The San Francisco call., 1898-10-10


 JUNEAU, Alaska, Oct. 5, by steam ship Al-Ki to Seattle, Oct 9-The scenes of a superlatively romantic com edy-drama in real life, with all the gen. uine emotions and a touch of the tragi- cal to make it more thrilling, are shift ing about between three places-San Francisco, Juneau and Dawson City. The first act took place in San Fran cisco, Just one month ago to-day Then, as was related in The Call of Septem- Der 19, exclusively as now, a young Klondiker named Francois Pigeon en- tered, as unexpectedly as a meteor from heaven. the home of his fiancee. after an absence of two years in the KIon- dike, and found her welded but an hour to another He owns a claim on Bonanza Creek, and returned to lay the gold at her feet-the feet of Virginia Reiffel, tall and fair and false. She sWooned. He turned and left her.
 On the morning of October 1 the scene changed to Juneau. The curtain went up in San Francisco without an audi ence, but the climax is here. Among the passengers who trooped down the gang plank from the steamship Al-Ki were an earnest looking young Klon- diker and a tall, handsome. black-h haired girl in stunning costume, who hung fondly on his arm. Such a couple could not escape attracting attention, es- pecially as it was whispered among the passengers that they had had quite a romance. He registered at a hotel as U. Brunser and wife, Dawson City"
 That afternoon the scene shifted to a room characterized by books in leather binding and tables strewn with legal looking papers. Enter the same young man.
 T would like to have your attention" said he.
 Fire away" replied he of the musty
 Gan get a divorce for my wife from another man?"
 What!
 Yes that's it, She's married to an- other man and want to get a divorce for her.
 Young man, be more explicit. Do not trifle with the law, sir; the law in Alaska, for anon it arouseth itself and gOeth about like a roaring lion over coming the whisky seller with fear and trembling and semi-annual fine. Tell me all of your troubles sir"
 AS the young MT. Brunser of the hotel told his story, substantially as previous Iy related, he could not compose his feelings. Tears came into his eyes as they have into the eyes of many a lover. He told how Virginia the Vir- gtnia for whom he had toiled two long years and made fortune, had secret y sent for him at his hotel in San Francisco two days after she had mar Tied MT. Magalum; how she had wait ed long and patiently for him, had not received single letter, and, supposing he had forgotten her or his love had grown cold, had accepted the other man While even at the moment thinking of him in Alaska far away. Then she told him her heart was still his and ever had been; that she wouldn't live another minute with her lawful lord, and, weeping, that if he wanted her he could have her and she would go with him; that she despised herself more than faded ribbon or any old thing and she didn't care what happened to her; that 1t was all an awful mistake and she would throw herself into the bay and he could chuck his old gold in after her-so there!
 They cried together awhile like chill dren and then-but that was shown when they came happily together down the gangplank of the good ship Al Ki.
 This Alaska Blackstone advised that as the statute required a years resi- dence In Alaska for eligibility for di- Vorce, and as the young lady had not been in town more than four hours nor in Alaska much more than thirty-six, ! they were confronted by an obstacle | W HUI COulu IOL Dt legally removed. | Once more clouds settled darkly on the hearts of the young elopers.
 Complications are more mixed for the | reason, it is said, that the young hus- i band in San Francisco will fight a di- | vorce suit. The lover here said he was told by an attOrne-- in San Francisco ! that she could get a divorce here with but little delay, and, acting under that advice, they came on to Juneau, ex- pecting her to be speedily divorced and then become his bride
 I asked him this afternoon if his { name was BrunseT. He said No" and . avoided conversation. He evidently feels their position keenly. Their story leaked from the ship into the hotel and l the peculiar situation has won for them sympathy and friends even among those who do not know them. MT and | Mrs. Brunser conduct themselves with l quiet propriety Men raised their hats ! to them when they went out together; but they do not go on the street to- | gether now. The ladies in the hotel i speak pleasantly to her as they pass her in the parlor or halls. The happy, | yet more unhappy, couple do not know which way to turn or what to do so ! that they can be lawfully welded.
 He of the musty tonnes holds an opin- | ion that indicates, as the speediest way put of the dilemma, that the third and l last act of the drama will be played | In San Francisco with the curtain ris- Ing before a divorce court scene.