Romance in Real Life

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 256, 2 October 1883, Page 2

Romance in Real Life

SIS EDWARD HAECOUET'S \ DAUGHTER. ; ■! . , The San Francisco correspondent! of the Auckland :< Herald writes :— h A very carious case is causing a good deal of v excitement - concerning- a lady! of noble family who is now a common tramp^ <and as such has walked ivom -this State to New York. The 'name; ot ; the /unfortunate is Mrs Benjamine, who 1 was'born at Marthyr Tydvill, in Wales, ,sir 13. Harcourt being her father, her I 'Being" ?a .' descenden'S' 'of Sir -Phitlip;;Frffn^ bein^jtiie aiithorfof the " Junius" let- J Urn which ap /Seared in England 'in, 1769. Miss Harcourt fell in love with! -Mr Benjamine at the age of 17, and married against her mothers consent!— Sir Harcourt being; dead-^clanSeatinely. ' The -mother, w.as so trrief-stricken that she became paralysed, and died, ljet me digress a moment to moralise on the utter folly of a mother, dying ?pf>grief because her children want 'tpm^rry whom they love. 'T&iy'used to do jhese things in olden times, also an-, uth&natize. and cut off a shilling children, and it ha$ r aiWays seemed; so absurd to~ m £ thatfylprbvokes me to laughter every time I think of it. Thank heaven we -are more enlightened nowadays. If !my daughters, insist upon making, a marriage contrary to my wish, I ehbuld say, " My dears, you are making your bed,: j^nd for ever after will you have to lie thereon. ; Therefore, if. it tarns .put hard, ;don't send for me, but abide by your choice," and I should be on excellent terms with my daughters all the same. But to resume. The young .couple came to America, and lived in, the State ten years, at the close: ofwhich they came to California by water, ,Mr Benjamine dying, on the way of fever, which threw his wife out of her senses, and her reason was partly destroyed for six years, whieh she spent in our city, under the surveillance ofthß apthorities. Shelhen escaped^ and walkeoCto Nevada. From ..that time, i now. five years ago, she has been walk" ing, on from place tor place, trying to reach. New York unde/the most painful circumstances — living with Indians, stealing " rides* " beitfg loclfe'd*"in*t6""bas- . gage-cars and kept for- days without, food. Once, riding on the bumper 6t an engine, her dress caught fire from a spark, when she had a narrow escape, from death. Her. injuries kept her weeks on the road, v but by the latest -j accounts she is/now in.New York, havj--ing in her possession the key of a safe deposit vault, where her husband , years] ago, left considerable' money. With this she will start; for England, to end her days among the old friends at home. She is bnly : -forty»three, and may- treasonably (Kojje'even yejt to enjoy the remainder of her life. Ic is astpnishin.£ how many , qf : these; peases. ; of English people. . of Jamily coming to grief in this country occur. ; JWe xead of them perpetually." „ I