Year: 1867

There are romanceS In real lie as
full of thrilling interest and as replete
with instructive lessons as those which
grow enchanting under the coloring of
the novelist or the muse Of the poet.
The subjects of them pass before our
eyes daily, but in the whirl of business
or more practical duties of daily life,
they are unheeded. The victim of a
heartless prosecutor, or the sufferer un-
der great moral wrong, jostles US In
Is unnoticed, until the gnawing secret
of her heart eliminates in tragedy or
ends in despair. The st. Louis Dispatch
says that on the 4th instant, lovely
girl known as Beulan Britton, died at
the bagnio. No. liz South Tenth street,
in that city. Her demeanor, gentleness
of disposition, and kindness of heart
removed her from classification with the
depraved womanhood whose society she
had sought. There was q mystery
about her past life which she refused to
unravel, until the near approach OF
death made further secrecy unneces-
sary. She had been an occupant of the
house but few weeks, but had become
a SCiClal anu vas
with all the afection her depraved as
sociates were capable of bestowing.


Her story was a short, but peculiar
ly pertinent and suggestive one. Her
maiden name was Nellie D., and at
the time of her death she was but twen-
ty-three years of age. She was born in
Canada. Her parents, who were rich
and highly respectable, were of French
descent, and lavished upon her every
thing which her girlish whims could
covct. She was educated with care, and
schooled with accomplishments, and
being extremeful beautiful, she was
courted by many young men ofrespecta-
bility and wealth. She was married at
the age Of seventeen, to a merchant of
Toledo, who stood high in society, and
was deemed by the parents of the young
girl splendid match for their daughter.
Nellie loved him to distraction, and,
apart from him, life to her was DESC
late waste. The young daughter had
considerable property in her own name,
and, upon her marriage, was given q
respectable sum of money as a wedding
portion. Soon her husband began an
organized system of ill-treatment of her.
He spent his time in carousals and gam
bling; he led an incorporate life, and,
as a consequence, sacrificed his own
business, spent all his own money, ran
through with the property and means
of his wife, and then deserted her, pen
niless and heart-broken.


The disgrace was so great that she
desired to keep it from her parents, and
to do so she was compelled to leave her
home and relatives and seek different
associations in the West. Accordingly
she went to st. Louis, without money
or friends. In her poverty and atiic-
tion of heart-with family, husband
and friends forsaken to her-she com.
menced career of vice, which lasted
not long, but combined with the sorrow
of her heart, ended in her death. She
took up residence at the house mcn-
toned above, but after she had been
domiciled there but short time, be-
coming disgusted with life foreign to
her sensitive nature, she made applica-
tion to the Guardian Home, but from
some cause was not admitted, being in
formed that there was no place in the
institution toput her. Returning hope
lessly to her life of debauch, her career
was ended so deplorably, and the mem
ories of the past were made sealed
book unto her. After her death, having
no use for the means which would have
saved her from dishonor and death, she
fell heir to S127 900. Her parents had
both died, probably in part from the
daughters desertiOn, and the family
property had fallen to her, The unfor-
tunate girl was buried in elegant style,
encased in beautiful metallic coffin,
and was borne to her last resting
place by the associates who has respect
ed her so highly, and felt in her death
a loss which was evidenced in the sor-
rowful look and falling tear.