Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-31
Section IL.
Romance Of The Female Stranger

man. was boarding at "Gadsby's Tav-
err" and it is from him the following
story was obtained. II was in the
latter part Of July of that year, that
an Englishman and his young wife
arrived at Gadsby'S. She was ill-in
the early stages Of typhoid fever, and
Dr.. Richards was at once called to
her bed side, seeing that it would
prove a case which would require
careful nursing he called in his friend
Mrs. Stewart. who at once responded
and with all the tenderness of her
kind heart ministered TO the little
English woman to the end. The young
stranger was never masked at any
, time and those who entered her room
said she was a pretty English woman
evidently of rank. She fingered for
some weeks during which time she
was carefully nursed by Mrs. Stewart
and the husband who was most at
tentive. He was a handsome and at
tractive young man, and easily made
friends with the people ct the tavern.
and it is not credible that in the
ISiy weeks of his stay, ne gave no name.
Taking advantage of the sympathy
shown him, he borrowed a considerable
sum of money from Mr.. Lawrence Hill,
young Alexandria merchant, and
gave some kind Of security that after
wards proved worthless. The end came
at last on the 18th Of October, and the
bcreaved husband made preparation
for the interment. The grave was
made by Henry Dowell. mulatto, III
the then new cemetery Of st. Pauls
Church and the monument was soon
put in place with the following beau
tiful inscription:
To the Memory
Of
Female Stranger
Whose Mortal SutIerings
Terminated on the 4th day OF
October. 1916
Aged % years and s months
This stone is erected by her dis
consulate husband in whose arms she
breathed out her last. sigh and who
under God. did his utmost 10 soothe
the cold dull ear of death.
How loved how hCnored once avails
thee not
TO whom related. or by whom begot:
a heap of dust alone remains OF thee
lis all thou art. and all the proud
shall be.
TO whom gave all the prophets wit
ncsS that through his name, whose
ever belcveth Oh Him shall receive
remission of sins"
Soon after the funeral the afflicted
widower bid n grateful farewell to his
many SympaihlzcrS, and leaving all
his bills unpaid was seen no more. The
tradition Of his returning each year
to visit the grave is absolutely with
out Substantiation. Some years after
this occurrence. Mr.. Lawrence Hill
went 10 New York to enter into busl-
ness with his uncle Mr.. Robert Nc
C.ca. formerly a merchant at AleXan-
dria. Mr.. Hill had occasion to visit
Sing Sing, and while going through
the prison he was accosted with cheer
full elfrontry by one Of the prisoners,
who said you don't remember me
Sir. Hill" Turning he recognized MS
former friend The Stranger On IN
curry Of the prison authorities. the
only information elected was that the
convict was an educated EngllShman.
imprisoned for forgery and theft, but
that he had many aliases. his real
name had never been aScertalned. This
is all that IS known of the Aleyan-
dria romance, but as years rolled on
thc once beautiful tomb became the
prey Of vandals. inside the few IRON
rails left, grew the wild Ailanthus tree
rbscuring the ScpuIchor with its moss
grown inscription. Seine years ago a
charitable gentleman published little
fancy sketch of the Female Stranger
from the sale of which the tomb was
restored to something Of its former
condition. II is now cared FOR by the
superintendent Of St. Paul'S Cemetery.