Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-14
A WIFE's REVENGE.
Deceived by Her Husband, She Regis
tiers an Oath Never to Speak to Him

natl Enquirer, there are living a married
couple who, for the past five years, have
existed surrounded by the most intense
atmosphere of mental gloom. Although
the husband is actively engaged in bust
ness, making money thereby rapidly, and
possesses many cOmpanIOnable and social
characteristics; although the wife Is a re-
fined, maturely beautiful woman, with
the usual hereditary trait of cOnYersa-
tiOnal ability so common to her sex de-
velOped in her case to an extra
ordinary degree: although three at
tractive and lovely children complete
the domestic roll call of this particular
family. vet for the past five years not one
solitary word has been exchanged be
tween this husband and wife. They each
day partake at the same table ana at the
same hour of three solemn, sIIen'-as FAR
as they are commandments. The chill
dren. of course, chatter some, but the
father and mother sit dumb like mOnu-
mental statues in a snow storm. Each
night they occupy the same room, but not
one word ever escapes their lips. A reel
tai of the cause for this most remarkable
state of daily affairs, especially as far as
the lady is concerned, certainly pOrtrays
a most extraordinary and romantic life
drama.
Ten years ago the lady who now sue
cessfully enacts the role of the 'Silent
Wife, was beautiful society belle of this
eitv. Among her suitOrs at that time
were two persistent young men, both
armed with culture, education, wealth
and energy. One of those she loved and
ultimately formally accepted him and
tney became publicly betrOthed. The 9TH
er, as may be safely surmised, then took
a back seat in the arena Of life for the
time being; but he did not mourn in o.
security and despair for a very lengthy
period. In an evil hour, by the most sub
tie arts, he succeeded in convincing the
lady that the gentleman to whom she was
engaged was a perfdlous libertine, and
had betrayed a certain young lady
with whom she was casually ac-
Ouainted. When an explanation
was demanded by the lady, the accused
returned an indignant reply, and the re-
suit was an open rupture. The rejected
sutton now had the opportunity which he
had sought for. and again laid most Wig
OrOus siege to the citadel of this bellies
heart. In a moment of desperation and
pique the Young lady accepted this once
rejected Young man and hastily married
him. Five wears after the marriage this
lady. accompanied by her husband, went
to fancy dress ball given under the aus
uices ola charitable organization in which
She was deeply interested. During all
these years of her supposed happy mar
ried life she had never seen nor eXchang
ed words in any way with the gentleman
to whom she had once been betrOthed,
and who, in true reality, was the only
man she ever loved.
During the height of the festivities she
was invited to dance by what seemingly
was stranger. Her husband at the time
was temporarily absent. She, feeling
strangely and iTTesistibly attracted to-
ward the masked gentleman who asked
her for the honor of a waltz, although he
was apparently a stranger, reluctantly
consented. During the dance she become
fully conscious of the most singular and
unaccOuntable Impressions. At its con-
clusion the supposed stranger drew her
apart from the thrOng, and in quiet and
obscure corner unmasked, showing the
even vet dear, familiar features Of the
gentleman whom she had loved for many
wears. He had known her even masked as
She was, and sought this opportunity to
convince her how terribly she had
been deceived five years before. Then
and there in that scene Of festivities, sur
rounded by gayly and Enthusiastically dress
ed crowds of laughing people, amid the
sweet sounds of music, IN an atmosphere
perfumed only with merTlment and con-
tentment, the elimination of a sickening
life sorrow was unfOlded. In a very few
moments this gentleman drew from the
pockets of his rich and handsomely decor
ated costume documents and papers. the
import of which at once convinced the
lady that five years before she had been
the victim of a most terrible deception;
that this gentleman was guiltless of the
Infamous social crimes with which he
had been charged, and that her own hus-
band, prior TO marriage, had lied to her
and had deceived her In the most
cruel and heartless fashion. This
lady is a woman of the most decided and
energetic character. She at once parted
forever from the gentleman before
her, who eagerly pleaded that he might
be permitted to see her, If it was only
once more. Thus she parted with the
only man she ever loved with feelings in
her heart which no tongue could de-
scribe. Then she sent for her husband
and both at once left the ball room. That
night she talked with him for the last
time in this world. The first thing the
next morning she went in her carriage to
the Office of a prominent Notary Public
on st. Paul street, this city, and legally
made a most solemn oath that she would
never again speak to her husband.
In an interview which to-day your rep
resentatiye had the honor to have with
this heroic woman, she said: Il will talk
to YOU freely but ! rely upon your honor
as gentleman not to give my name, or
any name in connection with my life, to
INC luBllC- IDttt VA may BNADAAou INC
facts in any way you see fit. | was like
a great many other girls We're and are and
viii be until the end Of time. l was
hastv, impusiye, and easily convinced.
In other words, made up my mind in
minute, and then acted out the impulse
the next minute. And l believed nearly
ali heard. / know from what YOU have
said that you are thoroughly familiar
with the fact that was terribly deceived
some years ago. You know that that
changed the entire current Of my life.
I speak freely 70 You because the
way my husband and myself live together
has been meat and drink for the gOssips
for a long time. And when anyone asks
me why we live in this way, in my own
defense | freely tell them. Now, you will
naturally inquire, in view of all the facts,
why did l not, if it were possible, get a
divorce from my husband in place of liy-
ing in this most extraordinary manner.
Well. | will continue to be frank and tell
YOU. 1t was solely on account of the chill
dren. love them with all the ineXpressi-
BILE devotion of a mothers heart. Ny
husband loves them, too, Of course. We
both want them with us. If the
case had gone to the courts there
would have been a long, bitter contest
over the possession of the children,
and then probably the eldest would
have been given to the father and the
youngest to me. When l told him | would
never speak to him and he must never
speak to me, or | would at once leave
him, he begged me terribly hard to have
me alter my decision. But l would not
/ was and am as firm as the rock of Glib
raltar in this respect. / said for the sake
of the children | would continue to live
with him if he so desired, but it must all
be as | said. He at last reluctantly con-
scented rather than have me leave him,
and for five years past we have lived this
dreary, cherries life. l will show you
the affidavit you have twice during your
visit asked to see.n Then she handed your
correspondent the following emphatic and
fOrcible affidavit:
state 0f Maryland, BiIin,0re city, Set: On
this 81 day of January, \. ID. 1873, personally
appeared before me, the subscriber, a notary
public of the State Of Maryland, in and for
the city Of Baltimore, Mrs. -, and made
oath on the Holy Evangely Of Almighty God.
that she resides in the city of Baltimore, and
state Of MARYLAND; that from this time hence
forth and forever she viii never speak one
word of any kind TO her husband.
And she further made oath the Holy
EvaBgely Of Almighty God that if he here
after directly addresses one single word to
her. the said Mrs. -, she VIII at once
leave him and never again see him. And she
further made oath on the Holy Evangely OF
Almighty God that she viii never, from this