The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-02-01

holo on ner affections by his persistent
attempts te find the unfaithful agent.
TO this end he employed the best
legal and detective talent to be had.
and the treacherous agent was dis
| covered in Cuba, where he had gone
with travelling company; but as he
died soon after none of the missing Gov
erment bonds handed him in q tin box
by Bonfanti, after drawing them from
the bank in Wall Street, where they
had been deposited, were ever re-
| covered.
THE ROMANCE BEGINS.
During all the stay in New Orleans
Bonfanti and young Mr.. Hoffman were
good frlends-lovers, perhaps, but not
an action, word or look passed between
them that even the sister could object
to. The mutual confidence of the par
ties, the sympathy of their unfortunate
anu lonely lives, and all the shrewd
methods used by men to gain the affec-
tions OF fair and trusting woman, con-
spired to the growth of the attachment
between the favorite of the ballet and
her acquaintance of the palace car, and
the avowals of love made to the dark
eyed Italian were received with favor.
and the lady remained true to herself,
with one hope of a future with the man
she loved as the bright aim of her exist
ence.
This meeting at Montgomery was in
March, 1872, and after the termination
OF Bonfanti's engagement in New Or
leans, she returned north to Cincinnati,
Mr.. Hoffman being simply friend
travelling with the party, and an agree
ment was made between them that a
marriage in her own country should be
consummated, the actions of both par
ties being free from any taint of scan
dal.
Back again in New York for few
weeks, Mr.. Hoffman, then scarcely 18
years of age, sailed for Europe on June
5, agreeing with Bonfanti that she
should follow him in the next steamer,
and the first knowledge that his parents
received of his departure was by let
ter addressed to his mother, written on
the steamer, and sent to her by the pilot
when "off shore" 1t contained but a
few words of adieu, a simple sGod bless
you," and that was all.
TRUE TO HER PROMISE.
Still ignorant that young Hoffman
was not, as he had alleged, alone in the
world, and following him as she would
her destiny, the danseuse sailed for Eu-
rope, and her lover, who was in London,
awaited the arrival of the steamer that
should bear to him his promised wife.
Unable to reach tie steamer at sea ex-
cept by bribing the pilot the impatient
lover adopted this means of meeting
her, and, passing the pilot 500 for the
privilege, he cruised off the coast in the
pilot-boat, and far out of the harbor of
Queenstown, boarded the vessel and
met her, i'll as he was, worn out, anx-
ious, and, as Bonfanti expresses it,
''pale as ghost, but happy and glad
to meet me-"
Proceeding to Paris, they were mar
ried according to the Roman Catholic
ceremony, on August 20, and returned
to England, where Bonfanti fulfilled
professional engagements in Manches-
ter and other places, until lowing to
Georges illness and his lack of funds
they at one time lived in poor apart
ments in London) she became i'll, and
they proceeded to Como, Switzerland,
where, on July IA, 1873, their child was
born-the child which is now in the
care of Mrs. Hofman's (Bonfanti) sis
ter. 49,
During this time, knowing that young
George was in Europe, and knowing
nothing of his whereabouts, his brother,
who had business in England, sought
him out, learning his address through
Georges friend, Mr.. Puleson, of the
firm. of McCulloch & Co., bankers.
Young Hoffman had made friends
rapidly. He was of good address, well
educated, and accustomed to moving in
the higher circles of society He be-
came an intimate with Mr.. Puleson, who
gave him material assistance whenever
required, visited Mr.. Puleson's house,
and yet, with all the confidence between
them, the fact of his marriage with Bon
fanti was carefully concealed.
AS may be judged from the letter to
Mr.. Puleson, already published in the
Herald in the report of the case in
Brooklyn, there was no acknowledge
ment of his actual situation, and the
money obtained for the alleged purpose
of assisting him to break off connec-
tions with a person not named, was, in
reality, used to the support of himself
and his wife, who was living, with her
child, far away from London.
AGAIN IN NEW YORK.
After making an arrangement to re-
turn home, which he did, in company
with his brother, Mr.. Puleson parting
with his friend with the understanding
that he was welcome to the loan made
him, could have more, if needed, and