Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-13
WILEs OF THE WICKED
A Young Girl Lursd From Home
BY a Circus Rider.
His Vows of Love False as Dicsrs' 0aths-
She Travels Alone From indianapolis
to Philadelphia, Only to Find Him
Engaged to Another.
DAzzLED BY A PET OF THE ARENA.

PHILADELPHIA, November 12-Alexis E,
Scafford, bareback rider in 0'Brien's cir
Gus, left this city on Thursday very sud-
denly and is now on his way to Cuba He
leaves behind him two young ladies. whose
affections and confidence the gay tumoler
had obtained, and who now mourn the loss,
one of lover and the other of an intended
husband. Miss Ada 0Neil, the stepdaugh-
ter of DR.. w. d. Tolley, of No. 769 North
Mississippi street, Indianapolis, is one OF
these unfortunate young ladies. Young
and pretty, with admirers by the score,
and comfortable and happy home, it
seemed as though her life was to be one of
unclouded happiness.
But all This Suddenly Changed.
In the early part of June O'Brien's circus
and menagerie entered the city of Indian
apolis, and the flaming posters with won-
derful cuts of men performing all sorts Of
impossible feats on horseback induced her
to visit the entertainment one night. She
sat spellbound over the marvellous riding
of Scafford. who was billed as ''the greatest
bareback rider in the world" Being man
lures, she became enamored of him, and
before the show had vacated the town she
sought his acquaintance. He readily met
her and viewed eternal love. She, foolish
girl, blinded by love, believed all his words,
and after he left the city. kept up a corre-
spondence with him. This continued for
some time, his letters
Always Being Very AfFectionate.
when one day she received message telling
her that he would be at Lebanon, Indiana,
the following week, and asking her, if pos
sible, to come and see him. Telling her
parents that she intended to visit
an aunt in Chicago she went to
Lebanon and remained a day with
and told her that he would marry her
as soon as the season was over. She subse.
quently visited him when he was perform
ing in a small town in Ohio, giving the
same excuse for her absence to her parents
as she had when she made her previous
excursion. He kept her informed OF his
route and letters passed between them
almost daily; he having sent her one
hundIed and eight letters couched in the
most tender and endearing language, from
the time she first formed his acquaintance
up to day before yesterday.
when the Circus season was Over
ters in Frankford, Philadelphia, he wrote
her a letter reiterating his love for her, and
with the promise of marriage requested
her to come to this city. He wrote that
she should meet him here on November 7.
Upon the receipt of the letter, delirious
with happiness at the prospect OF meeting
him again, she once m ore deceived her pa
rents by telling them that she intended
visiting her aunt in Chicago and fastened
to meet her lover. She arrived last Sunday,
thinking to pleasantly surprise him by ar.
irving two days sooner than he expected
her. Stopping at the Commercial Hotel on
Sunday night she went out the next morn
ing to his boarding house in Franklin
street, where he had written he would meet
her. The landlady informed her that Scaf-
ford was not stopping there any more. See
ing the
"i-U drew her story from her and kindly
s6onld '6g heF. Il. stay. until the circus rider
ford called and expressed much surprise
that she should have arrived sooner than
he had expected. He acted in very kind
manner, and the poor girl felt that she
was repaid for all the trouble she had ia;
ken to see him. On Wednesday he called
again and told her he had secured her sit.
uation with French lady at 2l32 Chest
nut street, where she could earn a living
by making artificial flowers. She was
somewhat surprised at this, but still full OF
confidence in him, she willingly consented
to 20. Procuring a carriage he sent her
with her baggage to the place mentioned
bidding her an affectionate farewell. Some
thing in his manner
Aroused Her suspiciOns,
and she asked: II will see you often, will
not?" "Why certainly" he replied in
soothing tone. Satisfied, she went to the
place, but remained only till Thursday
morning, when she came back to the house
on Franklin street, saying that her room
was cold and bare and that she had been
almost frozen at night on account OF insui-
ficient covering. The lady then allowed
her to remain at the house that night
Yesterday Miss 0'Neil received a letter
from Scafford, dated from New York, tell
ing her to remain where she was until his
return, q month hence. He asked ber to
write to him so that the letter Sould reach
him in New York about Nuyem ber IL,
giving as his address the st. Charles Hotel
Feeling That Something Was Wrong.
she went to Frankford and made inquiries
shout him. She then discovered that ne
was engaged TO a respectable young lady Oh
that place. Visiting the hoyse, she heard
from the lips OF the young lady's mother
that this was but too true. Now sure OF
Scafford's villainv, she further ascertained
that he had lett for New York on Thursday
morning and sailed from that port on the
same afternoon with the Leon troupe for
Havana, Cuba. Almost wild with grief,
she entered the railroad station with the
intention of following her recreant lover.
She was here discovered in state border
ing on insanity by Sergeat Beeson, OF the
Fiftee nth district. After telling her story
she was advised to return to her home.
"Oh, I Cannot: Cannot 80
she exclaimed. IL want TO see him.
must follow him. He has not deceived
me, has he2' she said, pleadiDgly. u Will
wait for him. / know he will come back
and marry me. He is too good, too noble,
to desert me in this way" Here she again
broke into a paroxysm of tears, but after
while became more calm, and consented to
| return to her boarding house. Her excite
ment did not leave her, however, and as
| she appeared almost demented by her mis-
| fortune the Secretary Of the Midnight Mis-
| sion, on Locust street, was notified. She
] was taken to the Mission last night and
placed under the treatment Of physician:
| For some time she talked in disconnected
strain, but rallied shortly. She soon lapsed
| into her old state, however. and her reason
was almost despaired Of. By careful nurs.
| ing il is expected that she may be restored
| TO her proper senses and sent home. Her
| parents will be teiegraphed to to-day.
1 r.1.. .tr,ss unoH