River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-12-07
A Strange Trinartite.

Some time ago it was observed that
! a gentlemen, whose age entitled him
to be considered a bachelor, and a lady
artist, not much younger, but very at
tractlve, and who makes a great deal
OF money, were so intimate and so
much together on all public occasions
as to warrant the opinion that they
were engaged. This proved to be the
fact, and many were the congratula-
tions and much the joking in conse-
quence for the gentleman, because of
his cynicism, had been understood as
confirmed woman hater, and the lady
had expressed herself, after the man
ner of ladies on the wrong side of
twenty-five, as determined never to
marry. They were evidently very
much in love, and the only question
that troubled their friends was, why
they did not get married.
Privately, this problem disturbed
the lady as much as it did her friends.
There seemed to be no reason why
they should not marry. Both were
tolerably well off each seemed inde-
pendent of the world and of relatives,
for the lady lived with and supported
her mother, and had done so for many
years, and the only relative of the gen.
tleman that anyone knew of was sis
ter at school. The question of ways
and methods had often been discussed
between the contracting parties, and
it had been decided that the lady
should retain her home (she had de-
clared it impossible for her to leave
her mother as long as she should live);
Chn 81, aVl1 ~
French ''flat" by taking two addition
al rooms, which she volunteered to fit
up and arrange in the most approved
''East-lake" style. Yet still the lover
apparently shrank from the mention
of the day when the knot was TO be
tied. But the time came when it was
necessary to begin preparations, the
rooms had to be taken or left, and of
course they were taken, and in a short
time exquisitely furnished.
Still the day had not been set, and
one evening the lover, after requiring
the lady to attire herself for walk,
took her to a quiet city park and i'm
petuously asked her to marry immedi-
ately and leave with him for five
years absence in Europe. This pro-
position paralyZed her. OF course she
refused. She could not leave her
mother; she had just newly furnished
her home; she had taken upon herself
heavier obligations as regarded rent /;
she had contracts unfulfilled. He,
man like, reproached her, declared
she did not love him, and left her in
passion of rage, which astonished and
overwhelmed her, but which, of
course, was principally pretense. A
few evenings after that, visitor was
announced, who requested to see her
alone, and was shown into her studio.
On entering, she found a small, slen-
der woman, dressed in black, who,
throwing aside her veil, approached
her.
Madame" she said, you do not
know me, but / understand that you
are engaged to be married to man
who ought to be my husband, and l
came to throw myself upon your pity
and forbearance. Her story was that
she had been married to a mau who
had neglected her; that some eight
years previous she had become ac-
quainted with Mr.. D., who first pitied
then loved; that she left her husband
for him on his solemn promise to mar
ry her if ever she was free; that sub
sequently (sOme five years later her
husband died of hard drinking, but he
had then refused to fulfill his promise,
and it was not until recently that she
had discovered that he had formed
other plans. She had then made
desperate appeal to him, and threat
ened exposure. lie defied her. And
here she was.
This story suggested an explanation
to the lady of her lover S conduct of
the previous evening, and she could
not repress a feeling of pity for the
poor, forlorn, and lovely woman, so
shut off from sympathy, so desperate
in her need, and so evidently destined
for an early grave, for she was evil
IDENTIFY IN the grasp of consumption.
A week after this, and before she
had decided whether to write to him
or not, she receiYeda visit from her
aflianced, who, ignorant of what she
knew, began to urge European trip
of longer or shorter duration. She
silenced, in fact stunned him, by CIV
ing him the history of the visit she
had received, and urging upon him
the duty of making whatever repara-
ton he could to the unfortunate wo-
man, if her story was true. He ac-
knowledged its truth, but declared
that he had been entirely separated
from her since his engagement, only
paying q small sum per week for her
subsistence.
Finally, her voluntary promise that
she would never marry unless she mar
ried him, her payers, her tears, her
entreaties prevailed. He consented to
marry the woman he had dishOnored,
to allow her to bear his name, but on
the condition that he was not to live
with her. lie took q small floor for
her. furnished it neatly, under Miss
T-'s superintendent and a month
ago was married in the ''Little Church
Round the Corner" with only Miss
T and her mother as witnesses.
He drives his wife out occasionally,
but only when his former betrothed
will accompany them, an agreement
perfectly agreeable to his wife, for
she relies upon her, and has learned to
love her. The other day | met the
strange trio in the park, and neither
one looked unhappy. On the contrary,
there were indications of inward peace
and satisfaction about them all, and
fancy all will come out right.
Tho Teeth OF Americans.