The Placer herald., 1874-08-15
REAL ROMANCE.

the following facts, of one of the most ro-
mantle stories ever chronicled in this State,
about the middle of July, 1874. A year or
more ago there resided in the town of Ben
nington, Vermont, widower named james
Ward, and his daughter, Josephine, aged
seventeen years. Ward was somehow noted
for his bravery during the rebellion, and
having lost his arm during the first battle in
the Wilderness, was considered hero OF
more than ordinary merit. Josephine was
then lovely creature, innocent anc guiless,
and was considered the belle of the town.
In June, 1878 there appeared in Bennington
a book agent, who called himself Oscar Penn.
He was about twenty-five years of age,
well educated, good looking and assuming.
He rem1ined in town several weeks, and
during his peregrinalions becama acquainted
with the fair Josephine An intimacy fol-
lowed which soon ripened into an offer OF
marriage The young lady consented, con
ditonally, referring her suitor for final AN
swer to her father. Penn went to Ward
N in few words stated the cisc to him
Ward took the matter very cody, and told
the Young man that if his references were all
right he had no objection to intrustng 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 deplrt in the afternoon for Boston, TO he
,hsent four or five days Not until Ward :
departure did Penn speak to Josephine upon
the subject of their marriage, and his inter
view with her father. He informed her
49,, N..l ia .laolutal,. r.f,SaI ia ,ri,.a Li.
consent to their nuptills without assigning u
single reason therefor. An elopement was
consequently agreed upon, and The pair were
united in the holy bonds of wedIock.
In the meanime Ward visited the Chief
of Police at New York, and learned than
! Penn WAS none other than notorious conf
dence operator, who bad served out one
term in Sing Sing and who was now wanted
ON sew eral charges Ward, in company will
an officer, at once retraced his steps toward
Bennington, to learn that his daughter bad
eloped with a convict. Ward hastily sett ed
his business and alone started in hot pursuit
He traced the fugives to Chicago, buF
there lost track of them. He continued hi.
search, however, with ndel'tligable zeal
hnt heard nothing of his lost daughter until
February, 1874, when he was informed bN
IN old friend living near Warsonville, Cali
tornia, that his daughter had been seen some
weeks before on the Southern Pacific Rail
road cars going to HOLSTER.
Two weeks after the receipt Of the letter
Ward arrived in San Francisco. He lost no
line in hunting up his Watsonvle friend
and the two started ont after lidings of the
| Ral InI II, =,
Pinos. they learned that IL man and woman
answering the description Of Penn and jose
phue had pissed through that county some
weeks before Where they were going was
mystery Ward continued his search il
vain, travelling by night and by day until
suffering from misery and exhaustion, he,
Two weeks since returned to his friends
home While there he incidentally learned
that a woman had teeh discovered four mile
north of Salinas City dressed in men clothes,
aud had been caken in hya Spanish rancLero
until such times ns would enable her to de
part arrayed in the proper habiIiments of her
sex. Ward instantly set out for the ranch
where the girl was temporarily sojourning
He found the place, entered the house, aud
there, stretched out upon the bed in high
ever, was his daughter.
He sprang forward with a wild cry, and
Ella. ped her in his arms. She recognized the
ruihor of her being, and smiled fiintl,
hrough her tears. The fair Josephine had
changed greatly. Her form had lost its for
mer perfect symmetry, 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 Chicago, and then lef
! for Kansas There her husband got int
some difficulty, the nature of which she
never learned, and they were induced to
leave at IA 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 ou' for the lower country. AT Hollister
he obtained two horses, and on horsei ack
she rode two hundred miles, until they ar
rived at Visaa. Here Penn pitched hir
ent, and here her rel suffering commenced
! He seemed to have no visible means of sup
port, yet always had money. Almost night
| ly he came home under the influence of IL
qucr, and without the slightest provocation
would shamefully malireat her. In March
she gave birth to IA 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 10 her wants,
or to cheer her in the hour of darkness and
peril. Her husbands s manner did no; change
during this time, and when she becane wen
enough to walk he inaugur'ted a reign o.
terror by assauliing her with bool-jack,
which eliminated in laying her sem eless
upon The floor. The sight of several per-
sons coming towards the house, one OF whom
had been "A witness to his cowaidlce and bru-
tality. Undue I'd Penn to leave in summary
manner He never returned. She slowI,
re covered, and being without friends and