Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
A STRANGE ROMANCE.
John Dufrane's Kcn,arriage to the
Wife who ElOped from Him Many
Years Ago.

From the New York Sun
In 1853 John Dufrane a young and well-to-do
farmer of Mexican township, Erie county. Pa,
met at an evening party Miss Mary Johnson an
attractive and motherless girl. who acted as
hOusekeeper for her father. Young Dufrane
was afterward frequent caller ut Miss John
sons house, and. being a likely young fellow,
he found favor in the eyes of the girls father,
and was cordially received by the young mis-
tress Of the house. About this time young
sostherner, Orlando Ambercrombie, appeared in
the neghDorhood, and, being of excellent adj
dress became the lion of local society. Miss
Johnson fell in love with him. The intimacy
between Miss Johnson and the sOuthcrner has
tened the suit of young Dufrane. but. to his
great sorrow, his proposal was rejected by the
girl, although she told him that she felt hOnored
by his offer. Mary's father was greatly disap-
pointed and said so much on the subject that
she finally consented to marry Dutrane
A few days after the return from the wedding
trip Mrs. Dutrane received letter purpOrtinv
to inform her of the illness of a schOolnate in
Erie, who requested her immediate presence
With her husbands consent. she LETT home OS-
tensIbly on that ground. She failed to return,
and then it was learned that she had left Erie
in the company OF Ambercrombe The runaways
were traced to Niagara Falls. and there all
trace OF them were lost. After four years
young Dnfrane married an orphan girl in the
neighbOrhOOd. When the war broke out he
was among the first to enlist in one of the three
Ohio regiments. At the battle of Antietam Du-
frame was dangerously wounded. His young
wife found him in the cotton factory hospital in
Harrisburg, where, through her care, he was
restored to health Dufrane returned to his
regiment, and his wife to her home, but the ex-
posure and anxiety she had undergone planted
the seed of a fatal disease, and she died lust
after her husband had been honorably dis
charged.
About the same time the father of Dufrane's
truant wife died, leaving to Dufrane his estate
valued at S25, 900, with the request that Dufrane
should do all in his power to find the missing
woman. and, If found apart from her paramount
ana In needy circumstances, to make her COM
Portable. After search of several years Dutrane
had almost given up hope of ever hearing from
her, but recently letter came from her to a
friend OF her father. She was in Warren.
Through the intercession of her fathers friend
the executor Of the will went at once to War
rem. and there found the erriRg wife. Among
her papers was divorce decree granted by an
Indiana court from Dufrane and marriage
certificate showing her legal marriage to Amber
crombie. The brOken-hearted woman said that
Ambercrombie had engaged in the business of
supplying miners, at which he amassed for
tune, but drink and cards afterwards made him
poor. His abuse and neglect of her caused her
10 leave him five years ago. She then supported
herSel1 by working as a servant in hotels in
Denver and Chicago, and finally at Warren,
where she had been employed as servant in
private house. The killing of her husband in
gamblers quarrel in Denver last winter gave
her the freedom she had prayed for, and then
she wrote the letter referred to above
The truant wife was brought east and Du-
francs love for her was renewed Last week
they were remarked.