New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-29

reason of his youth. He was met with the asser-
ton that it too late for any proceedings to set
aside the marriage. because after the marriage the
bride instead of returning to her mother, had
aken passage for Boston with the groom one of
the night steamers on Long Island Sound. She
returned from Boston TO New-York the following
day. and he came on home to Augusta. This fact
was learned for the first time by Walker the boys
modesty having prevented my son James from
bringing il to my knowledge.
| propose next TO show by a somewhat minute
statement Of facts and dates the falsity OF the
assertion that Mrs Blame broke up the marriage
relations Of my son and his wife. She did not
see her daughter-in-law until May, 1887, eight
months after the marriage, when, being IN New
York the latter called upon her twice during her
two days stay. The next time she saw her was
a month later When about to sail for Europe
on the Sth of June she a single day In New
York and saw the young woman on taking leave.
At the end OF fourteen months we returned from
Europe and stopped two or three days in New
York We found that in our absence my son had
not Only spent his entire allowance, but that
he was deeply in debt. Ii was then arranged
tina: both my son and his wife should come down
TO Augusta and have their future determined at
a family council. They arrived in Augusta on
Saturday, the sth Of August. Mrs. Blaine was
absent from home on visit, and returned Mon
day afternoon the 10Th, so that she saw Jamess
wife for the first time in Augusta on the evening
Of August 20.
Within two or three days learned the details
of the dismal failure Of their New-lork life, and
after full consultation with Mrs. Blaine, and with
her free approval, | proposed that they should
come to live at Augusta and occupy our old home
/ had a summer house at Bar IIarbor, and as l
intended to spend all my winters IN Washington,
this house would be vacant if they did not occupy
it, The house being large proposed TO pay for fucl
and light and the wages of a man servant; and L
would furnish them with a horse and carriage
also assured them in addition the sum Of $500
year until my son should be able to earn an In
come Of that amount | made the proposition
while were sitting on the lawn, with my sons
wife but few feet distant My son went IND
mediately over TO her, and know he told her In
detail just what my offer was. Her reply was
that she would not stay in Augusta on any con
sderatiOn. He was very much disconnected py
her decision and for the first time informed his
mother and myself of his discomfort and unhappi-
ness. a fact which was not before KNOWN but
which was not received with surprise.
We then learned that during our absence in
Europe he had become gradually e>tranged from
her, and her refusal to accept the residence In
Augusta was merely the last OF a long series OF
disagreements which threatened 10 make their
united life impossible and which led finally to
separation. Disaster is the only legitimate con-
clusion Of such a marriage. During the two weeks
that my sons wife stayed at Augusta it became
patent to every member of my family and to every
visitor and 10 one more than myself, that
separation was the least disaster to he dreaded.
of ho,d do rturo wa mn
sons going t. Bangor at my request on Friday,
August 81, with some documents for which tele-
graphed Il was occupied with the campaign Of
State) and he continued with me to Ellsworth
where I was 70 speak Saturday, the lst OF
September. There being violent rainstorm, the
meeting at Ellsworth was postponed to Monday
September 3. James spent the interval at Bar
Harbor and I remained at Ellsworth. On Mon
day after the meeting James returned with me to
Augusta and arrived at II p. m, only to learn
that his wife had gone to New-York at 3 p. m,
eight hours before. She knew well that James
would he at home that night
Mrs Blaine had strongly disapproved OF her de-
parture and had earnestly urged her to remain.
Shc did NOT then dream that our son would not
follow = wife or that the imminent final separa-
ton would come soon but she deprecated the
angry and 10 MS at least, sudden departure and
the Journey 10 Ncw-York alone with the infant and
nurse She did not, however, suspect that the
young woman left with any less friendly feeling
toward herself than toward every othtr member
of the family except my son James
Finding the young woman determined to go, and
fore-eeing the difficulties in their path, since my
daughtcr-in-law utterly declined the provision |
made for their support, Mrs. Blaine repeatedly
bade her remember that she would at any moment
receive the child for any length of time-for one
year or three years ten years or for life that
he should receive-as all who know my wife will
believe-the very best and attention that she
would put his mother under no conditions what
ever, and that whenever she wished the child to
he returned TO her he should be sent The offer
was not accepted, but il was not declined. II ap
pearcd 10 he received in the same friendly spirit
in which it given. Thus my daughter-in-law
left my home the only home which my son could
provide for her She left behind her for my son
a note whose temper and tone are sufficiently in
dcated by single cNtr'ct:
"You knew when you left what the conse
qucnc, of your trip q Bir Iarbor would be-;
what business had you at Bar IIarbor? Why
did you not telegraph me and not let me lie
awake till nearly ! o'clock? You shall live to
regret all this. You have broken the greater
part of your prom: cs thus far and until you
learn to he truthful, You need not come near
me | am not here to have my affairs discussed
among the ncighbors. If you desire TO have any
with me you can address New
York Hotel" Signed simply Mary 'Nevins
Elaine
On reading this note my son declared u Will
not follow her, and told her would not when
she made the threat
Just forty-four days after this wilful departure
she returned TO my house accompanied by her
mother. Mrs. Ncvins, my grandson and his nurse
II the moment of their arrival there were
in the house only Mrs. Blaine, who WAS
ii and the servants Mrs Blaine at once arose,
dressed and went down stairs, having prevl-
nmsly instructed her maid TO do everything
yc,,Iiircd for their c0mlyt. This was the
a,iv time She ever met Mrs. Nevins Neither