St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-01-21
A Romance Of the Jeanette.

been in q constant state of hope and
despair. The news received night be-
fore last from the wandering Jeanette
breast, but to the young lady in ques-
ton it has created the most anxious
fears. Yesterday, just before the San
Francisco train pulled out, matronly
old lady might have been seen support
ing a heavily yelled young woman.
They were evidently mother and
daug hter from the tender and motherly
manner in which the elder lady looked
after the slightest want of her compan-
ion. A Times reporter, noticing the
couple, surmised that the young lady
was laboring under some great mental
sorrow. He looked toward the coach
from which the ladies had just alighted
and saw that it was private carriage.
His curiosity was aroused. He APP
preached and cautiously interrogated
the driver. The old coachman was very
reticent, and the news gatherer was
about to give up in despair when an
idea struck him. He put it into execu-
ton at once by telling the old man that
his interest in the two ladies had been
aroused from the fact that he believed
he saw family resemblance between
himself and them. ~ O. s4
Il Just arrived here the other day.
said the reporter, sand / have every
reason to believe that the elder lady is a
very near relation OF mine"
This had the desired effect and the
poor old man unfolded a story of ro-
nance in real life that never occurs
more than once in a century. 1t seems
that Miss - was visiting friends in
San Francisco during the winter of
1882 She met Lieutenant Danen-
hover, of the United States Navy,
noble specimen of manhood. The Lieu
tenant was smitten with the fair daugh-
ter of Los Angeles They, met often,
and the sequel was soon evident in. a
desperate love affair. But the old, old
saying that true love never ran smooth
was never more plainly illustrated than
in this case. For several months there
was not a happier pair in all San Fran
CISCO This earthly bliss could not last
long, however. The Lieutenant was
then under orders to sail with the i'll
fated Jeanette. AS the time drew near
the sweet girl became sad and pensive
and it was common thing fer her to
meet her lover with fearful eyes. She
told him her fears, and pleaded with all
the eloquence only known to lovely
maiden, but her lover had been ordered
by his country to 60 to almost certain
death, and his honor would not permit
him to break his word, even for the
being he worshipped. The sad day of
separation finally arrived and the two
devoted lovers parted, possibly never to
meet again in this world.
This is the sad story told in brief by
the old coachman who related his tale
with tears in his eyes.
"Yes, sir,' said the old fellow, ''she
has been different girl ever since.
They had only known one another
short time, but don't believe two peo-
pile ever loved as did this devoted
couple. Why, sir, her mother said that
when the Lieutenant came to bid her
good-by it took two of his brother Off
GERS to separate them when the mo-
ment of parting came. She tainted al
most as soon as he was out of the house.
When she revived she ordered a car
riage and Immediately repaired to the
Cliff House. AS soon as she arrived
there she took a stand where she could
get good view of the Golden Gate.
Neither commands nor coaxing could
move her until she was satisfied the
vessel had passed out to sea. After re-
turning to Los Angeles she led re-
tired life, having been convinced from
the first that she would never see her
lover again. She has never failed to be
up by daylight since the Jeanette
sailed in. order to read the telegraph
news. That, sir, has been the only thing
that has ever interested her. When she
got the Times this morning and read
the news from the Jeanette you might
have heard her screams almost
a mile off. The whole family
were in bed at the time. When
they reached her she was in a faint and
everybody thought she was dead. But !
God was not kind enough to put the
poor girl out Of her misery. The first
thing she said was: Mamma, take me
to San Francisco at once She don't
seem to know what she wants, but her
mother would start for the spot where
the Jeanette was lost if her daughter
would ask it.
How old is shep''
sShe was nineteen last October, but |
to look at her now you would think she
was at least thirty"
The young lady is well known in this
city, and up to within the past two
years was one of the brightest and most
beautiful of Los Angeles bellies, Her
name is suppressed for the present, and
her unfortunate love affair is known by
but few, as the family has made every
effort to keep it quiet.
For the sake of the girl, if for no
other reason, it is most devoutly hoped
that the third boat with the gallant !
Lieutenant and his brother officers will |