The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-04-07
A California Romance.

1t has been said that our State is peCul-
lar IN many respect, being as it is at what
is termed the jumping-of place" of the
continent of North America. San Fran
cisco or Oakland receives the fugitives
from old States IN the East who are either
fleeing from justice or from some results
of a bad deed committed far off, and who
seek among the thousands of strangers
perfect refuge. Hither comes the de-
faulting bank cashier, the forger, the rec
reant husband or wife, forgetting the fact
that their sin will find them out" no
matter how many miles are placed be-
tween them and the avenging ones who
seek them. A case illustrative of this
has just been developed in Oakland.
Some ten or twelve years ago there
lived in one of the quiet towns among
the green hills of Vermont young lady
Of prepossessing appearance and uneX-
ceptionable family, some of the male
members of which to-day occupy high
positions of honor and trust under both
the National and State Governments.
This lady was wooed and won by a
young gentleman every way her equal,
and happy friends of both We'd with
each other in congratulations when the
ceremony was performed that united
them in marriage. Time passed on, and
the years brought to their home-circle
four children. Fortune grew adverse
and ceased to smile upon the exertions
of the husband to attain that competence
which is the goal of every man who
loves his family; and, as times grew
harder in the Green Mountain State the
husband resolved to emigrate to the far
West and seek that wealth which seemed
denied to him in his youthful home.
During period of some years sickness
and death had been added to his other
Affections; and when some two years since,
through his wife's relatives, he secured
situation as mailagent on the Union
Pacific Railroad, he took his wife and
the only remaining child, girl of four
years, and moved to Omaha, Neb. From
here his route was to Ogden and return,
and this necessitated an absence from
home of from nine to ten days at a time,
and sometimes when his train encountered
one of those heavy snow-storms so fire.
ouent in winter in Nebraska or Wyo-
ming his stay would be much longer
His wife during these periods had no
company but her child, and bore the
separation with fortitude. 70 all APP
pearances he was the same loving and
conslderate husband as ever, and it was
his custom when starting out on his trip to
take the little girl with him block or
so from their house, and then kissing
her good-by 90 to the train, and the lit
tie one would return to mamma. But
the fiend jealousy had taken possession
of him and he resolved to leave his wife.
He quietly made arrangements to be
transferred from the Union Pacific to
the Central Pacific Railroad, ana one
morning about two years ago started as
usual for the train with the child in
company. His wife supposed the little
one would soon return, and waited some
what longer than usual. The little feet,
however, were not heard pattering to the
door. and she listened in vain for its
childish voice. Becoming alarmed, she
hastily donned her outdoor garments and
went to the train, which was almost
ready to pull out on its journey to the
Pacific coast She rushed to the mail
car and inquired for her husband. The
other mail.agent told her that he had not
put in an appearance yet, but he would
soon be there, and if she would stand
near the baggage room she would be GER
tain to see him. The bell rang, the con-
ductor shouted GAN aboard" and
off went the train. A friend who knew
her, seeing her standing about, evidently