Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-05-21
FOR HER DEAR SAKE.
William Hughes an Exile For Love
of His Little Daughter.
A Father. Who Is TOrmented by the Slow
Processes OF English Law. Flees From
His Island Home to the Shores
or Free America.
IN Y. Herald.l

N Y. Heraldl
Slowly the great steamship Richmond
Hill steamed up the bay and was made
fast to her long wharf. At half speed she
had crossed the vast expanse of ocean,
and her passengers, many of them, were
glad when the gang-planks were run up
the side. One man, somewhat past his
prime, stood by the tall Bulwark and
wistfully gazc1 upon the wharf, soiled
with the earth of new world. His right
hand firmly clasped that of little girl,
who pressed close to HIM. Near them
were their w-passengers OF the steer
age, laughing and chatting as they WON
dered what was the next incident upon
their programme as emigrants. But of
them these two took little notice.
The little girl was an odd bit Of human
ity. She was scarce eight years, and
snail for her age; but her face was so
wise, so grave, that one would be temp ed
to believe her older. Her large brown
eyes were very wistful aud tender, and
often they roved from the busy people on
the wharf TO the tall, silent man beside
her.
Father" said she, after long pause,
"is this the land of our new homer"
Gently the man spoke to the child, say
ing: "Yes, Bertha, hurc are we TO find
among strangers n new home" The little
sprig of womanhool stroked, the biz
Drowned hand that held hers, and, looking
up, smiled sweely. Shc would comfort
him in the fashion of women when they
would comfort in silence.
A strange couple were they-so strange,
indeed, that during the fifteen days run
they attracted much attention, even
among the cabin passengers. One glance
told the story of circumstance; another
that the relation between them was that of
father and dau2 II was seen by those
who seldom observe that the father idol
lzeI the child and the child was
devoted to the father. All the pas
sage over he watched the little girl, and
was forever wrapping her i'm warm shawl
or i'll his own big coat. Indeed. VIII IN the
child was weary he carried her till
he had to rest himself, worn with fatigue.
Her talk amused him, and he delighted
TO tell others of her remarks whom she
slept. They were ell in all to each other,
and that was all they wished for. That
night when William Hughes boarded the
Richmond Hill at the London docks he left
strong arms. He had separated the child
from her mother, and he did what he could
TO take the mothers place.
Away from England, from scenes of
home no longer home for him, of love
overthrown, from courts of law and cease
less wo-.v Y, OF to c new land which was to
him unknown, save as an asylum for the
wretched and sorrowful. Sad was the
story William Hughes told Captain Hyde,
OF the Richmond Hill. Tears filed the
eyes OF the sympathetic passengers as
Hughes related his tale of domestic in
felicity and recounted his fears that his
little daughter might be taken from him.
He would lecome worried, nervous and
excited Is he spoke of the dangers through
which she had passed.
Pacing the deck one day, holding the
little girl by the hand, he SAID that his
wife AMI he did not get along well to-
gether, for things at bone were cross wise
and Mary and he were out. His tub of
human happiness sprung leak early in
the lalcyon days OF matrinony. 1t was
the old story. They fell out, he forgive
and they kissed again with tears. Peace
returned to go once more a-roving, and the
hearth was left dissolate.
William Hughs rel ated without reserve
he "unpleasantne s''of his home in Birm-
inghan; he also showed some papers in an
action brought by him in the divorce dfyi-
sion of the High Court of Justice. In his
troubles his one thought was for his little
daughter, and about her he worried much.
Her mother, Mary Dormes Hughes, also
fought for her, and the father says the
child shuEne1 her for him. Three times.
he declares, he fled petition for divorce
and made application for the custody of
the child, and every application was
denied, the respondent evading service
at least so he says.
Finally the respondent was served and
the cause was entered for trial. The rer-
istrar then entered an order for the peti-
toner to give security for the co Is and
the chorges of the respondents solicitors.
This the petitioner, being a poor man,
could not do, and the only prospect he had
in view was to be notified that if he did
not find the security for costs his applica-
ton woull he trickcn OF the list of cases
early in November. In the meanwhile tho
court refused to grant him permission to
see his Geld withou: the respondents con.
sent.
This was more than the father could
stand. His feelings mastered him, he put
the High Court of Jus. ices at defiance,
and. seeking cot bis daughter, seized her
in Birmingham and bore her away TO Lon
don. Upon entering his apartment he was
served with a notice to show cause why he
should not be committed for contempt 1t
was then the oath day OF March. The date
set for the hearing was the 30th.
Before the respondents counsel could be
heard upon The motion 10 commit William
Hughes for having taken by force little
Bertha Margaret Hushes cut of the GUS
tody of the respondent in contempt of the
honorable court, the sail Hughes was on
the briny deep. with his little daughter to
bear him company. In the language OF
the profane poet respondents counsel got
left on their costs, and William Hughes is
safe from commitment
Into new world have they come hand
in hand this father and little daughter,
ard all their fellow w-passengerS wished for
them season Of happiness ami prosper
ity.