National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-08
4 xoa1zvcg OF THE TREASURY.

44e26S
In ants-bellum days there was rieh WASH
fngton widowef, with two sons and two daugh-
tiers, who married wealthy widow lady fsom
Louisiana. They Aourished until several more
children were added to the joint stock, and
then the husband suddenly died and the cruel
sheriff came IN and claimed house and furni-
ture. All the wealth which the former hus-
band had lelt to his widow and child had mys-
teriously disappeared. A lady, who had been
perfect stranger to the family when In anu
ence, heard of their great distress and ealfed
upon them, Offering 10 share her home with
the two girls, then sixteen years Of age, and
who were step sistsfs. Other friends came
The girls soon found employment IN the Print
Ing Bureau Of the Treasury, from which, in
course Of time, they were Transferred to more
congenial positions. ~ ~ 49, -
There was wonderful Developments Of tai
ent, industry and heroic virtue displayed by
the girl who II the subject Of this sketch. She
took houee and gathered all the family to-
gether. She rented all the rooms she could
spare. Before entering upon her ofnctal duties
In the morniag she purchased the marketing
and superintended the household, for her step
mother was . hopeless invalid. After of3ce
hours, which wis 4 p. m, she returned home
and sat down to the sewing- machine TO convert
into clothing for the younger children, Who
were half sisters, the material bought with the
money she earned. Fully i've, years were
passed in this way. The girl was beautiful and
iinely educated, and with all the natural in
stincts for becoming dress and elegant society,
yet she never indulged In either, but worc .
simple black dress, with plain linen collars and
cuffs. = sa-@5s 49,,
One day some strangers were passing through
the rooms in the Treasury sight seeding, and
pre-, an attache Of the Belgian legation, caught
sight of the fair young face, intent upon docu-
ments that were strangely At variance with the
refined, lsdy-like appearance Of the girl. To
cut the story short, he found . way to her &C
quaintance, and also to her heart. Ater al
lowing time for him to order the trouseeau
from Paris the wedding day was fixed. Then
arose the obstacle of difference Of faith. He
was willing to abjure the Catholic view ofmar-
rage being q sacrament and be content with
the Episcopal service, bu:, while marriage
from the prayer-book Is quite sufficient in this
The representatives Of the Church of Rome In
this city refused to marry the couple II the
Protestant ceremony was to succeed the Cath
Ole. The infatuated lover considered Q little
stratagem was lawful and right in such . case,
so he took his betrothed AMI few friends to
St. Aloysius', q distant church, and there, with
Q few white lies abou: themselves, they In
yucca the pr1eSs 10 tio tn0 knOC. "A lew uAys
afterward this private marriage was publicly
solemnized in o crowded Episcopal church.
The next Sunday tho man who had defed
the canons Of Rome was publicly excommuni-
Gated. And now, after six years have elapsed,
will repeat what I was told by gentleman
who in June went to Europe with Q syndicate.
He and the lady had served the Government
together in the same bureau. He says: "When
l arrived in Antwerp sent my card to Madame
Won Harve. / soon received . note inviting
me to dinner. OF course, accepted. She
received me in her boudoir, as her little daughter
(the third child) was only three weeks old.
She was elegantly dressed, and looked both
happy and beautiful. All the children were
fondly shown, the baby being completely en-
velopcd in old Flemish lace. The estate was
one of the finest in the country, and the house
sumptuous. The dinner was served in dining
room that was grand with silver and rare pic
t1rcs. Four servants In livery waited on the
table, and there were nine different wines. The
lady assured him that everything he ate was
corn and other vegetables, the fruits, and even
the turkey was of American parentage.
After pleasant renewal Of their old friend
ship, and the Baroness had extracted all the
news about the old Office and those still left
there, the Major rose to take his leave. She
had sent her own carriage and liveries for him,
and returned him to his hotel the same way
Who will not say she deserves all her good
fortune and happinessl Her friends rejoice to
hear that her husband is man enough to appre-
ciate his treasure and good luck in obtaining
so noble woman for his wife.