The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-11-11
A Strange Story.

tised in an eastern paper for wife. The
advertisement was answered by girl by
the name OF Mary Walker, residing some
where in Maine. The Judge is an old man,
and when photographs We're exchanged he
sent the girl the shadow of a younger and
better looking man than himself. Core
Spondence was kept up, until finally the
Judge wrote to the girl that he was sick
and requested her to come on and attend
him until health was restored, and he
would marry her The too coniiding girl
consented, and after a long journey, found
herself at the depot at Ottawa, a weak,
helpless girl. far from home and friends
and among strangers. She was met by
her atlianced. the judge, but imagine her
surprise, when, instead of a handsome
Young man, she bcheld an ugly, shutting
old person. The girls young dream the
0llurlng pictures OF young manhood and
Il bright home in the tar west, were dissi
pated at once A horrid nightmare SEEM
ed 70 rest upon her The wealth the Judge
pretended to have was nowhere to be seen,
Hn0, instead oil going to mansion OF ease
and comfort. She was introduced to the
apartments OF poor and unpretentlous
dwelling. A marriage was soon cOnsum-
mated, but the poor girls nature revolted
III the nuptlal bed, and she would not be-
come q wife to the winter-wed old man.
HE day following, the girl, not knowing
Wat to do, applied tor Il divorce. This
was granted, and having spent all her
money, she asked for needle work among
the ~ood ladies of Ottawa. In this way
she supported herself for several weeks.
The daughters and relatives of the Judge
looked kindly upon her and advised her
J =, L.. / Al. ID.
the girls bright dreams and her love for
the shadow the Judge had sent her came
mp before her to constantly say NO" to
THEM repeated solicitations. She brooded
over her disappomments and sorrows,
until her mind undoubtedly wandered,
and in her loneliness and sadness she
hastily packed a travelling satchel and
slipped away from Ottawa Having no
money, she started to walk to Lawrence
Poor gin, how different her entrance and
her exit, the former full of hope. the lat
ter full Of dread and disappointment; the
former full of enticing visions, the latter
tull OF turies driving her on and on until
rest would be found in the silence of death.
The distance from Ottawa to Lawrence is
about % miles, and Mary Walker could
not walk it in one day. Night coming
ON, She rested at n deserted cabin on the
road. seeking shelter on the prares, far
from the habitations Of men, and away
from the stupid sympathy of strangers.
Ii the girls reason had not entirely left
her. il She was capable of reasoning and
feeling those alarms which conscious and
1Hnld women always feel, even in their
own quiet and secure homes at night
what must have been her feelings as she
crouched from view in that lonely cabin
on the black and desolate prairie? Think
OF it We daughters Of happy households;
think OF 1t ye mothers and wives who
cherish your dear, delightful homesi
Mary Walker entered Lawrence uncon-
Scious. probably. OF what she was doing.
She had walked all the way from Ottawa
she had rested over night in q desolate
place; she must have been tired, tootsore
and hungry. ltappears that she wandered
about the streets all day, or until the mid
die OF the afternoon, when she rung the
bell at the residence OF one of our Chris
lian families. When the door was opened,
''Ilease do you want any sewing done
hcre?o was the simple inquiry of the de-
ranged girl. On being answered that no
sewing was required, Mary asked:
Can | step into a room moment to
arrange my dress?"
The good lady of the house showed the
poor glr INTO a bed room and returned to
her parlor' The Girl did not return for
some time and the lady sent her little
daughter TO know the reason Imagine
the cAlld's surprise to find the strange
Girl, with nightgown on, in bed, white as
a carved statue. The child hurried down
stairs and told the startling story to her
mother. When the lady of the house APP
Peared at the bedside, where the strange
Girl lay, her first exclamation was.
"Who sent you here?"
''God sent Inc here" was the sad.
though truthful reply of poor, deranged
Mary Walker. God had undoubtedly sent
her there, for in that household she re-
cciyed such care as Christian people give
TO the unfortunate and afflicted.
"TyphOid fever.n said the doctor. when
he answered hurried summons of the
good people of the household, and Mary
Walker raved about marriage, her home
in Maine, about people in Ottawa, the
Judge who had deceived her, and such
things as were uppermost in her mind.
She fingered thus four weeks, when death
came to her relief and the poor Girl was
at rest
Letters were written to the Judge at
Ottawa. His daughter and other relatives
Of his came with expressions of sorrow
But they were too late. Finally, after
Marys death. and when the grave was
dug in the Potter's field, in Oak Hill Gem
ctery, the Judge made his appearance
and arranged for her proper burial. He
paid all bills, bequeathed all her clothing,
which was forwarded from Ottawa, to the
lady who cared Tor her in sickness, and
quietly turned away. The clothing is
represented as being very handsomely
made p-undoubtcdly made for we'd
ding clothes before she left her home,
he Undertaking was handsomely en-
broldered and made of the finest mate
rial, denoting wealth and refinement
WHO IS Mary Walker?" the reader
Will ask. No one here knows In her
delirium She said she came from Maine
That is all But she was Young and
handsome. Her hair was light and her
eyes were blue. Her complexion was
very fair. There seemed to be nothing
OF evil in the girls character and the
physician in attendance says there was
nothing about the girl to Indicate fall
ing from chastity
Who can help weeping over the sad
late OF this poor girl! Trusting and con-
nding IN mans promises, she travels hun
dfeds OF miles, and meets disappointment
ana death among strangers. Her grave
Shouid be marked by mothers and deco
faleu WITH flowers by dutiful and obedi-
elI daughters, SO that the lesson of Mary
Walkers life may be ever a warning to
those who yearn for the romance of mar
riage and OF life, and who seek for the
fulfilment of wifely duties and RESPONSE
bilities outside the line that society and
customs have adopted
If these lines should meet the eve of
parents in Maine, who mourn the contin-
ued absence of a daughter, they can learn
all particulars of the death of Mary Wal
ker by addressing the city physician in
Lawrence, Kansas