Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-08
A CALIFORNIA ROMANCE.
The story ef IN Eiopesneas

- ABUSED And AFTERWARDS DEeERTED-
hhk FATHER plscovkks HER IN MALE AT
The San Jose CCal.) Patriot has been fur
nished with the following facts OF one OF the
state. A year or more ago. there resided In the
t1wn OF Bennington, Vt, q wtdower names Jas.
Ward, and he daughter, Josephine, aged sew
biz bravery Curing the rebellion, and having
lost an arm during the fret battle IN the VIII
derress, was considered q hero OF mere than
creature, Innocent and guileless, and was con,
sidered the belle Of the town. In June, 1esS,
there appeared in Remington q book agent,
twenty Eve wears OF age. veil educated. sood
looking and a. umtng. he remained IN town
several weeks, and during HE peregrlnations
IA intimacy followed which soon ripeDoi INTO
an Cfer OF marriage. The young lady con-
senttd con1Itionally, referring her sutton tor q
dnal answer 10 her father. Penn went % Ward,
ana IN n few words stated the case 20 him
Ward took the matter very cOolly, aud told the
young man that II has references we're all rish,
be lad no objection 10 entrusting bis daughters
happiness IN his hands. lie would, however,
sive q definite answer within one week. The
next morning We'd announced to his daughter
that he intended 10 depart in the afternoon FOR
BostCn, 60 be absent four or i've dave Not
until Wards departure did Penn speak %
Josephine upon the subject OF their marriage
and his interview with her father. Tie informed
her that Ward had absolutely refused 20 give
his consent 20 their nuptiGls, without assigning
= single reason therefor. An elopement Wa
oonst queutly agreed upon, and the pair were
united IN the holy bonds OF we'd lock.
In he meantime Ward visited the chief OF
police NJ New Nork, aud learned that Penn was
none other than q notorious confidence opera
tor. Who had served out one term IN Sing Sing,
and who was now wanted on several charges.
Ward, In company with an OficI :, at once re-
traced bic steps toward Bennington, 90 learn
that his daughter bad eloped with convict.
Ward hastily settled his business, ana alone
started In hot pursuit He traced the fugitives
20 Chicago, but there lost track of them. lie
continued his search, however, with indefa;igs-
bic zeal, but heard nothing Of his lost q au ghter
until February, 1Ss4, when he was informed by
an old friend hvIng near Wstsonyille, CalifOr.
nis, that the daughter had been seen some
weeks before on the southern Pacific railroad
cars going TO Hollister.
Twow weeks after the receipt OF the letter Ward
arrived in San Francisco. lie lost no time in
hunting mp his Watsonville friend, and the two
started out after tidings OF the missing one. Be
low HOLSTER, on the Tres Pihuos, they learned
that a man and woman answering the descrip-
ZION Of Penn and Josephine had passed through
that county some weeks before. Where they
were going was a mystery. Ward continued HE
search in vain, travelling by night and by day,
until, suffering from misery and exhaustion, he,
two weeks since, returned 10 his friends home.
While there he incidentally learned that a w0-
man had been discovered four miles north OF Sail
mas City dressed in mems clothes, and had been
taken i'm by Spanish ranchero until such time
as would enable her TO depart arrayed in tue
proper hsbiliments Of her sex. Ward instantly
set out for the ranch where the girl was tempo
rartly soJourning. He found the place, entered
the house, and there, stretched out upon the
bed, In a high fever, was his own daughter. He
sIraDg forward with q wild cry, and clssped her
being, and smiled family through her tears.
The fair Josephine had changed greatly. Her
form had lost its former perfect symmetry, aud
the hollow cheeks and dark rims about her eyes
told too plainly Of want and suffering.
Josephine soon related 20 her father ne fol-
lowing remarkable account OF her married
experience: After leaving home she and Penn
departed for the great west. They stopped two
days in Chicago, and then left for kaDsss.
There her husband got into some difficulty, the
nature Of which she never Learned, aud they
we're induced 10 leave at q moments warning.
In January, lS7i, they arrived IN California,
and for a shot time settled In San Francisco.
Penn grew restless, and, in company with bis
wife, set GU: Tor the lower country. At HOllls
ter be obtained two NOrses and on horseback
she rode 200 miles until they arrived at Nsalia.
Here Penn pitched his tent, and here her real
suffering commenced. he seemed to have no
visible means Of support, yet always b al money!
Almost nightly he came home under the infu-
cree Of liquor, and without the slightest pro-
vocation would shamefully maltrest her. In
March she gave birth 20 child, which, fOrtu-
nately, lived but three days. For several weeks
she was near death, and all this time there wss
no kindly hand TO minister 10 her wants, OF -
cheer her in the hour of darkness aud peril.
Her husbands manners did Lot change during
this time, and when che became well enough
TO walk, he inaugurated reign OF terror by
I6T DOollACks WHICH cut
minated In laying her senseless upon the floor.
The sight of several persons coming toward the
house, one OF whom had been 4 witness % his
cowsrdice and brutality, induced Penn d leave
in a summary manner. de neverreturncd. Size
slowly recovered, and, being without money or
friends, donDed an extra suit OF her husbands
clothes, cut her hair short, aud left on foot, in
the night, for Kings River. Here she hired out
as a shepherd. She was green in the basiness.
unused 10 outdoor work and AZ the end OF two
months was compelled % give up the job. She
then LETT, still in male attire for the cOs-t cOun
ties, and, after many yicIssltudes, reached Sa-
hnss City, without \ cent In her possession.
Here she gave vent TO her despair. Alone,
friendless and unprotected, she cOncluded.that
death, or that shameful life which leafs 90
death, we're the only alternatives lett. She was
afraid 10 die, she said, and 30, without re-
course, she started ont on foot, not caring
whittier she went or what fortune or misfortune
befel her. She tainted on the wsyside, and
was taken into the house where her father
found her. IL is needless TO say that her father
forgave all, and Thursdays train carried James
Ward and his daughter Josephine, bound for
Bennington, Vt.