Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-05-23
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lady-a member Of one Of She oldest
and best families OF the State. She was
the reign,ng belle in the society in which
she moved. In the course of time she
married a young lawyer OF the highest
sc'respectability, both as regards talents
and family connections. In due time
they had . son born to them, and they
were exceedingly happy.
The lawyer, in the course OF business
transactions, became some way or an
other entangIedin aquarrei with broth
or LAWYER. A duel was the result. In
the contest the husband was killed.
The wife became inconsolable. A Sc
we're 1T of sickness followed; when she
recovered the only thing 10 lavish the
whole affection of her heart upon was
her son. Her entire attention was given
TO him.
After a year or two she was surround
ed By an immense number of admirers,
and several made proposals Of marriage.
She denied them all: her heart was true
TO her first and only love. At least,
many OF her admirers importuned her
10 marry them, offering her fortune,
station, everything that would be likely
TO win IA woman's heart, but all Of no
avail. She replied to them that she
would not give them her hand without
her affection; her heart was buried with
the dead.
The widow found that these APP
proaches were made TO her so often and
so earnestly that she withdrew herself
from society as the only thing like quiz
etness; but even then letters would an
nov her. So she determined to get out
oil society entirely and seclude herself
IN some retired spot. She did not care
where she went if she could only OBJ
tain quietness, and enjoy the pleasure
of training and cultivating her boy s
mind and have his exclusive society.
He was noble little fellow.
Aiier looking about for place whe.e
absolute, desolate seclusion could be OBJ
tanned, she being unknown, and the eli
mate would be congeniai, she determ-
ined upon Florida. So she removed TO
a retired spot, about mile or so from
Ocala, where she found small hut al
ready built and suited to her require
nients. She purchased it and remained
there some time, when unhappily her
boy was taken sick and died, aud was
buried near her home. She planted an
acorn near by that was found after his
death in his pocket. II has grown to
be tree.
Alone in the world. without a soul to
converse with, she fretted and pinned
her life away, her only consolation be-
ing in her communion with her God.
She prayed for her peace and obtained
il. She had no servants TO wait upon
her, but cooked her own meals. Occas-
ionally she would see persons approach
her LILLE home, and not wishing to be
seen would retire to small cave near
ky, where she could watch the move
nients of the strangers until they were
gone, when she would come out and
take possession of her little shanty.
One day she walked into 0cala for
the purpose Of obtaining some medicine
at the drug store. She was closely
hooded and disguised. There was Q
gentleman in the town, however, whom
she recognized as an old sutton. She
Immediately left, and was lost TO sight
quickly. The gentleman saw the eyes;
he thought he knew them-their inllu-
ence in the past bad kept him awake
many night. He was at FIRST stagger-
ed at the thought that il might be her;
indeed he was almost paralyzed, tor he
was single and remained so for her sake.
When be recovered his senses sufficient
ly TO know what he was about, he went
into the street to look for her, but she
was gone, and no one could tell him
anything about her, or what direction
she had gone. He searched the cosn-
try all around. but his efforts were fruit
less. At last he had to give up the pur-
suit.
The lady lived many years afterward
siill staying at the same place. At last
she found that her health was giving
way; that the hardships she had to un-
dergo-living in so Wild and rude a con-
dition-necessItated her making a con-
fident of somebody, so as 10 obtain help
She called in the assistance of an hon.
est, quiet eolored woman-Aunt Polly
Fudgc-who was 10 her some comfort
and did chores for her. At last she be-
came sick and confined 10 her bed. Pol
ly faithfully nursed her, and at length
the lady died.
She lald Polly her history, suppress
ing her real name, and said to bury her in
the grave beside her darling boy, under
the oak tree that she had planted near
the cave: and that she was 10 be buried
in her wedding dress--a beautiful white
satin one-and on her head the wreath
she wore on the occasion of her mar
riage. Faithful Polly attended TO mat
tiers as she was told. and Mrs. Melville,
for that was the name the lady called
herself. gave TO Polly all her money,
which was 1900, also her clothes. So
rests within a mile or two Of Ocala. in
one Of the hammockss the last mortal
remains of the poor broken hearted
widow. The relatives and friends will
never know her end OF her burial place.
Everything Is bitter 70 him whO has
yall IN his mouth. 49,