Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-28
Stranger iflan Fiction.


There lives in Hagorstown, Nd, wealthy
planter named Hewlett. He ia imbuad With
all tho characteristic pride and chivalry OF the
| true S0uhcrncr. Like his clas5 he rel DICED In
tho possession Of extensive lands. amongst
which he lived in royal splendor Blessed with
a tocrably large family most OF the members
OF which we're girls, his contcntmcnt and peace
| were uniisturhed until tho first gun was fired
Leaving aiI behind he emerged from his re
| tiroment and ranged himself with the men with
whom were lis sympathies both by birth and
education. In :hc dcsolaton and ruin which
followed hs homestead suffered like those Of
many others. and, to escape the peril OF falling
into the hands of the enemy, his wife aud
children were transferred to Richmond.
Here, amidst the hustle and excitement at.
tcndaut on the arrival and departure of troops,
Emma, the Oldest Of his daughters, budded into
womanhood. When but fifteen years OF age
she formed the acquaintance of young officer,
named Richard OvcrtOn, and being thrown
much into his company. acquired for him
deep ard all-abanTbng passion, which sought
no forms Of conccnlmcnt
The favored officer was 4 member Of good
family, and apparently returning with interest
the love oi the fair young maiden, no obstacle
was throwa in the way Of their happiness save
that which prudence dictated. When victory
came to tic arms CT the South they intended
to be united, and until then they were to see
each other occasionally when lo could obtain
leave Of absence from his rcgimont. Months
elapsed, anu correspondence, Huch as could DO
indulgcd in, was kept up Then calne q period
OF silence, followed by 2 vague rumor, subse
81 t1,utt 1f Gnr
had proved iathlcs3 and rspuustd another.
Too proud to expose the wound which rank
led in her heart the youDg girl smothcrcd her
sorrow, which nigh bcrcit hcr Of reason, and
under tho 6cnblaDoe OF external gayety hid her
suffering from tender eyes The scclety which
she onoo courtcd became distasletul, and o. on
excuse Tor solitude she devoted herself assidu-
ously TO the study and cultivation of literature.
II Not even the closo Of the war, and tho rcstora
lion to her now impoverished home wcaued
her from her occupation in this respect, and in
the altered circumstances OF the household Bhc
only seemed lmpcrlurbablo.
Her active mind made sad work with the in
tricato problems Of divinity, and she tloundered
about, hopolessy and lncxtllcably involved 10
the complicated nlcshrs Of scholastic disputa.
tion.
Years had passed since the first aad trial of
her lItu, aud sho Vas now u sadly perverted wo-
man, and iast tending TO aa unbolieving and
skcp,iea turn CT mind. Gradually she saw,
through the false medium through WhIoh she
looked. that there Waa no God. no eternity, and,
being creatures Of blind chance, mortas had
nothing to hope or fear 10 death. Weary OF
tho turmoil Of existence aud the insecurity Of
Gubunary things, aho determined to cut the
thread ot lllc, and iOr this purpose she swal-
lowed q quantity OF poison, after which sho
placdly bid farewell to her mother and friends.
She was saved from this death, however.
a ehort timo after this DIe clandcstincly left
her home one night, and her whereabouts have
ucvcr to the present day been ascertained by
any of the members OF hor family. Alter visit.
ing different portions OF The South and West
she tnally made her way TO this city. where she
entered upon COURSE of iissI patton. beginning
her career 10 q shameful manner, hho rapidly
dritcI doWnwaras, till at last ahe fund herself
t. deuzun oI Wafer street.
A short time ag0 she WAS removed to Dolle'
vuo Hospital under the name Of Minnie
Banks, having assumed this upon her depart
uro from her home An Investigation disclosed
the fact that size was suffering from number OF
complicated diseases. her principal complaint
being alcoholism. She finally became worse
aud was unable to retnln any nourlshmont,
being mainly kept up hy eutcutancous njeo'
tio1B Of morphine
Thursday last tho htdy Of Minnio Danks 10y
upon ii stab IN the nl0reun and any ono locking
| upon tho cold distorted features OF the dead
woman would fail to rcoogniZ; a shadow OF
| Resemblance to the once beautiful Emma iloW.
| lett.
| And 80 this gifted and extraordinary woman
haN passed away from lite, entirely indifferent to
| the s!ur aud ndlum which might rest upon her
| family Ia consequences ci the circumstances y
under which she died Shortly before hex
death nhn gave the above particulars Oh Ecr
| life to one Of tho house surgeons OF the hospl'
tai, but denied knowing OF tho present where
abouts Of any OF her tamy.-N. 1. EcpfesS'
TnnGE i ynst doal OF irting going on IBIS
scasox-nloro flirting than business. Every
morning the walks sro throngod with penp,'''
sv1npsthclic, tender and confidential coupies
i-,unr,nn along tina shores, or rowing over lne
GihralLur 60 read pCctry 10 csch 0lher III seCiuu
"a ouict hooks After dinner, on the ia"i uh-
cor tho maples, the fond sw"ifis s"oal a''r W.
cu,car nyAin Httcr tea they arc " ne louuu
jirwnriny in tho dark angles CT tho Walls or inc
nrnnra "h of tho porchcs. They rogaIo themselves
,nnonsbinc, and vary the monnlony OF thelr
| 1rronnnades by u look INTO tho ball room. how
nvnr as there is q traditional rule lhat only Ihe
| uontcrnGn shuil fail IN love, no ono pfopUses
sfor;o,aly and no cngagomcnls last longer than
lbreo dsve, there is not much harm done-onily
vn;tc Of words, and affections which are easily
ronlaced | Elay wrto another lotter from more,
hrcause ,ne place is 50 blessed lnteresting-sc
highly instructivo-sos suggestivo. My days arc
go rounded surrounded, may ssy-wlh poet
ry. So many rich natures; natures said to b
worth from five to ton thousand dollars every
blesscd yesr, yet vino toll not nether do the,
suin, Ferhnps it would be better tor them l
,hnw Aid Fat Contributor ut PIT II. Bay.
say- lF YOU WANT a FIRST CLASS BOOT @ Q
ghoo of tho finest material, best Workmanshl
and perfect iii, 80 20 WAnDEY'r, No. llo mn