Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-01-06

tHIuhluS uOUIHluAy VI IHot udy,
two years before, when the fainting
Confederate fell at her feet appealing
for succor. In the midst of these
"reminiscences she thought she heard
a noise on the stone wall near her.
Turning to look, she saw man in
the act Of jumping to the ground.
She recognized him in an instant.
"Maryv
"John!'
And the long separated were once
more united. Within a fortnight
they were married.
Randall did not long remain with
his young wife-his business, he said
called him to Virginia-and he left
her with her parents upon the pretxt
that his home wasnot quite prepared
for her. He was absent two months,
corresponding regularly with her,
however. At the end Of this period
he came again, staying some weeks,
and again leaving her on the same
plea. These cemings and departures
were repeated several times, until
Mary and her parents began to sus-
pect that Randall, for some reason,
was either ashamed or afraid to in
troduce his wife to his own family.
Mary had been shocked to hear the
gossipping whisper that her husband
had another wife in Virginia; and
she had to acknowledge that his con-
! duct was not above suspicion, not
withstanding his plausible assuran-
ces. On his last visit the old farmer
insisted that he should at once decide
either to settle down there with his
wife or take her with him. Irritated
by the apparent lack of confidence in
him, he at once avowed his determ-
ination to carry her to Virginia; and
making hurried preparations for the
journey, they soon went South to-
gether. It was during the trip that
Mary found resolution enough to
show her husband a letter which she
had received some months before
from his home in Virginia. 1t ran
as follows:
"Mary-I have CHANGED to see a
letter addressed to John Randall,
Beeville, Virginia, by you, in which
you claim that gentleman as your
husband. lam an intimate acquaint-
ance and near relative of his. l am
surprised at your pretentions (wheth-
er we'll or ill-founded), for he is still
considered single man here, where
he was born and reared, and passes
himself as such. If he is married to
you or anybody else, assure you
that he keeps the matter secret here,
and ] am sure that his father nor
mother know anything Of it. Tell
me about it and you will oblige
INDIANA.
."That is my evil genius!" exclaim-
cd John Randall, excitedly, when he
had read the note. "She is my first
cousin, and has always loved me
from childhood with sort of fierce
passion. When I first saw you,
Mary, ! was engaged" to her; and
I have never had the courage to an
nounce our marriage to her or my
own family. I have weakly kept
the secret, putting off the evil day
as long as 1 could, or till circumstan-
ces would justify me in Drawing the
wrath of my parents and all con-
cerned. But matters have come to a
crisis. A day or two will decide
whether we are to be repudiated or
kindly welcomed"
"John," entreated Mary, "let us
return to my father's."
"And thus confirm the gossips and
their SANDERS? Never! The die is
cast. Indiana and her friends will
rave; let them. Great God! what q
creature she must be! Did you an
swer her letter."
II did, giving her, in self-defence,
all the information she asked"
"And yet with her full knowledge
Of my marriage with you, she has
constantly been eager for me to con-
sumate my engagement with her
indirectly urging it by every means
at her command"
1t was Saturday evening when
they arrived at the station nearest to
Beelville; and stopping at the hotel
there that night, next day Randall
hired conveyance driving HIMSELF
and started homeward with his
bride.
Monday he returned the horses
and vehicle.
Tuesday night he escorted young
lady of Beelville to party, and
there bore himself as gayly, appar-
emily, as the other young men.
His wife had mysteriously disap-
peared. The public of Beelville and
vicinity knew not of her coming, and
therefore she was not missed. U
Where was she?
II.
Ten days after, the body of an un-
known women was found in the
woods, q few miles from Beeville.