The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-21

porter was kindly introduced to Mrs. Cas-
signeul by Judge A. II. Ieake. her c0uns J.
who has been indciatigable in behalf of The
unfortunate French girl, who has scarcely
passed her first score Of years.
BEAUTIFUL As 4 GREEK GODDESS.
The reporter made known his mssioa
ana with no little persuasion induced heI
TO tell her story to THE TIMES. A. she
sat in her snug little home, deserted bp
the one who had been dcarer than life itsesi
10 her. yet nobly battling with cold cil-
cumstancos she made picture that would
not soon be forgotten. Beautiful as Greek
/ goddess, yet upon her lovely, snowy white
features could be plainly seen the traces Of
sorrow, disappOintments, and conscious
ness Of wrongs.
In graceful folds about her perfect, well
rounded figure was dark. costly mantle
Of French design. Her intellectual brow
was becOmingly Ornamenied with jet black
tresses, and a pair Of big brown eyes told
! the story OF her grief.
HER SORROWS HARD 10 BEAR.
/ Among her ornaments were magrifccnt
set OF diamonds, which were her husbands
! bridal gift. When the subject Of her sorrows
was referred TO-, the gayety and yiyacity
/ characteristic OF typical French belle,
and which she had naturally INDUCED IN
/ for The moment, suddenly departed, and as
/ her great eyes filled with tears, she said
! IL 40 not like 20 think of my troubles, sir,
/ for they have been so many and 50 hard To
/ bear.
"My husbands parents were opposed to
our marriage. and we decided to run away
/ to London and get married. aud then travel
! in North America for while. He preceded
me TO London, pretending TO his grand
| father that be was going there on business
I l.g Mts
mother knew Of my arrangements. and
gave me my dover as we call II, which was
about $1,000 in United States money. All
my husband had was what his grandfather
/ had given him 10 pay his expenses on the
/ trip.
| MARRIED BY A CATHOLIC PRIEST.
We were married under the laws Of
Great Britain and by Catholic priest.
which am so glad / did, for it remains
valid in our country, for you know 1t is a
/ Catholic country.
We then proceeded 10 America t0 travel
as long as my money would last. My nus
band seemed perfectly happy. and was oh !
so very happy. for | consented 10 be his
wife from pure motives. | loved him dearly
aud never once thought of his money, be-
cause had other opportunities TO marry
men lust as wealthy as he was.
ON the ocean steamer, before we reach
| ed New York, my husband made the ac-
1uaintance of gentleman whose name ]
have forgotten, who urged us to 20 to IT.
ginia. He gave such glowing description
of the Old Dominion, as he called It, that
NV husband was perfectly wild to come
! here and buy a farm and live on it. lie
gaye him the natle Of real estate agent. ]
demonstrated with my husband, and said
you are not a farmer, what do you want
| with "A farm But he would not listen 10
me. and when we reached New lork
he IN once wrote TO the agent aud all the
arrangements were perfected for us TO come
here.
THEY REACH RICHMOND.
We reached Richmond on the 20ih oi
september. 1850, and went to Fords Hotel
where we were met by the agent ana at
once conveyed to this place They say II
contains 209 acres. for which my husband
paid 81 300. lie paid 500 at once Win my
! money and the balance was 10 be pala az
( the end Oftiye years. We lived happily Tor
while. bus my husband spent money lust
the same as if he was with bis father, ana
I our stock soon gave out. Ills father would
moi send him money. tor he was very angry
with him on accOuntOf his marrying me anl
| had said he would disOwn and disinaerli
him.
When our money gave out my hus-
band became dissatisfied, and was
very disagreeable. saying be was poor
ON my account. Finally his grand
father. Mr. MariuOni, sent him Sl,-11. ana
he 50 On spent that, but we were AFRAID 10 go
back 10 France. ON account of his parents.
When that money was spent his grand
father sent ls $500. lie spent ailoi II MIN
self for would not tOucn 1t, for his people
had said thai married him on account ol
his wealth. and wanted 90 show them thit
did not waut to use his money.
WOULD GET ANGRY AND STRIKE HER.
When the last sum gave out my husband
WAS very disagrceabie and would sometimes
get angry and strike me. The nrst time ne
did that il wounded my feelings very much.
Our home life was one Of both sunshine ana
.aorm. Sometimes we would give concerts
Ia our kind neghbOrs. ] would sing ana
Paul would play on one OF his Instruments
Of which he had several, his laNorile Delhs
the bass vi0l.
We lived together here about eighteen
months. During the latter part oi That time
nv husband became very dissatisfied. lie
said he wanted TO 20 back home, where ne
would not he poor.
AN EXPORT TO SEPARATE THEM.
Although | did not know it at the t'me'
but have since learned that he was carry
AnU on a tNTltS IfVlutbAt WIN H''
ahout going back aud leay ng me. also
afterwards learned that his father had
written 10 a representative Frenchman al
Washington to send down here aud take hlH
son away from me
That Frenchmau owes my husbands
grandfather near $2000J. and he was COM
peled TO obey him. On the 10Th day Oh last
! April my husband received a telegram from
Richmond, saving that he was wanted there
4. | off a. a Hfl-
that II was sent by a man named Leon ~.
| Gpueste. of W ashingtOn. who had been en-
| cageG by the Frenchman 10 come mere
and get my husband and take MN
! away.
WANTED TO LEAVE HIS WIFE.
lie wanted 10 go at once and leave
mo here. but would not stay, and went
with him. When we reached klch-
,nnnd fms Geneste told me TO stay
/ in the depot. that he wished 10
/ take Mr.. Casagneul aside and speak 10
/ him privately. | replied that he was ny
! husband. and w1at concerned MN con-
cerned his wife also, and | would not le'
/ them leave me. ~, ..i..,.,
/ We then went 10 Fords liOtei' "h,Is
Gepeste exhibited a batch OF papers ana
| told me 10 sign them. | refused. saying !
did not know what they were. theh tllrh-
/ ed to my husband and demanded 10 know
| what il all meant. But he pretended 10
know nothing ABOUT it, but he aid, ana l
/ afterwards found out they were papers
giving my consent 10 divorce.
"sTRUCK AND ABUSED ME-"
Again Geneste insisted upon my signing
the papers, but positively declined to Go
| n whereupsn. he threatened me and hnaliy
struck and aDused me shameiully, Snd
what hurt me more than the blows, con-
tinued the unfortunate gIrl after pause
was that my husband, VINO had soleemnil
vowed TO protect me, stood unmoved ahu
saw that man strike me, and didn't raise
his hand in my defence. The recoiirctmn
of this was even TOO much for this brave
little woman, and covering her face win
her hands she gave way 10 her grief. In
moment she brushed the tears from her
yes and remarking that she was ashamed
IN eyince so much feeling for one so un
worthy, continued with her story.
ABANDON THEIR scHEMF.
became furious with anger and vowed
If either of them dare touch me again
H.s,t1 - alar,n the hotel and expose their bru