National Republican., 1883-07-30
sroNEwALL JAoKsoN,s SISTER.
A Reconciliation with Her Dying Hus-
band.
Ncln l,nrL TrIlllnc.


BEVERLY, w. VA, July 25.-Tho death Of
Jonathan Arnold, of this county. the wealth
lest aud one of the most distinguished men of
this state, which took place last week, has
brought to light an interesting and most
singular story, concluding with the healing
before death of an arrangement that had
endured for twenty years Arnold came to
to this county from Fayetto county, Pa,
about sixty years ago, and by jealous appli-
cation TO business accumulated snug fortune.
Just prior to the war he invested largely in
wild lands, owning hundreds Of thousands of
acres i'll this and contiguous counties, the
subsequent appreciation of which ran his for
tune up into the million. His third wife,
who survives him, is sister of Gen. Stone
wall" jackson, and possesses many Of those
traits of character so strongly marked in her
illustriOus brother.
In the second year of the war Arnold made
p operations to visit his sister in an adjoining
| county, which gave rise to u report among the
federals that he was about to cast in his for
tune with the south. Though he had always
kept his own counsels, IL was known that his
sympathy and affections followed the cause
since lost, and when this move became known
he was arrested by order of Gen. Latham and
taken to Clarksburg, where, after six months
confinement, no was released on parole.
| When the war broke out, Mrs Arnold, for
reasons she never disclosed, deserted the
cause for which her brother poured out his
life and espoused the cause of the north, re-
naming firm friend of the union through
out the struggle. This was known to her
husband; and upon his release from prison
he returned home and bitterly upbraided her,
accusing her of having been the cause of his
arrest. She denied the charge, but he re-
mained inhexible, and then her pride being
/ n epn la rnfn enl bnr In IA
A separation was arranged, and for twenty
years neither man nor wife saw the face Of
the other.
Mrs. Arnold retained the family home in
this county till the close of the war, when
she removed to Ohio. Friends Interested
themselves in arranging reconciliation, but
failed utterly; both were obdurate, and Mrs.
Arnold never revealed her motives in for
saking the cause of her father and brother.
Ten years ago the wife entered suit for ali
mony and the husband filed a cross bill for
divorce. long and tedious litigation fol-
| lowed, in the course of which much feeling
was engendered and the breach widened.
The court gave tho wife an allowance of ST.
| 900 per annum, but refused to grant the pc
tition of Arnold for divorce. At the con-
clusion of the suit Mrs. Arnold took refuge
in retreat for the sick in Ohio, while heI
husband returned to the family mansion.
Three weeks ago Mr.. Arnold then de-
crepit old man, was stricken down by fata
illness. His wife came to his bedside, and
through two weeks of delirium was an untir
ing watcher and nurse. He had never for
given her. and in his delirium uttered up
braiding words which fell upon the ear of the
patient watcher near him. The coming o.
death cleared his mind, and one evening hC
| awoke to consciousness and his eyes alighteC
upon the wife he had thrust from him. II
was moment of terrible suspense to the few
| persons in the room. The old man in fee
BILE voice desired to be alone with her. Their
in the chamber already darkened by the ap
proach of dissolution a reconciliation tool
place, and the excluded watchers heard sob.
from tho room and entered TO find husband
and wife locked in last and forgiving EN-
brace, from which Mr.. Arnold was released
! only to die.
Mr.. Arnold was pronounced atheist, ant
died as he had lived. His scepticism was a
continual source of grief to his wife, who par
took of her mothers strong religious con
| yictions