Montgomery County sentinel., 1879-10-03
Selected Myistellaup.
A Strange Story.

There is now living in this city lady
whose life so far has been filled with
more real romance than the most deli
catcly wrought characters of fiction. -
Twenty-Five years ago she was married
to man who, like herself, was in humble
though respectable life. Their court
ship had been pleasant and, for aught
the lady knew, harmonious and mutu-
ally agreeable. On the day following
the wedding, however, the husband left
nome without any apparent reason or
any warning whatever. The wife merely
supposed at the time that business had
called him hence and that he would soon
return. Days, weeks, months, years
passed before she was aware that she
was deserted and wronged woman.
She heard nothing from him, but could
not entertain the idea that he was dead,
and instinctivcly believed that she would
again see him. And just as she became
convinced that she was deserted her
martyrdom began. She was thrown
entirely upon her own resources for
subsistence, and they were simply hon
est toll, II living faith in the reward of
duty doing and great self-sacriiicing
spirit. Thus she toiled on, never hear
ing word from her husband for MANY
years, but still cinging to the strict and
self-imposcd duty Of silent forbearancc.
One day, after eight years, she acci-
dcntally met him, but' ne failed to re-
cognize her. She did not speak to him,
but learned from others that since his
departure he had led u rowing life. and
had been in every State in the Union.
Now that she knew he lived, and vet
did nothing to aid her in the battle of
life, her action toward him, herself and
the world rcmaiued unchanged. And
just here she exhibited to u degree her
almost sanity character, for instead Of
accepting any Of The numerous advan
tageous offers of marriage which she
might have done, she silently did her
everyday work, bearing his name and
chcrshlng the same affection for him
that induced her to become his wife.
There was then another long time that
she had neither saw nor heard from
him. But fate seemed to favor her and
again she met him by accident lie acted
pleased to see her, told her what he had
been doing that he was still her hus-
band, but never referred to his strange
departure nor offered her any means Of
support. Their conversation was n brief
one, and they parted without enmity.
Neither had an idea of the plans Of the
other, nor asked TO know. The next
that the wife knew Of her husband was
learned from newspaper. There she
learned that he had been arrested for
leading Fenian riots in Canada and was
sentenced to be hanged.
A subsequent report informed her his
sentence was committed to six years inn
prisonment. During those six years she
retained her love for him and clune to
the faith that her constancy would even
tnaliy be recognized and appreciated. -
After the man was let out Of the prison
cell he again became an adventurer, and
again accidentally met his wife. He
then said to her "What did you think
when you saw me sentenced to be hang
ed 3 81 supposed you wonld be hang
ed A short interview, in which neith.
cr learned Of the plans Of the other, was
the result of this meeting. And again
he was off After several moro wears
they met again, recognized, but passed
by in silence.
Strange as has been the first act Of
this comedy Of curious actions, the Sc
qncl is still stranger Last February
the wife received a letter from her or-
ratio husband, in which he begged for
forgiveness and asked her 10 20 Wash
ington and live with him he is in the
government employ, and she has con-
sented and will start for her new home.
Twenty-Five years elapsed between
the day Of the wedding and the receipt |
Of the letter During that time she /
never ceased 10 love him and he mover |
commenced to love her. Neither ever |
tried 10 obtain divorce Tho lady is
the picture Of health. The man was a
o-lookiDg fellow when he was married |
and had jet black hair 10 day he is
much thinner and his hair Is almost
white. As drcam-like and unnatural as
all this may seem, il is asserted 10 be
true by a responsible and highly esteem
ed lady, whose relations with the wife
gave her the means Of knowing the par
iiculars ofihis extraordinary case NIL
,ronLcc Wisconsin