Year: 1875

'@ There lately died in western Massachu setts man whose life has been one o1 romantic interest. It is not necessary tc mention names; the circumstances will be recognized by only too many per sons, while one relation lives whose feelings should be respected, at least SC far. The unhappy man at last died mainly from exposure, and perhaps also from hunger. Until he was a middle aged person he lived as bachelor in a small town, and possessing ample means, 8 widowed sister acting as his house keeper. He was respected by all his neighbors, and indeed envied for the comfortable domestic life which he ap- peared to enjoy.

 There came one day to the village a mechanic and his wife, who were intelli- gent people, quite above the ordinary class; and finally by agreement made their home at his house. In 8 very brief period the mechanic sickened and finally died. A few months only had passed before the neighbors were surprised by an announcement of marriage between the bachelor and the handsome widow, who had thus become an inmate of his house. The man seemed to have sud denly awakened to an appreciation of love and married the widow. It was a bold step, and from that hour trouble commenced with the infatuated man. The wife at once led her new husband into extravagance and dissipation. She controlled him completely by her win ming ways and striking beauty.

 From the habits of a simple bachelor he now broke loose entirely, left his old home and removed to New York. He erected a large establishment, and made many friends, and his wife became the center of an admiring circle, which she seemed to adorn. Her husband felt proud of her, and was really very fond of her also. One morning he found upon his dressing table 8 note, by which he learned that his wife had disappeared Ere he had finished reading the letter which his absconding partner had left for him, bidding him coarse and heart less farewell, the officers of the law had attached all his property to cover the reckless woman's debts. He gave up all, and without complaint. He offered no intolerance to the sacrifice of every ar ticle he possessed, but sat bewildered and stunned like one half asleep.

 Now came series of discoveries. He had been made a miserable dupe. On searching into the character and ante cedents of the woman whom he had loved and married, he found that during her girlhood she had been the inmate of @ house of correction, because of herpre- disposition to crime, and that even while confined in that institution she had been punished for thieving from her fellow convicts. Every step of his inquiry only divulged fresh reasons for shame on her part, until the bereaved husband ceased to pursue the subject further. He was entirely broken hearted. She was gone, no one knew whither, and no one now seemed to care, for she has never since been heard of.

 The ruin in fortune of this man did not seem to break his spirit so much as did the consciousness that he had been so wretchedly deceived and duped. The abuse of his confidence and his love had bowed him to the very earth. At th> old homestead where he had passed his boy hood, now a ruined and neglected hovel, he found miserable refuge, where he led hermit life, avoiding every one, living upon the coarsest food, and deny ing himself everything except sufficient to barely keep body and soul together. He never left his wretched quarters after he reached them until lately, when he was carried away on the day of his death.