Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-05
A STORY FULL OF ROMANCE.

In The fall of 1874 8 young woman belong
ing to one of tho best families of this coun.
ty, and related to Il gentleman high in gov
ernment councils and with national repu.
tatiou, while visiting a married sister in
New York City, met and fell in love with a
young man then connected with mercan-
tile house Of that city. She was but six
teen years old, but very handsome and
highly accomplished She promised to
marry the young man, but kept her attach
ment and engagement from her family, as
she knew they would nos countenance the
choice she had made.
Her aliianced was poor, and had moth
ing to recommend him 10 the girl but
his handsome person. He finally in
duced her to consent TO a secret marriage,
assuring her that he would put forth every
effort to provide IL home ior her as soon as
possible, when they would make their mar
riagc known and enjoy their happiness.
The secret was kept for two years, the
young wife living at home, aud meeting her
husband al her sisters and other places ap-
pareutly as ii mere acquaintance. In 1876,
however, it became necessary tor the mar
riage to be made known, as the young wife
was about to become q mother The hus.
band had not yet succeeded in providing
home for his wife, and she knew nothing
about his family or antecedents. In the
summer of 1877 he visited his wife at her
mothers, and carried to herthe joyous news
that he had at last established himself prom
isingly, and had rooms ready to receive
her u New York. a few days later the
couple started for the city. At Paterson
the husband told his wife that lie had some
business TO transact III that city, and that
they would stop over night there. lie en-
ga.ed quarters al Il hotel. 1t was the Gus
tom ot himself aud wife to drink a glass OF
ale together in the evening, and this even
ing he ordered two glasses sent TO their
room. He met the waiter at the door with
il. Thinking Of ii atterward, his wife re.
membered that lie stood with his back to
her some time after taking the ale and dis
missing the waiter, and that when he ap-
preached her with the glass his manner was
unusual, and that his face was pale. She
asked him ii ne was i'll, but he laughed at
the suggestion, and offered her the glass Of
ale. She took il, aud, after holding it in her
band III oment, placed it on the table, saying
that she already had headache, and she
cared that the ale would make il worse ifshe
irauk il. Size bad no suspicion u anything
wrong, but simply seemed to take IL dislike
to the idea Of drinking the ale, and her hus.
band could not induce her TO do SO. he
finally took both glasses aud poured their
contents into the slop Jar. He then went
out and did not come back Till late He
was intoxicated.
The next morning the young wife was
the first to arise. In moving her husbands
clothing from /. chair a vial dropped from
pocket, and rolled on the floor -he picked
ii mp. 1t was empty, but the sight OF IT
recalled her husbands singular conduct Of
the evening before, and the horrible thought
took possession of her that he had attempt
ed 10 poison her. She awoke him at once,
and begged him to relieve the agony Of her
mind BY denying that there was any ground
for her fears Ho was startled at first, but
at last acknowledged that he had brought
her 10 the hotel to poison her aud himself at
he Samo time, and told her for the first
time that he was i'll no business, had no
home for her, and no prospect of one. He
told her he was tired of life, but he could
not bear to die and leave her to be happy
with some one else. For that reason he
had resolved to kill her rs we'll as himself.
He had written letter to that elect, and
il was in his coat pocket, addressed to
his brother Horrifed, his wife found the
| letter, tore i open, and read the facts as
her husband had stated. The latter arose,
dressed himself, and went out, leaving bis
wife half unconscious on the bed. RecoV-
| ering herself after while, she resolved to
ny. She dressed herself and, hurrying to
| the railroad station, took the first train for
| New York. She reached her sisters house
| in ,bn city more dead than alive. Her child
was bora that night and lived but few
hours. She found that her husband, al.
though Of good family, was shiftless and
worthless, aud had been cast Oft by his
people. She had taken with her from the
Paterson hotel the letter her husband had
written to his brother declaring that he IN
tended to kill her, and this was most etiec-
tive testimony in the divorce proceedings
| she subsequently, instituted. \ divorce WAS
granted her in 1880, and is all the test-
mouy was taken iy a referee, the matter
never became public. 4 few days ago the
/ heroine Of the unfortunate secret marriage
was married again, this time to gentleman
of wealth and position and we'll known
politically throughout the State. He be-
cane acquainted with her and sought her
hand through hearing her romantic story
| from relative of hers, one Of the very ie"
who were then acquainted with the facts.