The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-11-12
NRYER HAp FATHER.


=
Who Is Aother, but Not q Wife.
From the Nuscatine uowal Tribune-l
Some months ago Muzcatine young
lady accepted the situation as teacher in
a school few miles from the city. Re
tnrning hane recently she WAS taken
sick and a physician called An exami-
nation by physician revealed the fact
that she was abont to become a mother. /
The terrible opinion fell like thunder
bolt upon the parents; but it smote the
heart of the girl with grief and terror
and amazement which no language can
describe. She could not and wonld not
believe her physician. Her pale lips
innocence OF any and all circumstances
leading TO such a result. She as solemn
ly affirmed her ignorance of her condi-
tion until thus informed by the physi-
clan.
On inquiring into her relations with
the family boarding her, it was ascer-
tained that there were two grown up
SONS, but there was no circumstance
showing the least improper intimacy be
tween either of them and the teacher. or
between her or any other party in the
neighhorhooi. Her department in the
district had been most scrnpnlously COR
rect.
That she must have been drugged was
the onlv remaIninv explanation of the
case. To this solution examination was
directed, and the girl stated that on one
O, casion one of the sons above mention
ed advised her to keep the door of her
chamber locked at night. Up to that
time she had not locked her door. but
did subsequently. No other circum-
stance was elicIied to throw any light on
the mystery.
The farmer with whom she boarded
was summoned to the city, and, being
informed of the ease, was greatly aston
i<hed, and professed the deepest sym
pathv. He cnnid not believe that either
of his Sons were guilty Of the crime; nor
did he think them at all qualified; by
their knowledge of drugs, for its accom-
plishment. Ii has since been learned
that one of the boys had spent some
months in a drug stone, and we conelnde
our sto-y of the crime by mentioning
that the child, at its birth, was taken by
the farmer to his home for adoption.
We come now to a page in the history
of the girls experience which the super
stitious and believers in omens will de-
clare to be more interesting and signifi-
cant than what has been written.
After the birth of tie child, the young
mother solemnly raised her hand and
called God to witness that she knew
nothing of it's conception or fatherhood.
In spite of these impressive assevera-
tions, more Or less suspicion still cloud
ed the girls innocence. This suspicion
was of a nature that involved questions
of medical science. But last Sunday a
new witness appeared in the case. The
| circumstances of the testimony are re-
lated by an eyewitness, a lady fifty
years of age, no relation of the family
and esteemed as one of the most respect
ed members of society. Sunday after
noon, while a number were in the sick
room, a white dove appeared at the win
dow, and beat its bill against the panes
in a vain endeavor to enter. Barred
from admission at this point, the bird
disappeared and Immediately sought an
other place of entrance, which it found
at the back door o' the dwelling. Here
it entered, and made its way directly tc
the sick room, when ii flew TO the bed
perched for a moment on the foot board
head of the poor patient, where it nest.
tied in perfect security, and was only
removed by hand! How will the world
view this singular incident? Is it q
Judgment from Heaven pronounced in
favor of the innocence of the girl? You
may laugh at this idea, but you mus
concede that the visitation of the white
dove was unnatural-supernatu
Neither this bird nor any dove had evel
been domesticated at the house, or had
their cote in the neighborhood. TIL,
visit was no sequence of anything COINS
before. 1t was fash of light from
darkness, and to darkness it returned
To our understanding it is like a ray o
darkness; it has no light, and is only
| SIN uvStorv The white dave for aOoo hoe
been symbolic of purity. 1t is SO treat
ed in the Sacred Word. Had it thil
meaning for her, who had no witness fol
her innocence, and whose situation was
as mnch a mystery to herself as to hel
frierds?