Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-08-16
& Country Funeral.

An END OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY.
Many years ago, thirty perhaps, bright
Vermont girl, whose m .ther bad been an
Italian, married a well ;0-do merchant in
Central Ohio. She love- him with all the
intensity Of an Italian aud the steadincss Of
a New Eas.ander. After two years of great
happiness the knowledge came to her sud
denly and unmistakably that her husband,
Notwithstanding bis apparent iondness for
her, loved not her, but another woman.
The poor creature became crazed. 4 steal
thy, ayengeiul purpose seized her soul.
keeI Ing her grief to herself nothing could
banay her mood, save the glare IN her
eyes and the whitcness Of her face. ! few
days later the neighborhood was aroused
the husband was found dcad-shot-in bis
house, and the home deserted. At first it
was supposed that the wife had been abduct-
ed. But this supposiJion was subsequently
abandoned. for six months later she was
found in New York City, arrested, tried
convicted, and sentenced for life 10 Sing
Sing.
There lived in New York at that time
and one still lives there, while the other has
passed on-a Judge and his wife; who. with
REGULAR frequency and almost unexamplcl
iaithlulncss ard kindness, visited the city
and neighboring prisons. They found one
day in one Of the Sing Sing cells a Young
woman of great beauty, but whose condition
Of mind was such that nothing seemed to
have any effect upon her. At times she was
- violent that close confinement was re-
sorted to; but usually she was silent and
listiess, with a fierce, hungry expression IN
her eyes. After several visits 10 her without
any avail the judges wife, upon one oc-
casion, when about taking leave, said 10 her
"Hv dear child, can not do something for
you ? See; would You not like these h5w-
crs ?' taking from her breast where she had
them PINNED, bunch Of wild roses and
clover The girl looked at her eagerly. bent
forward, put her hand slowly to her f0rhead
and then reaching it toward her, took the
flowers, breathed their fragrance, and, then
bursting into tears. sank to the Eo0r with
deep, c1nvulsive sobs. Not since that fatal
day when she learned that love was nlt hers
lad she shed tear. Everything had beer
hot and dry and arid. Her b-aiu lad been
in e whirl Of hre. There had been n1thlrg
sweet and fresh and innocent in al, the years
between. The sight Of the flowers and their
fragrance carried her back q her New Eng
land home. wire the roses had cambcreI
over meadow wall and the clover filed the
air with their fresh sweetness. Md As
memory after memory 0f her. r.chilIh00d DAYS
pictured themselves before her. she hardness
and torriclcnoss Z the fiteful YEAR melted
into tears. The angel Of mercy who bad
oTened the fountain with something sWccter
than q rod hastencd 70 the iauitor, begging
10 Be admitted 10 the cell Comiortiug tie
POOR creature Is she might, which could, iir
the time being, be hardly more than % sic
beside until her tears had become exhausted.
She lifted her. NOW weak ard helpless rs
chl5, ;1 her cot, cooled and so1tAcl her a.
she so well knew how When she left. she
asked her again what shc could do Tor hex
and the girl, holding the fading dJwCrs in
her slender hands, as it they were fragile
things Of incstimahle value. whispered
"Flowers-briug me flowers. From that
the convict was a changed woman The
LADY visited her often. always carving her
flowers. Upon every visit she became more
and more interested in her. Her lady-llsc
manners her colitacy ard qu-csness of per
ccption, her gratitude ami her rare beauty
made Der most winning. When her rcs1fa-
ton seemed complete, the Judge made an
effort 60 secure her pardon, which after
time was granted. Taking ho- at once 10
their home she remained with them a loved
and loving inmate Of their hou-eho.l. As
no one but the Judge and his wlc knew her
previous history she was esteemed aud re-
-ioctod without prejudice
\ visitor TO tie Juise's.- S,a-aeIn gentle
man %, wealth and position. saw her, culti-
waited her acquaintance. became dccr.Y IN
love with her, ard cllercd her marriage.
70 marry him without telling him what she
had iCcn she Could not do. To tell him was
in all probability 20 put from her not only
her own happiness hut oGe>troy his. There
was but enc Of two things to DO: to dismiss
him outright and keep silence as 70 the cause,
OF to tell him the truth ami trust to his
honor to preserve it. She decided upon the
latter. and when the gentleman came for his
answer sho said. 81 love YOU; but when you
know my history, You viii not only feel
aggricved, bat insultcd, that you should
have been allowed 70 make my acquaintance.
But | could tell YOU, and these good friends,
with whom live and 90 whom | one all
that am, could not tell YOU But now, if
YOU would know the truth, % To them for
1t. ] hat | require them to tell You will be
my answer to the honor You have done me,
and may God forgive whatever wong there
may have been. ~
1t her instiration the Judge detailed to
bin the tragic story and lis sequel The man
thanked him, arose grieyod and burdcned, ,
and went away. At the end OF iew months
lie returned, declaring that his love for her
was uualtcrable, ard repeating bis offer for
marriage. She accepted it, was married,
and went South with him to live. Two sons
were born to them, but one Of them grew TO
manhood. Upon the breaking cut Of the
war, both husband and son joined the Con
federate army ami peTished in the final cou-
l hict about Richmond.
Bercft Of everything, home and fortune
destroyed, 4 history in the past that litiga-
ton might disclose, she came North with her
heart burdoned as few hearts aro-burdenod
as all are-and settled quietly in the strange
little village from which she was yesterday
carried away to be seen 10 more.
May the sod lie lightly above her, and
may Kind hands plant over her heart and her
( peaceful hands the flowers tAat she loved 50
/ well. MiNTwoon.
Central New Y York, July, 1872.