Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-22
a STORY OF DIVORCE.

1t may not be generally kuOWn, yet 1t Is
probably true, that the novel Of East Lynne,
although written 10 Eoglaod, haei the ground-
work OF its story 10 singular marriage which
took place IN Cincinnati, the notice and the at
tending circumstances at the time being copied
by almost every paper 10 the country. The
matter was about as follows "a MIR. j. NJ, a
clerk 10 downtown house, fell in love with a
young lady, whose father Was well-todo Sec
ond street merchant, aud after proper season
OF affection the couple we're married.
Both soon found out that they we're not hap
PLY mated, and after marriage OF several
years, during which time they had three chill
dren, two boys and a girl, they mutually
agreed to The husband applying tor bill of di-
vorce oD the ground OF lucompatlbiIlty OF tenn
per. The divorce was granted and the wife
went home to her father, who had, through in-
dorsug, lost his business and ali his property.
Toe daughter 5 aud his own mistortuncs weigh
ed so heavily upon the fai hers mind, that dur.
ing moment Of mental alienation he took his
own lie, leavlug his daughter penniltsJ, 10
rough 1t with the cold charity of the world az
best she could
The woman, brave little creature, tried
every way she knew how to gain al houes, live
ilhood; IN tact, working 80 hard giving music
lessons aud doing embroidery for her old
schoolnates that her health gave way, aud
having 40 money 10 pay her board, must beg,
Starvc or go to the poor house, 10 turu to the
other side Of the picture: The husband, after
lew short mouths release from the marital
bonds, agalo married, and at the time had not
ouy the three childreu by the first wife, but also
aD addition thereto, little two-y -year-oid girl by
the second wife.
The latter being i'll, the husband advertised
for nurse aud housckeeper, which notice
reached the eyes OF the first wife, and she, in
her trouble, went to the former partner of her
heart, told him OF her sad condition, and ap
piled Tor the posltloo in bis household The
husband knew Uot what to say but, after Civ
iue her ample funds for all her Immediate
wants, asked her to call again at his office on
the following morning, promising to consult his
wife about the matter 10 the meantime
Promptly as per agreement wife No was
on time, as was the husband, and from there
they wcnt to the residence, where the two
wives had their first conversation, ending in
their agreement Tor the first wife to come and
accept the vacant place, which she did, seem
lneiy delighted at having peaceful home over
her head, Notwithstanding the very strange cir
cumstances 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 chiIdren-her own offspring
and the other child the same as any hired
nurse would do; that she must eat at the sec.
oBd table to care for her charges.
All these things and even more humility did
the poor woman show, never sigh, word or
lock exhibiting the least evidence of discon-
tent. What, however, must have been the
true feelings of her heart when seeing another
hlilDg the place that she had once tried, as
she thought, so hard to fl The above is
irom the files OF an old Cincinnati paper; but
:hc sequel, as told by one convcrsant With
she whole facts, is stranger than what
has been already narrated. When the
cholera was raging 10 that city in 1866, the
second wife was taken very i'll with it, and be-
log informed by the physician that she could
live but few hours at the most, as she was hen
10 collapsed condition, she asked that all 20
out Of the room excepting her husband and
the housekeeper, when she told how much she
dreaded leaving her child among strangers and
as a dying wife entreated them both to marry
again. The proposition was a strange one. but
both promised, and Il few months afterwards,
when the second wife had been dead a suf6
Client length of time not to cause remarks, the
Two were again married, brought together after
cruel separation of so many years, and we be-
eve are now living happily together in cosey
West End house.