River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-11-11
MISCELLANY.
4 TOUCHING STORY.

II may not be generally known, yet it
is probably true. that the famous novel
of EAST Lynne" although written in
England, had the groundwork Of its story
in singular marriage which took place
in this city, the notice and the attending
circumstances at the time being copied by
almost every paper in the country. The
matter was about as follows: A Mr..
j. NJ, a clerk in downtown house, fell
in love with young lady whose father
was well-to-do Second street merchant,
and after proper season Of attention
the couple were married. Both soon
found out that they were not happily
mated, and after marriage of seven
years, during which time they had three
children, two boys and a girl, they both
agreed to part, the husband applying for
bill Of divorce, on the ground Of incom-
patibility Of temper. The divorce was
granted, and the wife went home to her
father, who had through indorsing lost
his business and all his property. The
daughters and his own misfortunes
weighed so heavily upon the fathers
mind that during a moment of mental
alienation he took his own life, leaving
his daughter penniless, and to rough it
with the cold charity of the world as best
she could. The woman, brave little
creature, tried every way she knew how
to gain an honest livelihood in fact
working so hard giving music lessons and
doing embroidery for her old school
mates that her health gave way, and,
having no money to pay her board, must
beg, starve, or go to the poor-house.
To turn to the other side Of the picture,
the husband, after few months release
from the marital bonds, again married,
and at the time of which we speak had
not only the three children by the first
wife, but also in addition thereto. little
two.year old girl by the second wife.
The latter lady being i'll, the husband ad-
vertised for q nurse and house-keeper,
which notice reached the eye of the first
wife, and she in her trouble went to the
former partner of her heart, told him OF
her sad condition ami applied for the po-
sition in his household. The husband
knew not what TO say; but after giving
her ample funds for all immediate wants
asked her to call again ut his Office on
the following morning, promising to con.
suit his wife about the matter in the
meantime.
Promptly az per agreement wife No. l
was on time, as was the husband, and
from there they went to the residence,
where the two wives had their first con-
versation, ending in their agreement for
the first wife to come and accept the vac
ant place, which she did. seemingly do
lighted to have peaceful home over hor
head, notwithstanding the very strange
circumstances under which such shelter
was given. Necessity demanded that the
entire past should be obliterated, and the
new house-keeper treated as any other
help; that she must care for the children
her own offsprings-and the other
the same as any hired nurse would do ;
that she must eat at the second table to
care for her charges. All these things
and even more humility did the poor
woman show, never by sign, word or look
exhibiting the least evidence of discon-
tent. What, however. must have been
the true feelings OF her heart, when see-
ing another filling the place that she had
once tried, and as she thought, so hard
to fill
The above is from the files Of an old
Cincinnati paper, but the sequel, as told
to us by one conversant with the whole
facts, is stranger than what we have al
ready narrated. When the cholera was
raging in our city in 1865 the second wife
was taken very i'll with it, and being in
formed by the physician that she could
live but few hours at most, as she was
then in collapsed condition, she asked
that all 60 out Of the room, excepting
her husband and the housekeeper, when
she told how much she dreaded leaving
her little child amongst strangers, and as
a dying wife entreated them to marry
again. The proposition was strange
one, but both promised, and in few
months afterward, when the second wife
had been dead sufficient length of time
not TO cause remarks, the two were again
married, brought together after a cruel
separation Of so many years, and, we be-
lieve. are now living happily together ia n
cosy West End house.--CiRcinadE IN.
qairer.