The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CFrom our regular correspondent
WAsHrNGTON, u. G., March 90. Il


About four years ago there was a brief court
ship in Washington terminating in mar
rage which was the occasion Of much com.
mcnt and gossip. The groom was "A wldowcr,
a sexagenarian, and senator; the bride was
a beautiful treasury girl Of twenty. II has
proved To be- the old story Of January and
May. Ex-senator Christiancy, Of Michigan,
now L. $ Minister to Peru, is expected home
in few days 10 institute Il suit for divorce
and the young wife has rushed into print and
accuses the supposed irrcproachable old man
of drunkenness, upum-cttlng aud cruelty.
She says they had been married scarce two
months when he chokcd her and locked her
in her room Her knowledge of her hus-
bands alleged bargain with senator Chandler,
deceased and her threatened exposure of its
terms, according to her statement, greatly en-
ragged her husband, who, she says, knocked
her down on one occasion in Peru, in the pres
ence of an American named IIaight, Of whom
she says the minister was jealous.
The story of the domestic trouble Is ono
which has often been repeated in this world.
There could have been nothing attractive to Il
rosy young beauty in a feeble old senator, cX.
cept his rcputcd wealth and social position.
The senator, however was not so dal2lcd by
his dream of love, and The prospect of cheer
ing his declining years with a bonnie young
bride, as to lose his wits entirely Before his
marriage he transferred all hi, property, con
slsting of real estate in Washington and Kan
sas and mill property in Indiana to ms daugh
ter. The only thing left was Il life insurance
policy for 100000, of which, in case of his
DEATH the widow will get onc-thlrd, When
the bride, after the delightful honeymoon was
over, discovered that the property had been
disposed of, 1t Is not impossible that she de-
clared that the old man was a fraud. gen
tleman who was acquainted with Miss lugen-
becl relates that she announced her intention
of marrying Il man las rich as butter some
time before she caught the senator After the
marriage he met her again, and she reminded
him of her declaration, adding that she had
kept her word Another cause Of trouble in
the Christancy family is the existence Of grown
up children-older than the young wifc-who
took great interest in the old mans connu-
bial affairs.
The way in which the marriage was brought
about, according to a story published at the
time, was unique. One day Miss Lugenbeel,
1t Is stated, glided down the stairway, rushed
into the parlor where the old man was seated,
and astonished him by throwing her arms
about his neck and kissing him in "a vigorous
manner. She quickly drew back, however,
and explained that she had mistaken HIM for
one of her relatives The old gentleman liked
It, however, and Immediately began pro
ceedings to put himself in position where he
could be astounded again,
Mrs Christancy is now residing with her
mother on D. street near Fourth. Her mother
keeps boarding house Mrs Chrlstancy has
found employment in coloring photographs.
She has, she says, taken steps to procure d.
vorce, but is advised by her lawyer that she
cannot obtain one here having surrendered
her residence in this city. As long rs the case
is tried in the newspapers Mrs. Christancy has
the advantage, being on the spot, where she
can talk to the reporters.