Manchester Democrat., 1911-04-19

HappinesS Lasted Long.
The social world of the aristocratic
old place knew Nine. vespucci only
through the daily spectacle she pre-
sented as she drove out alone and in.
considerable state in her open car
riage behind the blooded Parish
horses. OF all the houses in Ogdens-
burg there was only one she ever en-
tered. That was a home on the op-
posite side Of Washington street,
where a gentle old lady received her
out Of sheer pity for the solitary state
Of the foreign woman who had elected,
to cut herself of from the companion
ship of her sex for the sake of the
man she loved.
That she loved Parish and that he
returned this affection in kind there
is no question. Happiness dwelt in
that home for decade, and the only
thing that marred the perfection Of
her life was the ostracism Of her sex.
and this seemed to fret her not at all.
She was young, beautiful and had
everything that went with great wealth
and came from a generous mans great
love. S,.
The men who were familiars in the
house had the greatest respect for her
and treated her as II her position was
socially unassailable. Possibly this
conduct had something to do with her
tragic end. for she gradually grew i'm
perious toward the members of her
masculine court, and more particularly
so toward the master Of the place and
Of her fortunes. This attitude finally
resulted one day, out Of her assurance
of the power she welded over Parish,
In her giving some orders concerning
the management OF the estate that
were directly opposite to Parish's
ideals on the subject.
With all the dignity and suavity Of
manner for which he was famous he
told her the time had come when she
must leave him and his house. He
suggested that Paris would be an ex-
cellent place for her to take UP resi-
dence in, and that he would. naturally.
provide for her SO that she might live
In the style to which she had been
accustomed. OF the effect of this ulti-
matum had on her subsequent events
showed. But at the time she was as
dignified as woman of her training
only could be.
Last Social Function.
She made one request. however, and
this he granted with his usual cour-
tesy, urbanity and generosity. This
was that before she left Ogdensburg
she might be permitted to give a fete
champetre for the poor children OF the
town, between whom and Nine. Ves-
plcci there had sprung up a great at
tachment.
From Montreal and New York Par.
ish summoned all the kinds CT per-
formers and shows that gave the form
Of entertainments sacred to such out.
door parties for children In the land
OF Nine. vespucci's youth. the land
that was to be the scene of her brief
exile. The lawns behind those gray
walls never were SO full of life and
merriment as on that day, which was
to mark the end of madame's reign.
All the men who were friends Of Par
ish and Nine. Vespucci took part In
the farewell. Father Mackey and DIR.
Peters were there, and for the first
time DIR. Miller, the Presbyterian
clergyman, entered the gateway and
met the mistress Of the establishment.
She hid the ache in her heart behind
a mask Of gaiety, and there are old
men and women in Ogdensburg today
whose eyes will tighten at the mem
ories Of the happiness that was theirs
that beautiful afternoon.
Then Nine. vespucci went away.
Paris became her home, but 1t was a
solitary and heart-breaking one for
her The letters she wrote to one Of
her old men friends in the Maple city
told of this solitude and this heart
break. She wrote to him at intervals
of two years; and then word reached
her friends that she was dead. OF
how great was her love for Parish
this brief record of absence from his
side bears witness. Beyond the stone
that marks her grave, in Pere-la-
Chaise, there exist no tangible rec
ords Of her in this country today. ex-
cept silver box marked with the
vespucci coat OF arms and packet
of letters she wrote in Paris.
AS for Parish, his life had more
glorious ending, 80 far as the exter-
nails were concerned. A short time.
after Nine. vespucci disappeared
from Ogdensburg Parish received
word that he had inherited through
his mothers family the title and the
lands Of Baron Won steftenburg in
Germany. Before he left New York
for Germany he destroyed the tradi-
ton that the men Of his family never
married by wedding a Mrs. Randolph
of New York, widow, who had been
one Of his lifelong friends and who
accompanied him to his castle in Ba-
varia, but did not accompany him to
Ogdensburg on his one return to that
town. His house, slightly altered and
with the surrounding wall removed,
is now owned by George Hall, mag
nate and former mayor Of Ogdens-
burg.