St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-31
THE eEsERYorR TRAGEDY.

ana social dlStinctlOn, Deln9 the ueseeuuanl
of President MADISON. Like a great many
other people in that section the war left her
family destitute of the wealth they once en-
ioyed, aud she found herself thrown upon
her own resources. That she met her situa-
ton with true womanly pluck is to her
credit, for she was earning her livelihood by
filling the situation of governess in family
who lived in section of the state remote
from her own home. It is just here that
FANNIE MADISON failed in the crisis which
marks every woman's career who is forced
to rely upon her own efforts. Leaving home
to go among strangers with perhaps but
little discipline to endure the trials of self
support, she did as it is so natural for any
woman under similar circumstances to do.
looked somewhere for stronger hand to
lean upon. This instinct in woman is often
the greatest source Of danger to her. The
danger lies in the direction which this i'm
pulse leads her. Love lays hold of the near
est mate In LILLIAN MADIsoN's case the
object of her sentiment was one to whom it
most naturally giavitated-a young man of
her own age whom she had known from
childhood, with whom she had been con-
stautly associated as the playmate of her
girlhood days and of her own family stock
Long ago. back in her school days, she has
told her roommate at Burlington seminary.
in that confidence which every seminary girl
knows something of, that if she was
married she knew of but one person
in the world she would be willing
to marry and that was Tom CLUvERIUs. Her
school days are over, her collegiate course is
finished, she steps forth into the world in the
full maturity of splendid womanhood, adorned
with the charm of personal beauty. intellec-
tual attainments, social distinction-but,
alas, she is poor. She feels her dependence.
Her womanly am bition to shine in society for
which she feels she is qualified by birth and
education is choked by her condition of pow
erty. Naturally she becomes disconnected
with her situation, but she evinces the true
metal of her family stock by the determine
ton to make her own living in the world.
Just at this critical point in her history the
shadow of CLUvERIUs falls across her path
way. He sees in the dependent woman's eye
the favor she felt for MIN. His vanity is
fiattered by the discovery. And although at
other lady he yielded to the momentary
temptation. A lesson for young men to be
drawn from this chapter of the story is, that
one base act opens the door in rapid success
sion for still baser ones. as was abundantly
illustrated in the case of young CLUvERfUs,
1Uhn M 10 chpc in ha Ri0hr oil
awaiting trial on the triple charge of seduc-
ton, robbery and murder. Tom CLUvERIUs
is handsome young man who had been
adopted by a wealthy widowed aunt had
been literally educated and had chosen the
law for his profession. FANNIE had loved
him from childhood. Her heart expanded
under the influence of his smile as the bud
becomes a flower beneath the rays of the sun.
The ties by which she was bound to
him were the growth of years and en-
braced all the strength of her whole being.
And when CLUvERIUs in the falsity of
his treacherous heart told her that he loved
her she had reached the pinnacle Of her hope
and happiness. What dangerous position
for young woman in the power of a base
mani The mother watching her sleeping
babe has an exclusive joy beyond the COM
prehenson of ali hearts but her own. The
wife who Is graced by her husbands love is
more beautifully arrayed than the lilies, and
en- vies not the diadems of queens. But to
the Young virgin heart, more than all, when
the kindling inspiration of its first and sa
cred love is accompanied by a knowledge
that for it In return there burns holy flame,
there comes an ecstasy OF the soul, raptur-
GUS exaltation, more divine than will ever
again be tasted this side of the perennial
fountains of paradise. The stars grow bright
er, the earth more beautiful, and the earth
for her is filled with q delicious melody.
Upon this sphere of her happiness she con-
centrates all the wealth, the unsearchable
riches of her heart, and stakes them all upon
the single hazard If she loses all is lost; night
and darkness settle down upon her pathway
1t was so with poor LILLIAN MADISON
Though poor and dependent, yet she
loved and believed she was beloved. 1t was
enough she was content. And it has been
so with hundreds of other young won en- who
committed the treasures of their heart to the
keeping Of base hands. The est of Miss
MADIsoN's story is told in the details of the
tragedy. Bv appointment she meets her false
lover in Richmond to insist upon his max
ing the only atonement that can be made to
the heart broken woman for violated vows and
wanton perfdy. Together they go out in the
stiffness OF night beyond the limits of the popu-
lated part of the city and halt by the side of
an old reservoir on q hill overlooking the
city. A laborer passing by at 10 o'clock
hears angry voices and recognizes one as
that Of woman speaking in reproachful
! tones. What occurred subsequent to that is
the secret of the chill wintry winds that
| swept by. When morning broke the dead
body of the betrayed young woman doated on
the lake The man was gone.
It matters nothing whether or not it was
by the hand of THOMAS CIUvERIUs she was
thrown into the water, he is her murderer.
Her death is crime which rises in q
mountain OF blackness against the
soul Of the betrayer of innocence Here
is lesson for young men who are disposed
TO treat lightly the virtue of woman.
CLUvERIUS was what is known as n society
man. He had in common with too manv
young men of this generation easy notions
respecting the character Of female virtue.
There are perhaps thousands of other young
men in the land to-day who are unconscioUsly
drifting into the same channel which bore
! CLUvERIUs on to the ruin which has befalleu
him in the spring time of his life. There i:
also lesson for young women. With ten
der aud susceptible minds, looking forward
30 life filed with honor and delight and not
a cloud within the scope Of vision, young
woman should be guarded lest her very limo
Cence be the cause of her falling prey to he
ruthless hand Of the seducer. UnguardeG