Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-24

EOhaoebAOu OA dAt his faeultleh.
COhOes Eagle, Mayl2l a
Van Ranken's Corners, Water
vliet, comes to the front with sem
Sation. Some years ago well-dress-
ed, prepossessing young man, who
introduced himself as a Mr.. Avery,
went to that village and registered
at the hotel. He was a handsome
appearing young man, and never
was known to utter an oath or q
profane word. In short, he was
deaf and dumb, a fact that did not
prevent him from playing the agree
able or making love in the most or
thodox fashion to the reigning bellies
of that region. He soon established
quite a reputation as a lady-killer
among the fair demoiselles, and
what soft things he was unable to
say with his tongue he uttered but
too eloquently with his expressive
eyes. Cupid smiled upon his en-
deavors, and his love-making at
length eliminated in his leading to
the altar one of the loveliest Of the
Corners fair daughters, and-what
was more to the point and to oul
story-heiress in her own right tC
a considerable amount of money.
Not a response did he respond while
the ceremony was being performed,
nor did he even intimate that he
could talk until he had taken a posi-.
| ton on a dancing floor at the grand
ball given in their honor, when he
betrayed the fact that he had been
acting lie, and could speak and
hear as well as the best of them.
His new made bride was only toe
glad to discover an additional
charm in her hearts chosen one,
and her love for him only strength
ened with the discovery. He man
aged in some way to explain his
almost unaccountable actions, and
satisfied her relatives with some
plausible story of a VOW binding
him to silence until a given time
his marriage. The newly wedd6C
pair soon settled down to the hum
drum routine Of practical married
| life, and Mr.. and Mrs. Avery were
the model of connubial bliss. With
his wife's money the model husband
bought a farm, near Morrisville
and was TO o degree prosperousanC
thriving. Two children were borr
unto the pair, and they were glid
ing down life's fitful stream staid
steady couple, beloved of each otheI
and respected by their neighbors
! And now comes the sequel
About three weeks ago Mr.. Aver!
was taken ill, sick unto death W,
might say, and his family an(
friends gathered around his bedsid,
to hear his last words and see hin
pass over to the golden shore. Il,
struggled hard with the grim mon
ster death, and piteously besough
the physicians to afford him relief
and save him to his family. Al
the aid that human means coulC
, devise was extended to him, bu
7 without effect, and he was informe,
J that his end was near. Then
was that he told the story Of hi
!, life. With choked utterance an
: tear-filled eyes he admitted he ha
deceived his trusting wife, his con
iding friends, and had been livin
j a false and untrue life. His righ
name, he said, was Ziegler, and, h
already had a wife and three chi
dren when he married at Va
Ranken's Corners under the nam
. of Avery. Ee gave his first wife
% address, and asked that she Nigh
Il be telegraphed and some atonemer
: made to her for the neglect an
= suffering he had caused her. Il
I said he was a major in a Connect
cut regiment, had served with dil
tinction during the late war, an
had been honorably mustered OIL
as a breEet-oolonel. He gave Il
> reason why he deserted his wi
and little ones, and was preyente
by weakness from explaining h
y freak Of playing the mute. i
r. soon after died and was buried wit