The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-05-20
ruelfth. Tl,at refrained from pros.

Twelfth: That | reirained from pros
ecuting him, because / did not wish
needless public scandal about her, be-
cause / knew ne was half a mailman,
and because also knew that had done
wrong to speak of marriage with her so
soon after her separation from him. Of
course the fault was in no sense hers.
She was helpless woman, so nervous
with apprehension and terror of him
that she started wildly whenever she
heard door-bell ring, and she turned
naturally to one who offered her SYM
pathy, shelter and affection at such time.
ought to have been more prudent but
the fact was there, and / neither sought
to evade 1t nor deny it. simply told
the truth about the matter. She re-
manned in New York, and took care of
me during the five days that my wound
kept me in bed, and then returned to her
parents. j heard on all sides threats of
my life from him, but only replied to
them, that if he sought TO murder me
again 1 should defend myself as well as
i could, and that sooner or later, if she
and both lived, should surely marry
her, if she acquiesced. And ifI do live,
certainly shall, if he tries TO kill me
every day in the week
Thirteenth: Finally he has SO far ac-
| quiesced in this that last summer Mr..
him with the distinct proposition that
if she would give up her two young
| children to him he would interpose no
! obstacle, either of time or fact, to our
! marriage. At last, however, after
much negotiation, n settlement of the
| custody of the children was finally ar
rived at, without carrying the matter
to public trial in the Massachusetts Su-
| preme Court, where it was pending-by
| separating the children, she keeping the
| youngest "a boy of three,) and he tax
ing the eldest, who is eight-with such
! stipulations as will enable her to recoy-
| er the custody of the eldest at any time,
| should the father, either by neglect OF
ill treatment forfeit his paternal right.
She was moved to consent to this ar
rangement-which almost broke heI
heart-partly because she thought the
father with all his ill-treatment of her.
loved the child, and partly because his
friends insisted with great earnestness
that if he could not have the boy he
would either die orgO utterly and hope.
lessly mad.
i SO the matter stands. What new
thing has set him again on the war.
path / know not. You will re.
member that on the first occasion ap.
pretending violence from him decided
not to arm myself because l did not
want the blood of any man, and partic-
ulariy of this most wretched man, OF
my hands. have the same feelins
still-in degree. 1t would be too hor
rible for the poor children who are herr
and bear his name-too horrible for hel
l-too horrible for my children. So. i
he attacks me again, shall mean to ruI
very great risk rather than do deadly
harm to him. Indeed, hardly know
which would be the worst under any
circumstances-tOk kill him or have hin
kill me. I could have taken his life be
; fore with his own weapon with thu
most perfect ease, but 1 have always
been glad that l did not.
What the upshot will be Heaven only
knows. You and have faced deatl
and seen the sweet sleep, the precious
perfect rest it brings, too often, to holC
, it in any special terror. 1t is harder t.
feel that one leaves behind those wht
: lean upon and love him; but then tn
Divine Benignity cares for all its help
. less little children.
My dear friend, so loyal, so steadfast
| so patient with my faults through al
these crowded years, may the best bless
J ings of life be yours! If l go before
, ! know there is no need of commend
} ing to your tenderest friendship tn
sweet and gentle soul whose love ha
III
have brought to bitter grief, instead o
| helping, as had hoped, her hard an,
: grievous life. The Father keep, an,
: shield, and bless her! Ny own darlin
children, too-twicG orphaned in thei
/ tender years-already know you as thei
, friend, and 1 know what FRIENDSHIP
5 means with you. Good bye till we NEE
/ again. A. d. r..
city and County Of NeU York, S.
: Junius Henri Browne of the City O
New York, being duly sworn, depose
( and says that the above is a true cop
of a letter left in his hands by AlbeI
1 ID. Richardson, on or about December
: 1867, and which was first opened by sal
Browne sometime after Mr.. Richard
!, sons death. JUNIUs HENRI BROWNE.
Sworn to before me this 9th day c
May, 1870. WIN. BARKER,
, Notary Public, n. Y. Co.