Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-26
A SINGULAR STORY.
The Misfortunes and Adventures
j OF a Young Rancher.
a Californian Who Lost His Reason For.
gets on Recovery That He Was Mar
ried and Fails to Recognize tho
Girl He Loved.

A strange story comes to the Los Angeles
Tribune from the little village of Goleta4
Santa Barbara County. 1t would make
plot for a drama Of thrilling and pathetic in
terest- The parties are well known IN the
community where they reside. though near
" all the events occurred elsewhere The
names published herein are fictitious for
obvious reasons, but the facts are youchea
for by responsible citizen.
Maurice Long was popular young
rancher IN Kern County IN 1878. He was
then about twenty-three years Of age, and
possessed a herd of cattle and about FIVE
thousand acres of land. 4 young lady, the
daughter of a wealthy merchant IN Bakers
field, was one day led to the altar by the
young gentleman, and returned with him to
his ranch as Mrs. Long.
The young couple were as happy as mar
ried people in the books are alleged to be,
and every thing looked bright for the tut
ure of their coy home IN the foothills.
Life, always charming to the young, was
particularly rosy tinted to Mr.. and Mrs
Long. Suddenly dark pail was spread
over the life of Maurice, for the young wife
sickened and died. The remains now lie in
Bakersfield cemetery by the side of the
mother she lost IN her early childhood
Life lost all its hope to Mr.. Long when
his beautiful wife was taken. He could not
endure the loneliness of his ranch life, and,
finding purchaser, sold every thing, de-
termined to leave California and cut him.
self loose from all the tender memories of
his young manhood. Remaining for brief
period at the house of his father-in-law, he
shortly went to the home of his parents, in
the Santa Clara Valley, near San Jose. I'm
al lie to shake off his grief, he sank finally
iuto a melancholy, from which his friends
f,ea red he would never recover. BY per-
sist ent efforts and the care of a judicieus
physician, the young man was partially re-
stored, but the condition of his mind was
still uncertain. At times the unsteadlneSs
Of tuS reason manifested itself in foolish
imbe cility. Apparently he recovered, how
ever and went to Chico and located IN that
little city, opening a feed and sale stable.
Business prospered, and encouraging re-
ports ca n e to the Santa Clara home in the
occasion al letters received by the parents.
Finally one came announcing his mar
rage to a young lady Of that city. Scarce-
" year hal passed since the death Of his
wife on The Kern County ranch, and, al
though his friends were surprised at the
announcem, IN t, remembering his fondn6s
for her and his grief at her decease. they
strangely en- Ou gh regarded the second mar
riage as a fu rther evidence of restored
reason. Six months more passed, during
which all reports and single visit satisfied
the anxious frieh DIS that Mr.. Long was in
perfect mental a nd physical health. One
day painful tele gram from his wife an
uouncing tho sud- en- wreck of their sons
h. Il
San Jose. Going 10 answer to the message
to Chico, the terrible truth of the calamity
forced itself upon i'm, for his son was
raying maniac.
With heavy heart. the father conveyed
Maurice Long to Stoc kton and placed him
in the insane hospital. The examining ply
sician pronounced him hopelessly insane.
The young wife return ed to her parents.
A few months later size gave birth to a
child. When she had grown strong she
visited her husband at the asylum in the
vain hope of sign OF rec pe nitlon or an evil
dence of affection. A brother remained at
Chico conducting the business. Visits were
made from time to time by the friends of
the unfortunate patient, bu;, they always re-
turned more saddened than ever at his con-
dition.
the joyful intelligence was re Cesved by old
Mr.. Long that his son seemed in a fair way
to recover. The news was aim O.jt too good
to believe. Careful nursing for six weeks
followed, and the physician sent word that
the wife and friends might visit ilin, but
with this statement came the staI- ling in
telligence that Maurice Long had al 3olutely
forgotten all events that had transplred
Al. \ oh off hf1,i ol
of his wife at Bakersfield. Thinkin 2 her
presence would restore her to his me- nory,
the faithful little mother at Chico went to
the hospital, carrying with her the boy,
now nearly two years Of age. The res der
can imagine her terrible grief when she
saw before her the face Of her husband nd
beheld in it all the evidence of restored int FL
lect. but no recognition of his spous e.
Vainly she recalled the events Of the n
courtship and marriage, and despairingbY
she held before hun the chubby-faced baby
The poor man hung his head in despair, ur-
able to remember any thing that she sought
to bring to his attention.
The death Of her husband in his imbecility
would have been easy to bear in comparison
with the terrific fact which here confronted
her. Almost wild with grief she returned 10
her home in Chico. Six weeks longer the
poor man stayed ct Stockton, gradually
gaining strength. The little woman came
no more to see him. The father, the brother
and the physician by degrees convinced him
Of the truth of the story Of his marriage and
the birth of his son. When he was released
ne repaired to Chico and accepted the stu
alton as a truth established in his mind by
testimony but not experience. He took his
wife and child. and selling his business re-
moved to Goleta. Association with the
woman who bore his name and the child
who called him papa entwined his affection
around them. These strange events &C
Cured seven years ago. The couple have
resided on their pretty little ranch at
Goleta nearly that length of time. 70 all
appearances the man and wife are one.
They never refer TO their terrible sorrow,
but each strives to forget the awful past
and live in the present It is a strange
story. The neichbors know nothing Of the
circumstances. The gentleman who gives
this information was resident Of Chico at
the time referred TO and familiar with al
the narrowing details, having learned them
directly from brother Of the hero Of the
story.
They We're a Host
When Gambetta came into power he was
much annoyed by beng obliged TO recog-
z ne many Of his former associates who
were rather CT On unsaTory character.