The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-19
sTAUNTON VIRGINIA. THURSDAY AUGUST 49, 1876
A Romance Of the Treasury.

In ante-bellum days there was rich Wash
ington widower, with two sons and two daugh
| tiers, who married wealthy widow lady from
Louisiana. They fourished until several more
children were added to the .joint-stock, ant
then the husband suddenly died and the crllc
sheriff came in and claimed house and furni
ture. All the wealth which the former hus
!; band had left to his widow and child had mys
| teriously disappeared. A lady, who had beer
a perfect stranger to the family when in aff1u
ence, heard of their great distress and called
upon them. offering to share her home witt
the two girls, then sixteen years of age, and
who were step-sisters. Other friends came for
ward and the family was distributed around
The girls soon found employment liz the Print
ing Bureau of the Treasury, from which, in
course of time, they were transferred to more
genial positions.
There was wonderful development Of cal
ent, industry and heroic virtue displayed by
the girl who is the subject of this sketch. She
took house and gathered all the family to-
gether. She rented all the rooms she could
spare. Before entering upon her official du-
ties in the morning she purchased the market
ing and superintendent the household, for her
step-mother was hopeless invalid. After Of
flee hours which was 4 p. M, she returned
home and sat down to the sewing machine to
convert into clothing for the younger children,
who we're half-sisters, the material bought with
the money she earned. Fully five years were
passed in this way. The girl was beautiful and
finely educated, and with all the natural in
stincts for becoming dress and elegant society,
yet she never INDUCED in either, but wore Il
simple black dress, with plain linen collars and
cuffs.
One day some strangers were passing through
the rooms in the Treasury sightseeing, and
ore, an attache OF the Belgian legation, caught
or - tIo fotp foao intc
uments that were strangely at variance with
the refined, lady-like appearance OF the GIRL
70 cut the story short, lie found way to her
acquaintance, and also to her heart. After al
lowing time for him to order the trOusseau from
Paris the wedding day was fixed. Then arose
the obstacle of a difference of faith He was
willing to abjure the Catholic view of narri-
age being a sacrament and be content with the
Episcopal service, but, while marriage from
the prayer book is quite sufficient in this coun-
try, it is not a valid in a Catholic country. The
representatives OF the Church of Rome in this
city refused to marry the couple if the Protes-
tant ceremony was TO succeed the Catholic
The infatuated lover considered a little strata
gem was lawful and right in such case, so he
took his betrothed and a few friends to st. AL
oysius', a distant church, and there, with few
white lies about themselves, they induced the
priest to tie the knot A few days afterward
this private marriage was publicly solemnlzed
in a crowded Episcopal church.
The next Sunday the man who had defed
the canons of Rome was publicly excommuni-
Gated. And now, after six years have elapsed,
will repeat what was told by gentleman
who in June went to Europe with a syndicate.
He and the lady had served the Government
together in the same bureau. He says: when
arrived in Antwerp sent my cald to Mad
anne Won Harve. soon received note invit-
ing me to dinner. OF course, accepted. She
received me in her boudoir, as her little daugn-
ter the third child was only three weeks old.
She was elegantly dressed, ana looked both
happy and beautiful. All the children were
fondly shown. the baby being completely en-
veloped in old Flemish lace. The estate was
one of the finest in the country. and the house
sunptuous. The dinner was served in a din
ing room that was grand with silver and rare
pictures Four servants in livery waited on
the table, and there were nine different wines.
The lady assured him that everything he ate
was raised on the estate from American secd.-
The corn and other vegetables. the fruits, and
even the turkey was Of American parentagc.
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 liverles for him,
and returned him to his hotel the same way.
Who will not say she deserves all her good for
tune and happiness? Her friends rejoice to
hear that her husband is man enough to APP
preciate his treasure and good luck in 0bt ain
ing so noble a woman for his wife.