The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-04-05
NUMBER 80.
A Painful Romance.
SAD HISTORY OF BEAUTIFUL GIRL.

L"o. 'S"sibaN, AliCutSail, I'd tNlS cits, u
gentleman and his wife named S..
They had one child, girl nam. d Ella.
then nine years cd. This gentleman
had formerly been ship captain OH
the lakes, and had amassed quite Is
competency. Some three years since
Captain s., went to Salt Lake City
on business, and at The requst of one of
his friends concluded to take a trip TO
San Andreas, Calaveras county, Cali
fornia. From this trip the captain
never returned. The party, consisting
OF several persons, including Captain
s., were murdered by the Indians,
near Humboldt Canon, Eiko county,
Nevada. This left Mrs. S., a widow
and Ella, then inst budding into beat
ltiful wamaDhnod, fatiserless. When
the captains affairs began to be settled,
it was found that the widow and
daughter were penniless. The captain
bad formed passion for gambling; it
seems, and being unlncky, lost heavily
borrowed all he could from his friends,
and finally pledged his personal prop
erty as security for his gambling debts.
His widow, having some relatives liv-
ing at Carrollton, New York, decided
to go tl,ithcr, but could only raise mon
ey necessary tor the trip through the
kindness of charitable friends. Two
years ago the widow was killed in u
railroad disaster. Ella was now an
orphaa, indeed. She was living with
a widowed aunt, the sister other moth
er, who barely had sufficient income to
live plainly.
Ella was how charming, just past
seventeen. Her frank, free DISPOSE
ton won for her many admirers. She
had numerous offers of marriage, but
refused them all, preferring the free
dom of single life. But there is a time
for all things. No bird, however wild
but can at last be trapped by the hun
ter. A young man made his appear
ance IN the nei.hborhood, with tho
euphoniOus name of Henry S. DeLorme.
He wore clothes of the most iashiona-
bic make, sported gold watch and
cane, and looked in every way the ex-
pectant heir or apossessor of millions.
BY some means he formed an acquaiu-
lance with Ella, and after trief time
the romping coquette was captured. A
marriage was planned, against the
wishes OF the aunt, who vowed no we'd
ding should take place. Then an
elopement was the next thing in order.
So one unlucky day the foolish girl
joined her Romeo and started with him
for New York. Henry DeLormc turn
ed ont to be a villainons adrenturer.
When they arrived at the city lie put
the marriage off under various pre-
texts, until at last he accomplished the
ruination of Ella.
Of course the marriage was not now
dreamed of. DeLorme seemed to have
plenty of money and supported her in
good style. But one night, while at
the Broadway Theatre, detective
touched DeLorme on the shoulder and
whispered prisoner in his ear, and
he was torn away from his dear Ella.
Six months after that Henry DeLorme
was sentenced to thirty years impris-
onment in the penitentiary, on sever
al MISUNDERSTANDING robbery and
forgery being named in the catalogue
OF his crimes. So, all hope of ever
seeing DeLorme again was forever
| shut from the breast of Ella. She
would not go back to her aunt, and, as
q consequence, became one of the gay
est of the nymphs du pare of New York.
The life she led was brilliant. Es-
tablished in one of the most aristocrat-
ic bagnois of that city, her operation
among the mOneyed men of Wall
street were for time quite heavy.
But she took to strong drink. The
excitement aud excess of a constant.
life of debauchery needed some stimu-
liant beside mere will-power to keep up
the system and nerve the vital forces.
In a short time this girl become acorn
mon drunkard and sank to the lowest
ranks of degradation.
Of course she was hurried out of
the fashionable establishment as soon
as she ceased to draw patronage. Six
months ago she was in st. Louis, and
forming the acquaintance of a ranch
man from the plains, on the Smoky
Hill Fork, she accompanied him
thither. Yesterday morning she was
I. in our city, ON her way back to tho
home of her aunt in New York. She
had given up drink and was trying to
reform. Her features yet wore traces
! of beauty, but the stamp of dissipation
was plainly visible thereon. Tears
streamed down her cheeks as she gave
us this history of herself yesterday
morning in the LADIES' room of tn,
. Hannibal and st. Joe railroad depot
Let us hope the aunt will receive thi
erring girl kindly and try to soothe tn
IL oOrroxvS of hor ochiuU hoarf As 70