The Monroe journal., 1922-12-26
To THE MEMORY
OF THE

FEMALE STRANGER
Whose mortal suiferines terminated
on the fourth day OF October, lsik
AGED twenty-eight years and eight
months. this stone 10 erected by her
disconsolate husband In whose arms
she hreathed out her last sigh. and
who. under God. did his utmost to
soothe the dun. cold ear OF death.
That Is all-and the most deter.
mined efforts Of the residents OF
Alexandria during the first half OF the
last century, failed 10 throw the
slightest light upon the mystery.
The facts In the case are few. but,
such as they are. they are supported
by the unassailable evidence of num-
ber of persons who were eyewitnesses
TO the brief public appearance OF the
female stranger" The brig -Four
Sons docked at Alexandria on July
aa. 1916. en- route from Halifax 10 the
West Indies. The Virginia city was
not port OF call On the regular route,
but the captain stated that one Of his
passengers had been taken dangerously
III and that her husband had demand
ed that che be put ashore nj AleIan.
drla. where a boat was lowered, and
man and woman. the latter apparently
very III. were taken ashore.
Despite the heat Of midsummer the
woman wore heavy black veil, and
her husband secured the best suite In
the Inn OF the bunch OF Grapes, as
well us the services Of well-known
physician whom he engaged only after
pledglng him TO strictest secrecy. Even
In the presence OF the doctor. however.
the woman's face was kept veiled, and
the husband stesdfastly refused TO
hire nurse. saying that he was en-
tlrely capable Of handling the case
and that he was able TO do anything
that nurse could do.
As the weeks Of scorching hot
weather progressed. however. the man
began 10 wilt under the constant strain
Of watching beside the bed. and finally
agreed Ia permit two of the guests
In the Inn 10 help him-but only after
they had taken an oath that nothing
they might learn would ever be
diyulged. an oath which was kept as
sacred trust.
During the ten weeks which fol
lowed the woman's arrival In Alexan
dria, she grew steadily worse, and at
last at dawn on October 4. her hus.
band announced that she had died
Then. for fear that someone might see
the face which he had kept hidden
from the world. he himself prepared
the body for burial, sealed the lid Of
the coffin and. after attending the
funeral and ordering the headstone
with the strange inscription, dlsap.
peared
ON October Of the following year.
Alexandria was surprised at the sud.
den and unheraded return Of the hus.
band who remained In the city only
long enough TO place flowers on the
grave OF the female stranger" and to
see that the plot In the cemetery was
well taken care OF. Once year. for
twelve years, he returned Then his
visits ceased and tie grave was neg.
lected until, number of years later
a distinguished elderly man and won.
an came and ordered the monument
TO be replaced by another and more
costly headstone bearing the same In
scription, with the addition Of III,
verse
How loved. how honored once. avail,
thee not.
To whom related. or by whom begot.
A heap OF dust alone remains OF thee,
Tls all thou art. and all the proud shall
be.
They. too. anshed-taking witt
them the secret Of the identity Of the
woman whose history and personality
ls forever hidden from the world be.
hind three words THE Female
Stranger"