Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-02-08

AN AMICABLE ARRANGEMENT We
were put in possession few days since
of the details of an incident in real life,
occurring within the bounds of this
county, which, as it illustrates a pecul-
lar phase of human action, philosoph-
ic and unresentful acceptance of an ag-
gravating situation, is worthy of print
AS the principal actor makes no secret
of the affair, we violate no confidence in
giving the real names Of the parties
Andrew Kepler is farmer, living
few miles south of this city. When the
call was made fof soldiers to defend the
Union, he responded with alacrity, leav-
ing his home wherein was wife and
four children, to encounter the discom-
forts and perils of the battle field. Re
turning home at the suspension of hos
tilities, it was his sad lot to find, like
many other brave men of that period,
that his family nest had been polluted
and his honor outraged, in short. that
his wife had been unfaithful to her mar
riage VOWS. Accepting this blow with
meekness that seems to be personal
characteristic, Kepler made no noise
about his family troubles, but took up
his old life with his unfaithful spouse.
But his troubles were not ended. But
a short time after his return his wife
eloped with her paramount one Geo. Ste
vens, who left wife and two children
unprovided for. In this emergency the
philosophy of Kepler came to his aid.
He found himself with the care of four
children on his hands; he saw Mrs. Ste
vens in the same predicament with two
children for whom she could with diff
Guilty provide in her destitute condition
From the depths of warm nature, or
from an impulse of sympathy arising
from the similarity of their troubles, he
yearned for Mrs Stevens, and he lost no
time in proposing partnership, not, of
course, of usual, lawful pattern, but for
comfort and convenience. This
connection, though unsanctioned by law
and repugnant to morality, has been APP
parently harmonious and productive of
content if not happiness.
Another and the strangest phase of
this strange history came about a few
weeks since. At that time Stevens
again made his appearance in this vicin-
ity Tired of his adulterous partner
ship, he sought and gained an interview
with his lawful wife. He found her ac-
quiescent to his proposals, which were
that she should desert Kepler and re-
turn to her lawful though unworthy
spouse and with him leave the country.
Kepler heard of the arrangement, and
here his philosophical and pacific dispo-
sition came out in full force. Without
a semblance of anger or outraged feel
ing for the irreparable wrong Stevens
had done him, he invited that scalawag
to his house, entered warmly into his
plans for depriving him of a housekeep-
er, give up his bed to the reunited pair,
and the next morning hitched up his
team and took Stevens and his family
over to the railroad station, where he
took an affectionate leave of all of them,
kissing his late housekeeper on one
cheek and bidding Stevens sa-
lutte the other, ending the whole
performance by waiting the family his
as the train moved off Keep
Ter refers quite freely to the matter in
and says that his wife and
Stevens wife are two of the best wom-
en- that ever lived, and in illustration of
his affection for both says that if both
we're drowning, he does not know which
he would rescue first. Whatever may be
said of the general features of the above
narrative, it must be confessed that
for forbearance under injuries and sub
missive temper, Kepler takes the palm
A letter was received in this city few
days since from a woman who calls her
self Stevens, but who is identified as the
original Mrs. Kepler, inquiring about
her husband. She was advised to re-
turn to her duty and her family. and to
prize the possession of husband so
forgiving and gentle.