The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-29
Touching Story.

1t may not be generally known, yet 1t
is probably true, that the famous novel
of East Lynn, though written in Eng
land, 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:
A Mr.. J. NJ, a clerk in a downtown
house, fell in love with a young lady
whose father was well-tO-do Second
street merchant, and after a proper sea-
son of attention the couple were mar
ried.
They soon found out that they were
not happily mated, and, after marriage
of seven years, during which time they
had three children two girls and boy),
they mutually agreed to the husband
applying for a divorce, merely on the
ground of incOmpatibility of temper
The divorce was granted, and the wife
went home to her father, who, through
indorsing, lost all his business and all
his property. The daughters and his
own misfOrtuues weighed so heavily on
the fathers mind that during moment
of mental alienation, he took his 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 liveli-
hood; in fact, working so hard, giving
music lessons, and doiug embroidery for
her old schOOl-matesy that her health
gave way, and, having no money to pay
her board, must beg, starye or go to the
poor
To turn to the other side of the pic
ture, the husband, after a months re-
! lease from the marital bonds again
married, and at the time of which we
speak had not only the children of the
| first wife, but also an addition thereto,
little twO-year-old girl by his second
wife. The latter lady being ill, the hus-
| band advertised for a muse and house
! keeper, 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 sad condition, and APP
] piled for the position in his household.
| The husband, giving her ample funds
for all immediate wants, asked her to
call again at his office on tile following
morning, promising to consult his wife
about the matter in the meantime.
| Promptly, as per agreement, wife No.
/ | was on time, as was the husband, and
from there they went to the residence
where the two wives had their first con-
versatiOn, ending in their agreement
for the first wife to come and accept the
vacant place, which she did, seemingly
delighted at having a 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
Obliterated, and the new hOuse-keeper
treated as any other help; that she must
care for the children-her own offspring
and the other child as any hired nurse
would do; that she must eat at the sec
Ond table to care for her charges. All
these things and even more humility
did the poor woman show, never.a sigh,
word, or look, exhibiting the least evil
dence of discomfort. What, however,
must have been the true feeling of her
heart, when seeing another filling the
place that she had once tried, as she
thought, so hard to fill.
The above is from the files of an old
Cincinnati paper, but the sequel, as
, told US, by one conversant with the
, facts, is stranger than we have already
J narrated. When the cholera was rag
ing in our city in 1856, the second wife
, was taken very i'll with it, and being in.
/ formed by the physician that she could
not live but few hours at most, as she
r was then taken in collapsed condition
: she asked that all go out of her room
except her husband and the se-keep,
er, when she told how much she dreaded
2 leaving her little child among strangers
and as dying wife entreated them tC
marry again. The proposition was {
: strange one, but both promised, and IL
J few months afterWaFd, when the sec
r Ond wife had been dead a sufficien
+ length of time not to cause remarks
e the two were again married, brough
j together after a cruel separation of 81
5 many years, and we believe, are now
r living happily together in a cosy Yves
e End hOuse.