Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-24
DEAF AND DUMB.
A Mute C.. Mysterious Marriage ana
BexRmy.
[Cincinnati Enquirer May 9th.

[Cincinnati Enquirer May 9th.
And now Dlanchestcr, Ohio, comes
to the front with sensation. 1t is not
a blood-curdling one, nor is there
much Beccherism in it, yet 1t is sen-
sation.
The facts in the case, as near as we
can get at them, are about as follows
Some years ago a well-dressed, pre-
possessing, Young man, who intro
duccd himself as Mr.. Avery, went TO
that village and registered at the
leading hotel. He was n handsome
appearing young man and never was
known to utter an oath or profane
word. In short, he was. deaf and
dumb. fact that did not prevent him
from playing the agreeable or max
ING love i'm the most orthodox fashion
to the reigning bellies of that region.
He soon established quite reputa-
ton as lady-killcr among the fair
demotsclles, and what soft things he
was unable to say with his tongue he
uttered but too cloquently with his ex-
prcssivc eyes. Cupid smiled upon
| his endeavors, and his loyc-making
eliminated in his leading to the altar
one of the loveliest of Blanchestcr's
| fair daughters, and--what was more to
the point and our story--an heiress in
her own right to $50, 900. Not a re-
spouse did he respond, while the GER
emory was being performed, nor did
he even intimate that he could talk
until he had taken a position on
the dancing-flo at the grand ball
| given in their honor, when he be-
| trayed the fact that he had been act
| ing living lie, and could speak and
hear as well as the best of them. His
new made bride was only too glad to
discover an additional charm in her
hearts chosen one, and her love for
him only strengthened with the dis
| covery. He managed IN some way
| to explain his almost unaccountable
factions, and satisfied her relatives
with some plausible story Of q vow
binding him to silence until a given
time-his marriage.
The newly welded pair soon set
tied down to the humdrum routine of
practical married life, and Mr.. and
| Mrs. Avery were the models of con-
nubial bliss, With his wifc's money.
the model husband entered into bust
ness and was to degree prosperous
and thriving. Two children were
born unto the pair and they were
gliding down lifo's iitful stream,
a staid steady couple, beloved of
each other and respected by their
neighbors.
And now comes the sequel. About
three weeks ago Mr.. Avery was ill,
gricvously i'll, sick unto death we
might say, and his family and friends
gathered around'hi bedside to hear
his last words, and see him pass away
to the Golden Shore. He struggled
hard with the grim monster Death,
and piteously bcsought the physician
to afford him relief, and save him to
his family, All the aid that human
means could devise was extended to
to him, but without effect, and he was
Informed that his end was near
Then it was that he told the story OF
Ibis life. With choked uttcrance and
tear filled eyes he admitted he had
deceived his trusting wife, his con.
fiding friends, and had been living q
false and untrue life. His right name
: he said, was Zeigler, and he already
had wife and three children when
he was married at Manchester under
the name of Avery. He gave his
. first wifc's address and asked tina
she might be telegraphed and some
atonement made for the neglect anl
suffering he had caused her. He sale
he was a Major in an Ohio regiment
, had served with distinction durin.
the late war, and had been honorahlJ
mustered out as brevet colonel. IL,
!, gave no reason why he deserted hi
wife and little ones, and was prevent
| ed by weakness from explaining hi
) freak of playing the mute. He sool
, after died and was buried with al
honors.
I, In due course of time the first wifi
e arrived, and, establishing her identi
: ty, took evidence of her husband
I death. She didn't make much of a t
do about the matter, nor did sh
!, seem heart-broken at his demise. Sh
l was very calm about the occurrence
Z and explained that she was more de
sirous of procuring the evidence o
his death and securing pension Q
n from the Government than of recall
y ing him TO life. After having al
tanned her object she quietly depar
. ed, leaving her successor in peaceabl
possession of what of the world
: goods had been accumulated from TIL
0 capital advanced at her marriage wit
: Avery. The affair has occasiOne
Intense excitement among the dem
zens of that usually quiet village, an
d the sympathy of the entire communi
Y ty goes ont to the much-Wronged an
: loving Mrs. Avery and her unfortl
nate children. Nor do they condem
; Mrs. Ziegler, whom they regard ,
i another victim to mans perfidy.-
: What prompted his assuming to
4 deaf and dumb, and so successful
CARRYING out the freak, will probab
, never be known. but that the stat
y ments written above are true is b
10 yond all doubt.
N There is a basis here for Charl
!. Reade or Wilkie Collins to write
- novel, and verificaiion of the o
Is adage, that ''truth is stranger tina
re fiction"