Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-08-14
Vermont Girls Elopement
AND WHAT GAME OF 1T.

Gently furnished with the following facts
of one Of the most romantic stories ever
chronicled in that state. A year or
more ago there resided in the town OF
Bennington, VT, widower named
James Ward and his daughter Josephine
aged seventeen years. Ward was some-
what noted for his bravery during the
rebellion, and having lost an arm during
the first battle in the Wilderness, was
considered a hero of more than ordinary
merit. Josephine was then lovely
creature, innocent and guileless, and was
considered the belle of the town. In
June, 1873, there appeared in Benning-
ton book agent, who called himself
Oscar Penn. He was about twenty-five
years of age, we'll educated, cookbook
ing and assuming. He remained in
town several weeks, and during his pere-
CARNATIONS became acquainted with the
fair Josephine. An intimacy followed
which soon ripened into an offer of mar
riage. The young lady consented con
ditionally, referring her sutton for final
answer to her father. Penn went to
Ward, and in few words stated the
case to him. Ward took the matter
very coolly, and told the young man
that if his references we're all right he
had no objection to trusting his daugh-
ter's happiness in his hands. He would,
however, give definite answer within
one week. The next morning Ward an
nounced to his daughter that he intend
ed to depart in the afternoon for Boston,
to be absent four or FIVE days. Not I'M
til Wards departure did Penn speak to
Josephine upon the subject of their mar
riage and his interview with her father.
Heinformed her that Ward had absolute.
ly refused to give his consent to the nup-
tials, without assigning a single reason
therefor. An elopement was consequent
ly agreed upon, and the pair were united
in the holy bonds of wedlock.
In the meantime Ward visited the
chief of police at New York, and learn
ed that Penn was none other than no
torious confidence operator, who had
served out one term in Sing Sing, and
who was now wanted on several charges.
Ward, in company with an officer, at
once retraced his steps toward Benning.
ten, tolearn that his daughter had eloped
with convict. Ward hastily settled
his business and alone started in hot
pursuit. He traced the fugitives to Chi
cago, but there lost track of them. He
continued his search, however, with in.
defatigable zeal, but heard nothing OF
his lost daughter until February, 1874
when he was informed by an old friend
living near Watsonville, Cal, that the
daughter had been seen some weeks be.
fore on the Southern Pacific railroad
cars, going TO HOLSTER.
Two weeks after the receipt of the let.
ter Ward arrived in San Francisco. He
lost no time in hunting up his Watson.
vile friend, and the two started out after
tidings of the missing one. Below Hol-
lister, on the Tres Pinos, they learned
that a man and woman answering the
description of Penn and Josephine had
passed through that country some weeks
before. Where they we're going was a
mystery. Ward continued his search
in vain, travelling by night and by day.
until, suffering from misery and exhaus-
ton, he two weeks since returned TO his
friends home. While there he accident.
ally learned that woman had been dis
covered four miles north of Salinas City
dressed in mems clothes, and had been
taken in by Spanish ranchero until
such time as would enable her to depart
arrayed in the proper habiliments Of
her sex. Ward instantly set out for the
ranch where the girl was temporarily So
jouring. He found the place, entered
the house, and there, stretched out upon
the bed, in a high fever, was his own
daughter. He sprang forward with a
wild cry. and clasped her in his arms.
She recognized the author of her being,
and smiled family through her tears.
The fair Josephine had changed greatly.
Her form had lost its former perfect sym.
metry, and the hollow cheeks and dark
rims about her eyes told too plainly of
want and suffering.
Josephine soon related to her father
the following remarkable account of her
married experiences:
After leaving home she and Penn de.
parted for the great west. They stopped
two days in Chicago, and then left for
Kansas. There her husband got into
some difficulty, the nature of which she
never learned, and they were induced tc
leave at a moments warning. La Janu.
airy, 1874, they arrived in California, and
| for short time settled in Francisco