Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1889-01-26 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

PARISIAN DRAMA.  Someeight years ago Mr Homans. an American ' insurance officer located in Paris, married a second wife. She was from New Orleans, and was then in 'the fuil splendour of Southern beauty. ! , To-day she is about thirty five years old, and isi • still a handsome woman. All went smoothly and I joyously for some time after Mr llomans brought I his charming and beautiEnl bride to Paris. She was welcomed by his friends, and was generally admired. It was not long before the finger of I scandal began to be pointed at the young wife. 11 Mr llomens alone remained deaf to the charges j which were whispered loader and louder against 1 the WOMB he loved. But•some three months I ago the bubble burst. It happened at Axles. i I !Being this sorrowful, shameful, same 101 l story. I iThere wari an Italian nobleman in the case— some say he was a prince, and it isl tolerably I clear he was • traitor ; for Mr HoMans was ' his friend, had received him at his table, had trusted him. One day, towards the end of , last September, an accident revealed the whole , • hideous truth. Mrs Homane had gone back to Paris, professedly to arrange her hotel for the winter season. The Prince had gone to Geneva ; —so ho said. But he had covered his tracks badly. An indiscreet concierge revealed to the ' astounded husband that, so far from being in Switzerland. his Italian Highness was really in Paris; and, furthermore, that during their stay at Aix.les-Bains he had secretly occupied a room , opposite that of Mrs Homaus. The conclusion ' was easily drawn. Mr Hornet's took an express ,to Paris. During a month after his return he said nothing, but be watched. When there was no longer any room for doubt he acted as a I man has to act in France in such cases, and on November 29 there was a formal "constatation du flagrant d lit," with the aid of a Commiesaire de Police. Mrs Homans spent that night in the I St. Lazare prison. Mr Henning spent it in ' pacing the floor of his chamber. And then he decided that hie wife, however great her sin, should not be confined in a prison to be , herded in with a crowd of fallen women. The following day at his request she was released on bail, he, however, having expressly reserved all hi A rights for both criminal and civil action against her. In thus restoring his wife to her freedom Mr Humans acted generously, bet he played straight into the hand of a clever and dangerous adversary. Ile sent word to her to the effect that nothing could alter his decision to of tain a divorce; but he assured her at the same time that her future would be abundantly provided for, and urged her to go to some secluded place and try to live an honourable life. Having done so much, and having taken all steps to secure a divorce, Mr Homing, quite broken down by thie great sorrow, left l'aris secretly and went to Brussels. One night, shortly after his arrival at the note] Bellevue, in Brussels, Mr Homans was arousal by a sharp knocking at his door. He enquired what was wanted, and a voice replied that there was a telegram for him. He arose, opened the door, and instantly Mrs Homans rushed into the room. It was a clever ruse. and it had succeeded. The shock to Mr Howells was tremendous. He gasped for breath, and his face became livid. Heart , trouble was hereditary in his family, and for a few seconds it was a question whether he would live or die. His wife promptly took advantage of the situation. She rang for assistance, had hot water brought and mustard poultices, and worked over him for an hour. Then the danger was passed, and the attendants withdrew, leaving the two together. What was Mr Homans to do? It was three o'clock in the morning. Ile was already compromised by the fact that his wife ha remained with him for , over an hour. Furthermore, she declared by all that was most sacred that if he drove her from the apartment she would commit suicide in the street. Ile was on the verge of f death, and incapable of any vigorous, decisive action. So ho allowed her to remain, surrendering to her big bed-room, ho self sitting lip in the salon for the balance of the night. The next morning lie instated on her returning to Paris, but the harm was done. I Immediately on her arrival Mrs Homans called I on the Jugs d'lnstruction in charge of the case, and informed him that a reconciliation had been I effected. She also spread the story shoat Pads. In vain Mr Homans telegraphed a denial of this statement, in vain, hurrying back to Paris, he • explained the real facts of the case. The Juge d'lnstruction listened patiently, but said , that an investigation must be made into the I Brussels affair before the divorce could be granted. Au investigation in Brussels meant I diplomatio interference, an indefinite amount of I official red-tape, and, worst of all, a considerable I delay. And before any decision was reached Mr 'lonians died.  • ,