Connecticut western news., 1874-08-21
A CALIFORNIAN ROMANCE,

A
 Young W oman NIarries a ConvIct--she
 is Abused and Deserted--Her Father
 Discovers her i'm Male Attire.
 The San Jose (Cal.) Patriot was fur nished with the following facts of one of the most romantic stories ever chron- icled in this State. A year or more ago there resided in the town of Benning- ton, Vt., widower named James Ward, and his daughter, Josephine, aged sev- enteen years. Ward was somewhat noted for his bravery during the rebel lion, and having lost an arm during the first battle in the Wilderness, was con- sidered hero of more than ordinary merit. Josephine was then a lovely creature, innocent and guileless, and was considered the belle of the town. In June, 1873, there appeared in Ben nington book agent, who called him. self Oscar Penn. He was about twenty five years of age, we'll educated, good looking and assuming. He remained in town several weeks, and during his peregrinations became acquainted with the fair Josephine. An intimacy fol- lowed which soon ripened into an offer of marriage. The young lady consent cd, conditionally, referring her suitor for final answer to her father. Penn went to Ward, and in few words sta ted the case to him. Ward took the matter very coolly, and told the young man that if his references were all right he had no objection to intrusting his daughters happiness in his hands. He would, however, give definite answer within one week. The next morning Ward announced to his daughter that he intended to depart in the afternoon for Boston, to be absent four or five days. Not until Wards departure did Penn speak to Josephine upon the sub- ject of their marriage, and his sinterview with her father. He informed her that Ward had absolutely refused to give his consent to their nuptials, without assigning single reason therefor. An elopement was consequently agreed upon, and the pair were united.
 In the meantime Ward visited the i Chief of Police at New York, and learn ed that Penn was none other than mo- torious confidence operator, who had served out ono term in Sing Sing, and who was now wanted on several charges. Ward, in company with an officer, at once retraced his steps toward Bennington, to learn that his daughter had eloped with convict. Ward hasti- ly settled his business, and alone started in hot pursuit. He traced the furgitives to Chicago, but there lost trace of them. He continued his search, however, with indefatigable zeal, but heard nothing of his lost daughter until February, 1874, when he was informed by an old friend living near Watsonville, Gal, that the daughter had been seen some weeks before on the Southern Pacific railroad cars going to Hollister.
 Two weeks after the receipt of the letter Ward arrived in San Francisco. He lost no time in hunting up his Wat sonville friend, and the two started out after tidings of the missing one. Below Hollister, on the Tres Pinos, they learned that man and woman answer ing the description of Penn and Jose phine had passed through that county some weeks before. Where they were going was mystery. Ward continued his search in vain, travelling by night and day, until, suffering from misery and exhaustion, he, two weeks since, returned to his friends home. While there he accidently learned that 8 woman had been discovered four miles north of Salinas City dressed in mans clothes, and had been taken in by 8 Spanish ranchero until such time as would enable her to depart in the prop .er habiliments of her sex. Ward in stantly set out for the ranch where the girl was temporarily soiourning. 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 wild cry, and clasped her in his arms. She recog- nized the author of her being, and smiled faintly through her tears. The fair Josephine had changed greatly. Her form had lost it's 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 experience: After leaving home she and Penn departed for the great West. They stopped two days in Chi cago, and then left for Kansas. There her husband got into. some difficulty, the nature of which she never learned, and they were induced to leave at a moments warning. In January, 1874, they arrived in California, and for short time settled in San Francisco. Penn grew restless, and, in company with his wife, set out for the lower country. At Hollister he obtained two horses, and on horseback she rode 200 miles, until they arrived at Visalia. Here Penn pitched his tent, and here her real suffering commenced. He seemed to have no visible means of support, yet always had money. AL most nightly he came home under the influence of liquor, and without the slightest provocation would shamefully maltreat her. In March she gave birth to child, which, fortunately, lived but three days. For several weeks she was near death, and all this time there was no kindly hand to minister to her wants, or to cheer her in the hour of darkness and peril. Her husbands manner did not change during this time, and when she became we'll enough to walk, he inaugurated reign of ter TOT by assaulting her with bootjack, which eliminated in laying her sense- less upon the floor. The sight of sev- eral persons coming toward the house, one of whom had been witness to his cowardice and brutality, induced Penn to leave in summary mannor. He never returned. She slowly recovered, and being without money or friends, donned an extra suit of her husbands clothes, cut her hair short, and left on foot, in the night, for Kings River. Here she hired out as shepherd. She was green in the business, unused to outdoor work, and at the end of two months was compelled to give up the job. She then left, still in male attire, for the coast counties, and, after many vicissitudes, reached Salinas City, with out cent in her possession. Here she gave vent to her despair. Alone, friend less, and unprotected, she concluded tEnoE dnnEh lzx ol4