The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-10-08
A STRANGE STORY.
-.,,,IA Convict's Wife Returns q Bank
na, ers's Spouse.
How Bessie's Mother was Lost and
Found.

which he Was tried, convicted and sent 10
the penitentiary. The di-grsce was bad
enoueh-the punishment terrible; but il was
not il that rscked his soul with unutterabIe
woe. He had young wife and beauti-
full little three year-old girl, whose sunny
face was the light Of his life. To be torn
from these jewels Of his heart Vas worse
than death. To watch the gray streaks Of
dawn timidly crawl into the barred oell--to
count the slow hours OF dreary day be-
meath the Gun that burned out his iife-to
gaze upon the Iengthening shadows until
they were wove together IN the dismal
mantle Of highland to brood over the
thousand dangers that might beset his loved
Ones-
OH, THIS WAS THE LIVING HE'LL.
to which he was doomed for many months
and yeam.
The shame and disgrace brought upon
her by her husband, sank deep into the
young wife's heart. But she must be
strong, and in the absence Of her natural
protector, 90 out into the world and battle
for the child she loved SO we'll. Accord
ingly she left the place where she lived,
and BY the sale of her few household
effects, managed to realize enough to bring
her to Sedslia and keep her until she could
find employment.
She succeeded at last, but her employers
wanted "a woman without incumorance,"
and she and her little Bessie must part. II
was then she felt the most bitter pang that
can pierce the mothers heart. But there
was 10 alternative, and SO Bessie Was con
fded 10 the care of a col0red woman, the
mother setting aside 20 much for her sup
port from her scanty earnings.
One day
TWO SISTERS,
young ladies who resided in the suburbs Of
Sedalia, were passing this colored wOman's
cabin, and saw little Bessie. They were
attracted by the child's extraordinary
beauty, which Was all the more heightened
by her strange and humble surroundings.
They learned her history from her sable
nurse, and were 90 much interested in the
bright little waif, that these two young
girls we're determined to jointly adopt it.
An interview with the mother was had,
and the advantages Which Bessie would en-
ioy in her new home were elaborated upon.
The mother, after having personally ascer-
tanned that the family were in good cir
cumstances, and that her child would be
srrounded by refining and elevating in
nuences, Al last gave her consent. And
thus it was that Bessie found Luxurious
home, and
TWO MOTHERS INSTEAD OF ONE.
Time passed, and Bessie grew in lowell
ness and grace Her gentle disposition and
sweet. winsome ways endeared her to all
Who knew her. The mother came At inter
walls to visit her, but finally they suddenly
ceased. Inquiry only revealed that she
was gone, but where Of how. none knew.
Months passed, years passed, but no lines
or message came from the mother OF Bessie,
and it Was settled upon at last that she was
dead.
Meanwhile the father was dragging out
the weary term of his punishment, that to
him seemed eternal. At last it ended, and
he Was once more |. free man, but bearing a
stigma that time can never efface. He as
certaiued that his wife had come to Soda
liz after his imprisonment, and hither he
also came. He discovered the whereabouts
of his little Bessie. but Of her mother, he
could ascertain nothing. And he, too,
came to the conclusion that she had
SANK BENEATH THE WAVES OF ADVERSELY,
and vas at rest. He worked around the
the city ali last simmer, earning liveli-
hood by small jobs, until short time ago
ne departed to take . situation in neigh
boring town.
And now comes the strange denouement.
Last week lady elegantly and richly At
tired arrived ia. Sedalia from the East.
She wore . profusion Of costly jewel
~ and sparkling diamonds. She had, too.
IN abundance of money and deeds to lands
and estates that were worth fortunes. And
Why not? She Was the
WIFE OF PROMINENT BANKER,
well-knowu and respected in the financial
circles Of the West. in which he is
king among money kings.
After her arrival in the city, the lady
procured carriage aud drove direct to
!. Bessies home. She wss received by the
family upon her entrance with the formal
establishment natural upon the self-intro-
duction of q stranger. The child gazed
upon her features one moment with inquiry
and doubt, and in the next sprang with joy
into the outstretched arms of
HER MOTHER.
This was followed by . warm welcome
from Be.sie's protectors. who had long ago
given her up for dead.
Explanations we're due. and she made
them. The mother said that when they
propoaed TO take Bessie, although she
knew that It vas miraculous interposlti0n
of Providence IN behalf OF her child. ii
racked her heart vith agony to know that
herdarling VAS constantly beside her, and yet
beyond her sight. 80 she resolved that her
maternal love should not tempt her TO sac
riece her childs best interests, and she went
away to large distant city. there to work
and labor in the hope that
4 MERCIECL GOD
would in time bestow upon her the means
70 claim and keep her child.
She secured . aitua,ion rs waiter in .
palasial hotel. Her neat and lady like
sppearasce, her quiet and subdued de-
asssoe, ord her patient attention and uni
forn pe~ularisy attracted the attention Of Q