The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-25
BOUNDED TO DEATH.
A Man Pays an Awful Penalty
for a Misalliance.

There died at Ellis, Kans., a few days
ago man with a strange and eventful his
tory. About his death there was something
of the supernatural and uncanny, and the
people, while they gave a decent burial to
the body, were evidently glad when the
last rites were performed. A few weeks
before he died there came to Ellis mystic
rIous colored woman, who went to his
house. She attended him through his i'll
ness and when he died she washed and
dressed the body. She then left the town
as mysteriOusly as she came. He was
known as John Wakefield, although no one
believed that to be his true name
lie came to Ellis fifteen years ago. and
ever since then he has led the life of re-
cluse. He repulsed all ATTEMPTS to as soeiate
with him. He never lacked money, and his
little cottage was fitted up in an elegant
manner. With but one person did he be-
come always intimate, and that was an old
stote-keeper named Hanson. To him Wake
field took liking, and Hanson, although
poor and uneducated seemed 10 find place
IN the hermits affections. a bout two weeks
before Wakeheld'S death le sent for Han
son. He did not appear to be seriously ILL
but Wakefield told Hanson that he was
going to die He said that he wanted to
ease his mind by telling some one the story
of his life.
He said in substance that he was South
CLbCls LIS WdS dli dElSLOCIdllc
lily of New Orleans. In 1865 he was gradu-
ate of the University of Virginia and
adopted the law as his profession. He ap-
parently had a brilliant career before him.
One day there came to his office handsome
Quadroon woman who wished to consult him
on matter of law. He took the case, hich
was tedious one, and attended to it for
mouths. During this time he met the
weman's daughter. She was superbly
beautiful octoroon, the daughter of u rich
planter who lived near the city before the
war. The girl was educated and refined,
and Wakefield was at once fafcinated with
her.
The girl returned his passion and the two
met frequently during the absence of the
mother. There was the usual result When
the quadroOn mother learned the woeful
fact there was a terrible scene in Wake
fields Office. She swore she would have
vengeance and would pursue the man who
had marked her daughters life to the ends
OF the world. Wakefield tried in vain to
pacIfy her. He saw no more of the girl,
and she, loving him with the passion OF her
race, died of a broken heart. The mother
was crazed with gaief and called Wakefield
the murderer OF her child.
Wakefield remained in New Orleans only
few months after the girl died. During
that time he saw the mother every day.
She would come to his Office every day and
stand staring at him with eyes filled with
misery, while she never uttered a word.
Al hlSuI lie would meet her Wherever he
went, and it was always the same. She
would simply look at him without saying a
word. AT parties or balls he would see her
al the door, and she seemed always to know
his movements. Finally in sheer despera-
tion he moved to Louisville, KY, in nore of
getting away from those awful eyes. Within
week he met the woman at the door of
his office. Then followed a repetition of his
New Orleans experience. She followed
him with the persistence of a hound. From
city 10 city he went seeking relief, but the
quadroon was always at his heels
The punishment became terrible. He
tried to buy the woman of. but she was
blind and deaf 10 all argument. At last,
ten years after he had done the woman the
wrong, she entered his Office and told him
that she would leave him on one condition :;
that was that he should bury himself to the
world and live the life of recIuse TO the
end of his days. There was no alternative
and he accepted the terms. Then she said
that within week of his death he would
see her again. She said that il was impos-
sible for him to escape her.
Wakefield came to Ellis and began his
solitary life. He knew that in some myster-
ious way she kept track OF him. About a
week before he died she came, true to her
promise. She asked no questions but went
to his house. What passed between them
no one knows, bat she nursed him until he
died, and, as before stated, nysteriously
disappeared.-Fort Ellis Special to Fort
Worth Gazette