The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-09-11
A SAD ROMANCE.

Mrs. Mary f. Benedict, wife of Lew Beno-
dict, the minstrel. has procured a divorce
Phtta. Times.
The LEADER desires right here to
''point a moral and adorn a tale" 1t
Is many years since Lew married his
wife, and 1t is several years more since
he became afianced to her. She lived
with her. father in Philadelphia, and
Lew vas a young man Of steady habits,
but rather poor in circumstances. He
was engaged as a clerk Of some sort or
other when he mustered the courage to
ask his future father-in-law for the
hand Of his fair daughter. The old
gentleman was proud and naughty and
had ever frowned on Lew, not because
Of any moral or physical defects, but
because he lacked the purse to keep his
love in the grand style and ease her ia
Their desired. But the willy old gent.
was diplomatic withal and appreciated
the uselessness of taking a hasty posi-
tion against the young couple. So he
thought 10 ward of Lew forever by tell
ing him of the necessity Of his having
wealth to keep a wife, and dismissed
him saying; "When you have $780, 600
in your own name / will give you my
daughter"
This was a crusher for the aspiring
lover, and after a hasty interview with
the young lady In the case, he deter
mined on his course. He would bring
into play his rich voice and wonderful
initiative powers-he would in short be-
come a negro minstrel. It seemed that
the burnt cork profession opened up the
shortest avenue to the 800, 900 and his
bride. The good imessucceeding the war
were most propitious for amassing mon
ey, and Lew prospered. From a member
Of the minstrel quartette he rose rapid
ly to end man and part proprietor, then
sole proprietor. He made an immense
hit everywhere. His fame was on the
| lips Of everybody. And all the while
his moneyed possessions were growing.
Slowly the thousands rose up the magic
number, 90, and Lew went to his fa-
ther-in-law in about three years after
his first and most memorable inter
view. The old fellow found, to his
great surprise and disgust, that Lew
Benedict had the requisite financial
qualifications. But then Lew was a
negro minstrel. That would never do
for a son-in-law. Then arose another
obstacle. The girl was brought in and
she declared that, as she was of a ma
jority age, she would marry her lover
at all hazards. There was no hope of
thwarting such determination, so the
paternal consent was reluctantly given.
The wedding was soon solemnized in a
grand manner, land all went merry as
a marriage bell"
Unfortunately Lew had meanwhile
acquired habits which proved quite dis
tasteful to his wife. He was no longer
the innocent lover Of the long ago. He
was also absent from home most of the
time, as a matter Of course, and when
his bride did not accompany him, pain
( Il stories reached her ears at home.
These facts caused a GOODNESS, and once
before, an arrangement. A reunion
was arranged, but with an Indifferent
result. The feelings of the wife at last
impelled her to seek absolute separation
from her husband.
To parents especially, this romance in
real life appeals strongly. 1t shows in
another way tine great evil of Insisting
upon moneyed matches. Before starting
out for the requisite qualification Lew
Benedict was a model young man. His
sole offense was comparative poverty.
Had he been married without entering
upon the stage he might have made a
model husband and lived on ito the
sere and yellow leaf' happy, and bless
ing all around him.
Mrs. Benedict can lay her tribula-
lions at the feet of her father. He it
was who, by III unwise act in refusing
permission to Lewis Benedict, the poor
young man, to marry his daughter, i'm
posed what he thought an impossible
qualification which brought Lew Bene-
die, the rich and famous negro min
strel, seeking his reward. The father
caused the change in the course of
Lewis life, and the disagreeable habits
he gained were simply the barpacles
that naturally cling to every vessel pass
ing through the same sea of life.
Lewis Benedict, the young clerk,
might have grown up in business pros
perously. Even IL he gained no wealth
he might have been happy, and his wife
likewise. There might have been no
sad revelations; no divorce. His money
cannot heal the feelings of his separated
wife. 1t cannot restore her to that
happiness she pictured when on that
fatal night her father banished her lover
A. -