Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-28
MRS. RAYS ROMANCE.
How 1t Came that She was Thrice Mar
ried and had Husbands Only Twain.

Birmingham. Ala. Correspondence New York SUM-
In the office of justice Of the peace in this
city this week there was q wedding which was
the ending of @ remarkable romance in real life.
About twelve years ago Marion Ray, a young
farmer living near Warrior, in this county, was
married to Mary Greene. Before her engage
ment to Ray, Miss Greene had received some at
tention from another young farmer in the neigh
borhood named Charles Parker. Shortly before
the marriage of Ray and Miss Greene, Parker
went to Texas, and soon afterward married in
that state. The married life of Mr. and Mrs.
Ray was pleasant enough, except that he would
drink heavily, and when under the influence OF
liquor he was insanely jealous.
About two years after his marriage the wife
OF Charles Parker died at their home in Texas,
and few months later he returned to Ala
bama. A few days after his return Parker
called to see his old friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Ray.
He found the former absent from home when
he arrived. He had been in the house only a
short time. however, when Ray came home
very drunk. Remembering that Parker was
once a sutton for his wife's hand, Raw at once
became wild with jealousy. He attacked Par
ker, who fed from the house, but was pursued
and shot down by the drunken and enraged
husband. Parker was badly wounded, and was
removed to the house of Ray, who was arrested
and jailed soon after the shooting. While her
husband was in Jail Mrs. Ray nursed Parker
until he recovered. Ray was tried for assault
with intent to murder, convicted, and SEN
fenced to five years imprisonment in the coal
mines. Parker appeared at the trial as the
prosecuting witness.
Under the laws of Alabama, two years in state
prison is sufficient ground for divorce, and Mrs.
Ray availed herself of this law to secure legal
separation from her husband. She had one
child, and after her husbands arrest she was
compelled to earn her living. A few months
after she obtained divorce from her first hus-
band she was married to her former lover,
Chas. Parker. This marriage seems to have
been happy one, and one child was born to
Mr.. and Mrs. Parker. About two and half
years after this marriage Parker died suddenly,
and his wife was left penniless, with two children
to support. Mrs. Parker could find little to do
in the country, so she came to Birmingham. and,
as dressmaker, was able4o earn q living for
herself and children.
After his sentence Ray never wrote to his
wife or held any communication with her.
Through friend he learned that she had got
a divorce, but he did not seem at all affected
by the news. He served his term in the mines
and then came to this city, where he secured
employment. He never went back to the
neighborhood where he formerly lived and
made no inquiry about his wife and child. He
had never heard of his former wife's marriage
to Parker.
A few months ago Ray became Waterman
at a railroad crossing in this city. One day a
little girl was crossing the railroad tracks as a
freight train was approaching. She became
frightened and confused and stood still 1t was
an easy matter for Ray to pick the child up in
his arms and carry her out of danger. This
done, it was but natural that he should ask the
name of the child. She answered promptly,
Minnie Ray" This answer caused Ray to ask
the child further questions, and it soon dawned
on him that he was talking to his own daugh-
ter. A few days later Ray called at the home
of his former wife. The recognition was mu-
tual, and soon the old love was kindled anew.
The result was the wedding this week.