Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-11-09
TOUCHING STORY.

= 81 y " J. I y .slas
I may not be generally known, yet it ia
= probably true, that the famous novel Of
East Lynne. although written in England.
had the ground work of its story in a singular
marriage, which took place in this city, the
notice and attending circumstances at the time
being copied by almost every paper in the
country, The matter was about as follows:s
IS A Md. Nj, clerk in down town house,
fell IN love with a young lady, whose father
vas q well TO do Second street merchant, and
after proper season of attention the couple
were married S
Both soon found that they were not haps
PLY mated, and after a marriage of seven
years, during which time they had three chill,
dfen 1.-TWO boys and a gitl1 they mutually
agreed to the husband applying for divorce,
merely on the ground of fincompatibiity of
temper The divorce was granted, and the
vito went homo to her father, who had
through iudorsing lost his business and all his
property. The daughters and his own
misfortune weighed so heavily on the fathers
mind that during moment of mental alien
alton he took his own life, leaving his daughter
penniless, aud to rough it with the cold
charity of the world as best she could. Tho
woman, hrave little creature, tried every way
siie 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, starye, or
go to the poorshonse.
10 turn to the othcr side of the picture,
the husband, after months release from the
marital bands, again married, and at the time
ofwhieh we speak had not only the children by
the first wife, but also in addition thereto o
little two,yeas old girlby the second wife. Tho
latter lady being i'll, the husband advertised
for nurse and housekeopor, which notice
reached tho cyo 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 for the position in his household. The
husband knew not what to say--but after Civ
lug her ample funds for all immediate wants
asked her TO call again at his offiGe on the fol-
lowing morning, promisipgto consult his wifc
about tho matter in the meantime. , .
Promptly as per agreement wife No. was
on timo, as was the husband, and from there
they went to the residence where the two
wives had their fret conversation, ending in
their agreomcnt for tho first wife to come and
accept the vacant place, which she did seems
insly delighted at having peaceful homo
over her 'head, notwithstanding tho very
strange circumstances under which such
shelter was given. Necessity demanded that
tie entire past should be obliterated, and tho
new housokeepcr troated as any other help;
that she must care for the children-4her own
offspring and the othor child, as any hired
nurse would do; that sho must eat at the sec.
ond table to care for hpr charges. All these
things and even moro humility did tho poor
woman show, never by sigu, word or look, :
exhibiting tho least evidence Of dscontent.
Whist, hewever, must have been the true feel
ing Of her heart, when seeing another filling
tho place that she had once tried as she
thought, so hard to I'LL! The above is fronil
files of an old Cincinnati paper, but the sos
quel, as told us by one conversant with tie
fact, is stranger than what we have already
narrated. When the cholera was raging il
our city in 1856 the second wife was taken
very i'll with it. and being informed by the
physician that she could live but few hours
at most, as she was then taken in collapsed
condition. che asked that all go out of the
room excepting her husband and housekeeper,
when she told how much she dreaded leaving
her little child amongst strangers, and as .
dying wife entreated them both to marry
again. The proposition was a strange one,
but both promised, and in few mouths af-
tcrward, when the second wife had been dead
q sufficient length of time not to cause res
marks, the two were again married, brought
together after cruel separation Of SO many
years, and, We believe, are now living happily
together in cosy West End house.
Cincinnati Enquirer.