The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-29
With entire secrecy contrivcd by herself md
with MI tho instrnmentaiities Of her device
COfnf1fets and Ayact

Win WI tAe Observation-Disclosures or net AeVics
complete and exact.
Ny eldest son. Walker, went to New
YORK to see II the marriage WAS not invalid
or could not be annnied. He Was met
with the aaaertion That 1t was too late for
amy proceedings to eet aside tho marriage.
next purpose to show the fasity of the aa-
seftlon that my wife broke up the marriage
relations OF my son and his wife. Before
We sailed for Europe, in June. 1887, Mrs
Elaine met hor daughter-in-l but three
times Fourteen montha later when we re-
turned we found that our son. In our alb
senoe, had not only spent his entire allow
ance, but was deeply iii debt. At Il family
council III Augusta learned the details of
the dismal failure Of their New York life
and proposed that they should take our
Augusta home, paying for light fuel, ser-
want, and furnishing horse and carriage, in
| addition to assuring them of sb2, 500 a year
until my son was able to earn m income Of
That amount. His wife replied that abe
would not stay III Augusta on any consid-
Grafton. He was very much Disconnected
by her decision and for the first time i'll
formed his mother and myself of
learned that he had been gradually
estranged from her and this refusal was
merely one of a long series of Disagree
ments which finally led to their separation.
'Ihe Immediate cause of her departure from
Augusta, was the fact that my son, at my
campaign trip. He did not 90 home as
soon na he expected to, and when he re-
turned found that she had left for New
! York eight hours before. Mrs. Blaine
strongly disapproved Of her departure, ear
nestly urging her to remain. She did not
then dream that our son would not follow
his wife, or suspect that the latter LETT with
any less friendly feelings toward herself
than any other member Of the family.
Foreseeing difficulties in the path Of the
young couple, she told her daughter r-in-law
before she left that she would, at any mo-
lnent receive her grandchild for any length
OF time. for life il necessary. and give him
the best OF care and attention, an offer
neither accepted nor declined. Before leav-
ing, she left note for her husband the
temper and tone of which was sufficiently
indicated by single extract: "You knew
when you left what the consequence Of your
trip to Bar Harbor would be. What bust
ness had You at Bar Harbor? Why did you
not telegraph me and not let me lie awake
TIL nearly four O'clock? You shall live to
regret all this. You have broken the
greater part of your promises thus far and
until you learn to be truthful need not come
near me. am not here to have my affairs
discussed among neighbors. If you desire
to have communication YOU can address
New York Hotel. This was signed simply
Marion Neyins Blaine.''
On reading this note my son declared.
II will not follow her, and told her would
not when she made the threat Forty
four days after this wilful departure she
returned to my house, accompanied by her
mother. my grandson and his nurse. AL
the moment of their arrival there we're in
the house only Mrs. Blaine. who was ill,
and the servants. Mrs Blaine at once
arose and went down stairs, having preyi-
ously instructed her maid to do everything
required for their comfort This was the
only time she ever met Mrs. Nevins. Neither
lady advanced to greet her. no hand was
extended to her, but from Mrs. Nevins,
seconded by her daughter, came charges
against her son and herself soinsultinp and
violent that servant was called in for the
frankly expressed purpose of acting as a re-
straint upon tho elder visitor On this
brief stay Of two weeks with US. and on this
one last visit OF two hours, rests all supstall-
tlation OF the statements of the judge at
Deadwood.
with Mrs. Blaine in the event of the return
Of her daughter-in-iaw, and she acted upon
my advice. Not word since the separu-
tion has been written by her, nor has she
seen my sons wife, except on the street in
New York, when not word was exchanged
between them. My son was entirely free
No restraint was attempted, desired or
needed to ensure separation. On the day
of HIS wife's departure he was as strongly
determined RS on tile day of her divorce
not to resume relations with her. Far be
it from me to hold my son blameess though
all things considered / hold hlm more
sinned against than SHINING but his mother
at no time in thought, word or deed at
tempted to separate man and wife. On the
contrary, she did not fail by liberality of
consideration and extenuation to foster in
every practicable way their happiness, If
happiness to them had been possible.
JAMES G.. BLAINE.