The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-03-20
CLAIMING A WIFE.

CLAIMING A WIFE.
"On the evening of August 8, 1870, my
second child and only son was to be
christened. We we're to give grand
banquet and welcome the best in Paris.
While l was receiving the visitors an at
tendant informed me that man was in
the vestibule who insisted on seeing me.
| directed the servant to show him into
an ante-room; but the servant hesitated,
and at length said that the visitor was
not of that class whom he was accustom-
ed to admit, and that he insisted on see
ing me at once and without entering. l
told the servant l would be at liberty in
a moment, but forgot all about it, Sud.
denly saw q Commotion in the hall and
heard a strange voice. Its tones seemed
to grow familiar, aud q horrible fear eiz-
ed me. / hastened toward the hall.
"The throng of visitors opened, and
there, in the center of half a score of my
friends and half as many servants
stood Adolph Boutillier-my husband !
He was
IN THE GARB OF A TRAMP,
with his matted hair hanging over his
brows and an old broken hal perched on
the top of his head. His face was flush
ed with drink, and he was saying:
Il tell you she is my very particular
friend, may say my old sweetheart, my
my wifel Let me see her once again.
that I may clasp her to this disconsolate
boeomp
"At his moment he caught sight of me
and throwing himself into an attitude of
cried:
80, Marie, Marie, l am come back to
you. Forgive me, and let me eat of the
crumbs that fall from your table,
"My heart grew hard in spite of the
piteous look of the miserable man whom
my young heart had adored.
"'He ia Crazed, said remove him
gently; give him nourishment and lethim
Depart
with his eyes fixed on me, he retreat
ed backward to the door. As he reach
ID it be exclaimed
"'Marie, I am your husband, and you
know it. will see what all this means.
Adieup
with that he vanished from my sight |
md endeavored to pay no more atten.
ion to the occurrence. Two days after
ward l was alighting from my carriage at
he door Of the opera, where my husband
vas to join nae. AS l was about to en-
er,
THE FIGURE OF ADoLPH BoUTILLIER
'assed between me and the doorway and
lis voice said:
"'Hsnd me your purse instantly, or l
'ill expose you. | know of your mar
iage and will not spare you.'
II handed him my purse without
lord, and hasteaed into the opera. A
-eek from that tine l went to confession
nd afterward the priest to whom | had
myself revealed himself as
How he had affected the sub.
tuition of himself for the regular confss {
" know no.. He upbraided me in the
lest terms, declaring he Wonld expose
% unless / kept him we'll supplied with
oney, and threatened that the first time
failed to do what he requested, be wo'd
5ClUb6 Ju0 b6GEeJ VI OuE COuIltVllOu W
onsieur VOurrier. For months, for l
.ars, furnished money to the wretch.
t all times and in all places he was
ont to annoy, and my life was a bur.
III.
"At length, in 1875. I received an &C
unt of his death. aud my mind knew !
10 first moment of peace it had expert.
iced for years. For whole year l 8
7ed under the conviction that | was q J
ee woman. At last, on December IL, J
II, as l was about TO enter the resi-. J
nee of Lord B, the English ambas ,
Dor, i
LOOKING, DIRTY MENDIcANT /
structed me and said: I
i am Adolph. want money. In a
lntly thousand francs, or-I will 90 a
side with you aud introduce your f
4 had no money with me, and was o
a loss what to do. For moment the g
ought struck me to face the threat aud ii
We the man arrested The next mo. D
INT, however, gave way, tore a valu a