Middletown transcript., 1876-01-22
A TOUCHING STORY.

- Woy bos W SCueioiiy AuOWus yS'
. 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 attend
ing circumstances at the time being
copied BY almost every paper in the
country The matter was about as fol
lows:
A Mr. j. NJ, clerk in down town
house, fell in love with young lady,
whose father was a well-to-do Second
street merchant, and after proper
season Of attention the couple were mar
ried.
Both soon found out that they we're
not happily mated, and after marriage
Of seven years, during which time they
had three children (two boys and one
girD they mutually agreed to the hus-
band applying for a divorce, merely on
the ground Of incompatability of temper.
The divorce was granted, and the wife
went home to her father, who through
indorsing lost his business and all his
property. The daughters and his misfor-
tune weighed SO heavily on the fathers
mind that during moment Of mental
alienation be took bis own life. leaving
his daughter penniless, and to rough it
with the cold charity Of the world as
best she could. The woman, a brave
little creature, tried every way she knew
how to gain an honest livelihood /; in
fact working SO hard giving music les
sons and doing embroidery for old
school-mates that her health gave way, |
and having no money to pay her board,
must beg. starve or 60 to the poor
house.
To turn to the other side of the pic
ture, the husband. after q months re-
lease from the marital bands, again
married, and at the time Of which we
speak had not only the children BY the
first wife but also in addition thereto
little two-year old girl by his second
wife The latter lady being i'll, the
husband advertised for q nurse and
housekeeper, 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 rad condition
and then applied for the position in bis
household. The husband giving her
ample funds for all immediate wants
asked her to call again at bis Office on
the following morning. promising to
consult his wife about the matte. in the
Promptly as per agreement wife No.
l was on time, as was the husband, and
from there they went to reside where
the two wives had their FIRST conversa-
ton. ending in their agreement for the
first wife to come and accept the vacant
place, which she did, seemingly de-
lighted at having peaceful home over
her head, Notwithstanding the very
strange circumstances under which ,
such shelter was given. Necessity de-
manded that the entire past should be !:
Dbliterated, and the new house-keeper .
treated as any other help; that she must
care for the children--her own offsprings
and the other child, as any hired !.
nurse would do; that she must eat at
he second table to care for her charges.
All these things and even more humility
lid the poor woman show, never by
sign, word or look, exhibiting the least
evidence; Of discomfort. What, howev-
.r, must have been the true feeling of
1er heart, when seeing another filing
he place she had once tried. as she !
hought, so hard to gil.
The above is from 6les of an old !;
cincinnati paper. but the sequel. as n
old US by one conversant with the facts, a
s stranger than what we have already Fl
arrated. When the cholera was rag i
ng in our city 10 1856 the second wife :,
Ias taken very i'll with it, and being n
.formed BY the physician that she
ould not live but few hours at most.
} she was then taken in q collapsed A.