GOd knows 1t b
D. been bitter course to me-" said I
4. tOld man, and we saw q tear trickiil
down his wrinkled cheek. "At t.
by o'clock resumed the old man, t
h minister called and we were marie
- She made the response in Q cool o
- collected manner, but Immediately
Oh tor the ceremony she tainted. She 80
his recovered, however, and almost
- 4 first words she uttered were, "reles
: ' the mortgage on my fathers propert,
II Her eyes flashed like a crazy woman
or. They seemed to magnetise me. OBJ
ed her almost mechanically. 3;..e ~
ms About ten days after our maria
Is We left for Boston, where we resiC
nv but q few months; and went thence
=, New York. from which place we e
Oy the steamer for Paris. We travelled
by lover Europe, spending Ave years
me visiting the country. She was ne
=. at rest, but. would sLart up ,suddc
70 after we had become comfortably
md tied in some pleasant place, !.
= sag: tttn Take me away from here.
Z lobeyed her asa child WOULD We =
on, dered thus from place to place.
49, was never happy. The many wond
of the Old World excited in her not
slightest interest. She was pale
our listless, aud seemed to be waiting '
one nervous impatieneo for the end
.,,n brought her back, to America. We
NJ tied nearly every city in the I'm
oct" States. Ten years ago we starte
nen visit Galena. We came up from
d Louis on one of your river boats. l
Is ling the said passage / .discovere
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