The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-05-28
AN ELOPFMENT.
uhe Wife Of n Wealthy Farmer gets Sntt
ten with u Beardless Boy.

rhe Wife Of u Wealthy Farmer gets Sntt-
ten with u Beardless Boy.
We find ourselves called upon to record first
class scandal one of those denouements which
astonish the community at large shock all -ensi-
tive and decent people delight the roughs, anG
furnish rich theme for old womeu, tea party
discussions.
Living about six mile, north Of Marseiles, in
this county, is very well.to-do farmer of re.
spectacle character and good family. He has
been married dozen years more and is the
father Of six children, all yet small His wife is
woman aged perhaps thir,y-fve. She is mod.
erately good looking, and famous good talker
but there is nothing i'll her general appearance
which would mark her for what the boys would
call rapid gal" She is evidently weak and
tickle minded, and OF such temperament as is al.
ways ready to be insulted, and whom no amount
Of kindness would satisfy. Living in good
home, surrounded with not only all the neces.
saries of life but many Of its luxuries, and loved
by her little ones, it seems wonderful how any.
thing, even thu fear OF death itself could have
caused her 10 desert all these for a beardess,
worthless boy, such as her paramount His name
is Henry Gibhart, founding taken from
aims house, somewhere east, and raised by
farmer near Mar.eiles. How he become &C.
quainted with Mrs Z. does not appear, nor is it
known by what arts or arms, or tales OF food
and field he won her love. Certain it is, howev.
er, they secretly conducted their amours that
no one one ever saw more in their conduct than
mere neighborly courtesies. s
Saturday last she left home prstence Of
going to Iowa 10 visit relative She babe good
bye to her babes and unsuspecting husband and
started for Msrseile-. Here she procured some
money and clothing, on her husbands credit,
but did not leave was expected. In
stead Of remaining at the house Of lady friend
as abe had previously said was her intention.
she went TO the Beckwith House and procured
room. All the remainder OF tie day she was
seen stroling aboat the suburbs of the town, ten
Derby hanging on the arm of young Gibhsrt
Some one observing this singular conduct, on
sunday morning sent word 10 her husband, who
came TO town in state of feeling which may be
readily imagined, but did not find the parties,
though his worst fears were fully confirmed as
TO their conduct He returned nearly heart
broken, determined to let them 90.
Our reporter happened TO be at Marsei,les at
the time and found the couple in the ladies' par
Tor, alone, and evidently surprised aud frightened
them out Of some tender billings and cooings.
Soon after Gibhar, told u his name and said the
lady va. his wife and that they had been mar.
ried year snd were on their way to Kansas, the
latter being doubtless their intention. Soon after
the truth developed itself, aud the couple retired
10 her room to hold a consultation presently a
vigilance committee came TO the hotel and de-
rnandei to see Gibhart He was hunted mp and
produced before the committee, who kindly
reasoned the matter and advised him TO leave
town and abandon the elopement business or
take dose OF tar feathers and rail. He stood
trembling but kept logged silence and d.
rectly left the room, declaring "he ji,t bound
20 have that ere woman
The committee, headed by the most respectable
gentlemen OF Marselles, next called upon her,
and found Gibhart with her nesting up to her
rs il she could protect him. The several gentle.
men reasoned the matter at length with her.
She clAltue0 her cause for AeaVlnX ner husband
was that he was cruel to her. that he often
threatened her life but admitted he was TEN.
perste man, loved his children and was good
proyider. She said. she was worked to death
and worried out of her mind at home, and want.
I'd peace and some one to love her.
The committee failed to persuade her, either
by entreaties or threats of punishment by law
70 return, and in disgust abandoned the couple
10 pursue their own course. In the evening they
secretly stole away and walked up the tow.path
to Seneca distance of five miles, arriving there
after dark. She would not go to . hotel, rs she
was we'll known there, and perhaps by this time
getting sick Of the enterprise, they stopped at a
private house, occupying different rooms.
The next day her husband came to Marscilles,
determined to recover back his money at least
Officers were sent to Seneca, and the couple COB.
bled up. An investigation was had the wife
weeping bitterly, begged forgiveness, declaring
on her soul that she had, as yet, not violated her
marital vows, and finally she was forgiven, TO,
the chiidrens sake, and her green admirer dis
missed on promise of never being seen within q
hundred miles of Marseiles.
In McmOrlaIn.
At regular meetin of Tonica Lodge No. 81 Z
l. o. of G.. T., held at their hall in Tonica, III.
Ma A. eall 4 ,,l