Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-02-05

refrain from giving it to our readers.
The record Of several lives we are about
to relate is true, and as two Of the parties,
one of whom plays a conspicuous part in
this narrative. are we'll known in this
city, we Withhold the names, knowing
that many will recognize the parties and
bear us out in the story. The tale reads
as if woven in fiction and pictured by the
vivid imagination of the novelist, but
unlike the tales we read from the pens of
our leading American writer's. this has
tina honor of being true. But to the
story.
Some seventeen years ago in the west.
ern part of the state of New York, al
autumn was nearing its close and the cool
winds from across Lake Erie told of the
near approach of winter, there was Il
pleasant but quiet wedding. The con
tracing parties had sat for years In the
same old country school house; they had
played for years on the same play ground
year after year, from the far away days
of innocent childhood on through their
blushing teens to the years of manhood
and womanhood. They had walked arm
in arm across the hilly country fields of
their nativity to enjoy the rural parties
and chat with the neighboring young,
and At last. after years of blissful hoping,
the darts of Cupid came so thick and fast
that they sought protection in wedlock.
They began life together with the
brightest of prospects and hopes. The
husband had a fair start for a young man,
and the bride had health and energy.
She was willing to aid her husband in
his efforts to gain a competency, and la
bored like a true, noble woman. In the
field she swung the hoe and rake, besides
doing as best she could with work around
the house. Fol- a time men are wicked
enough to urge women to work in the
fields, to the detriment of their looks and
to the neglect Of many domestic duties
but in the course of years they lose sight
of the feminine in their companions, and
as a consequence love witbers and dies.
Too many women forget that they should
seek to retain the same charms, !clenliness
and acts that at first gained the love of
the men they married. Women should
preserve all that belongs to their sex, as
men are ungrateful and require more OF
their wives than they are willing to give
in return. Many women thus unthiuk-
ingly sacrifice themselves.
Before the couple, to whom we refer
in this sketch, had been married three
years, the husband became dissatisfied
with his home and surroundings, and per,
suaded his wife t. let him wander into
the fruitful west-the land of vague
promises and possibilities to many who
shipwreck on its prairics. With many
wild promises on the part of the husband
and fearful farewelle from the wife they
parted--she to live in hope and trust of
her husband, and lie to soon forget the
companion of his boyhood and early
manhood.
After wandering over some of the
western states and territories for several
years he saw . face that pleased his fancy,
and he soon married wife No. 2. The
1Ifn darn nnot nl $500
fond visions Of the cottage on some roll
ing prairie that he told her he would
build and then return for Ii er. Years
rolled by, and yet n home was obtained
for the far awav woman. And yet she
never doubted his love-probably never
thought for the first few years but that he
was doing the best he could. She went
10 the home of her parents, and waited
nearly fourteen long years for the hus.
baud to return and reclaim the wife lie
had 90 inhumanly rejected. ~springtime,
summer, autumn and winter chased each
other 10 quick succession year after year,
but there she sat at the fireside of her
girlhood, once a happy wife, now a be-
trayed disappointed woman. To picture
her feelings during those weary years of
waiting, we feel incapable. The thoughts
of brighter years, when in the May.da
Of life she blushed Al his boyish sayings,
silly proposals and final declaration OF
love, must have wandered through her
brain as memory glanced down the long
halls of the past. Thoughts too akin to
doubt must have flashed before her Wis.
ion when almost sinking beneath the
weight of her miserable condition. Ma
ture in oil its beauty may have been
sharmless In her sight-the odor of flow
ers beside the woodland path and the
notes Of feathered s'ngsters were nc
doubt things that brought forth memo
Iies embittsred by circumstances.
In time her position and surrounding,
became 50 calling that she could beal
them no longer, and finally concluded to
hunt up aud claim her husband, and il
need be share his poverty. So, not many
weeks ago she came to this city and in
quirsd for the home Of q certain farmer
who does not reside . thousand mile,
from Elk Point. She went to his house
as directed. Poor womanl Little did
she dream Of the surprise that Wal in
store for her. W0man's kingdom 10 bel
home. and how her heart must have
beat with hops and doubt ~ she nearod
the cottage. She knew that il was the