Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-21
ARANn0NEn INNoCENGE.
The Off Told Tale Of Love-A Wander.
ing O1tcast and q Child ON the Door.
Stems. rffHa1g

The OftTO1d Tale Of LOv0-A Wan0eRi
ing Outcast and Child ON the Door.
steps. ssaa
Years ego there lived in Eastern Ken
tucKy gentleman whose life was, what
fright be termed platonic, and such it was
so far as the world knew. Yet this man
had high sense of duty, and the memory
Of an early lost wife seemed to throw over
his pathway an endless grief, which made
him cold and Indifferent to every one except
a young daughter, his only child. She
grew to womanhood and was the worship
ped image of beauty and love to her father.
With none other to share bis thoughts, to
know his grief, save the idolized daughter,
he naturally could not give his consent for
her marriage with ga nice young man."
who was spending the summer in
the neighborhood. Love laughs at
calamity, it mocks at defeat, and
death has no terrors to curb its savage
strength. The daughter ran away from
home with her lover, and they were mar
ried upon reaching Tennessee. The young
lady's father, who had been raised in the
same Eastern State where was her lovers
home, returned there soon after his daugh-
ter's marriage. He sold his property in
Kentucky for small cash price, and since
the short visit he made to the Eastern State,
has not been seen. Before leaving he yainly
commenced the use of strong drink with
which to soothe his fretted feelings, and it is
thought he may have already found grave
in strange locality. Since marrying, the
young man has lived with his wife in Ten
nesSee, and after spending all of his money,
suddenly disappeared, leaving note to bis
wife, who found that she was deserted.
She, who had been raised In lux
ury, she who had shared fathers
wrath for a husbands Joy, now was
left destitute, in misery and want.
She came to this city and has been living
here with family month Or more. Last
Monday night the deserted wife became a
mother, and in an indiScreet hour, alarmed
lest the fact of the birth might create sus-
picion, she took the infant and started
down - street. Unexpectedly she was
met by two drunken men, who, seeing her
distress, like most men under the influence
of liquor, became quite benevolent in feel
ing. One took the infant wrapped in a
shawl, and placed it on the steps of resi-
dence No. p North - street. One of
the men assured the woman that he lived
there and would take care of it. He gave
her his name as j. L. Ritemound. He
stated moreover that he had been m arried
a long while, and having no child in their
home, his wife, who was sick, would be
delighted to adopt the thing;;" its cries, he
thought, would cheer her and have good |
effect in curing her nervousness.
Alter other conversation of this |
kind the men arrived at the above indi- |
Gated residence. 1t was then the woman |
asked them to show her home, or rather, to |
the place she was staying at. One of the |
two men returned with her, which was |
necessary, as she was unacquainted with |
Nashville. After tortuous route the man, |
who, himself scarce able to walk, had to as.
sist his weak companion, they reached the |
spot where she was first accosted. Bid
ding her "good bye" the drunken hero re.
turned and found bis intoxicated martyr,
MIR. Ritemound, sitting fast asleep on the
steps and the infant in his arms. He
iwoke bis companion from his paternal
'lumber and told him to drop that thing
light there and theD Both men had
somewhat recovered from their drunken
ness, and, realizing their situation, FASTENED
% leave. They were from county in the
northern part of the State, and having come
otown, commenced drinking and wandered
about the city. Twas then
hey met the mother with her new born
nfant, and one of them gave her the above
name. They took the morning
rain, and have telegrsphed to the hotel for
heir baggage. When morning broke the
amily of the dwelling where the child was
eft, was Mortified to discover the infant at
be door. They kindly cared for it, but
laving several Of their own, the gentleman
# the house resolved to give il away.
n order to do this, the hus-
and and wife ascertained the names
f the childless neighbors and accordingly
fered the founding on very liberal terms.
they have been unsccessful, however, and
With commendable kindness are taking
are of the unknown infant. We do not
ouch for the above story of the child's par
ntage and the manner it came to be left on
he door steps. The story may be one of
only to interest our readers
nd induce an effort at discovering the par
sntage. At any rate child was left on
le door steps and the family occupying the
.sidence is taking care of it, no others
eng willing to adopt it.