Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-06-06
SALE OF A VIRGIN SOUL.
The Barter Of a Young Society Bellies
Honor.
The Birthstone Bargain Ola world-Seared
Mother. Sacrificing Her Flesh and Blood
on Lust's Altar to Keep Up Fashionable
Establishment.-The Story Of Eilice Lii
Iebridge.

..Did you read short piece, copied from a
Pittsburg paper, i'm tOday's Republican, re-
eartiing a father selling his daughter to a
fellow who was to take possession n her.
body and soul, when she became Sc enteen
years of age@'
"Yes."
swell, know of a much better case than
that, and genuine case, too, that happened
right here in st. Louis, and reached its cul-
mination last winter.
The speaker is well known man of the
city. who had met newspaper acquaintance
at the Southern one evening last week.
"Sit down and give me pointer" quoth
he of the pencil.
..Don't need to give you pointer. can
give YOU the whole story. am friend of
the family and can speak authoritatlyely
Tn 1867. Fred Lillebridge, one of the bright
est and best young business men in this city
married Ellice DOncaster, at her home in
Medford, Massachusetts,. The marriage was
PURE LOVE MATCH,
and A. Mrs. Lillebridge brought her husband
considerable money and, as said, he was
urosperous in business here, their future
promised TO be bright and happy one.
"After a short bridal trip Fred brought his
wife home to st. Louis, and they took up
their residence in tasteful home in the fash
ionable quarter of the city. Mrs. Lillebridge
was as handsome woman as you ever saw.
Bright. smart and well educated, she was Mt
ted for position of eminence in social cir
cles. and as her husband also was fond of
the whirl, they took position as leaders
among the highest of our sang azure social
circles. March IS, 1868, Mrs. Llllebridge
usbered into the world girl baby. know
the date because 1t devolved upon me to, as
a friend of the family to stand godfather
10 the Young miss, and to make her pres
ent on the anniversary every since, and as
her years grew the value of the presents
grew in proportion. God bless her pretty
face. Well, everything went smooth as
marriage bell. The husbands business
prospered; little Ellice, they named her af-
ter her mother,
ELLICE DoNCAsTER LILLEBRIDGE,
grew in beauty every day, and the wife was
the gayest and most admired, both for her
beauty and her brightness, of any young
matron of their clique. Five years passed
along like dream and then came the panic
of '7s. Fred's business had grown to large
dimensions, and, as he thought, firm basis.
Failure after failure came and still the
name of Lillebridge Il Co. was gilt-edge On
bank paper Finally, however, their losses
began to tell upon them, and the young hus
band found himself in perilOus situation
Even then | believe he would have pulled
through all right, but the anxiety and strain
upon his mind brought on an attack of brain
fever. and after a brief illness he died. His
funeral bell had hardly ceased resounding
when the firm of Lillebridge IL Co. as
signed for the benefit of their creditors.
was one of the assignees. Feds will, exc.
cuted the year of his marriage, gave his
wife everything of which he might die pos
sessed. and appointed me guardian of his
daughter until she arrived at eighteen years
of age. Their handsome home had been
decided to Mrs. Lillebridge when bought
and she had $4,000 of money of her own
which her husband had insisted she should
keep out of his business and in her OWL
name. She had placed the
WHOLE OF HER FORTUNE,
about $4,000, with this exception, in his
business. She very generously came for
ward and offered to place this sum of none!
at our disposal.
sWe, of course, did not take it. The cred
itors acted very generously, and, to make
long story short, when the affairs of the firm
were finally settled up, about three years af
forwards, paid dollar for dollar of their in
debtedness and left small dividend for thu
partners, that of the widows amounting Il
about $1,000.
Snow began the queer part of the busl
ness. At the termination OF her period o
mourning Mrs. L,llebridge blOssomed ou
into the gayest of young and blooming wid
ows Won ever met. had advised the sal
of the house and furniture at the time Q
Fred's death, but was given to understan
that she could manage her own affairs, an
the entire establishment, horses, carriages
and retinue of servants went right aiong a
II nothing had happened. This was,
course, sheer extravaganza, as her inc0m
from $1,000 would not pay One-fourth {
the expense, and every year she would haN
to encroach on the principal, but, as salt
when her mourning term expired, she bur
upon the social world again, and in elegal
equipages, dresses and entertainments 81
oUT-HERoDED HERoD.
sSince myrebuff about her affairs / had N
yentured to allude to her financial matter
although my visits to her and Ellice, and m
relations toward them socially, continued ;
before Fred's death. The widow became
her new position, more the rage than eve
and gallants, both young and old, hockt
around her standard. She gave none Il
preference, however, for long at time, an
although at this period knew of her havir
several good offers of marriage, appeared
enjoy her new position Of widow more ths
she had that of wife or maiden. Finally
breath or two of scandal regarding her
ings began to be waited about / was Sc
ously alarmed at this. and endeavored
trace the rumors down, but could never
rive at anything tangible. For the de
child's sake braced myself up TO again
mOnstrating with the widow, and this nT
we came as near quarrelling as two w
bred people can. Suffice it to say that ey
after this interview the charming wide
and were npon terms of
THE cHILLIEsT PoLITENEss.
She gave me to understand, however, VIII
Iventured to say that at her present rate
living she would not be able to give
daughter any education, and that, for
fathers sake, would take that upon II
self. that her income was received from
family in the East, and that she was abuI
antly able to care for Ellice in every "
necessary.