The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-24

Ole wish, ana reiapscd into uncon-
sciousncss. Doctors were sent for. and,
on examination, they found an arm
broken. knee-cap almost crushed. and
many cruel bruises. She was carried
home. and, be il said 10 Mr.. Barnum's
credit, was not allowed 10 want for any
thing. Her new friend called frequently
20 leave fruit and flowers for her. and nj
last, when she was pronounced con
valescent, was admitted to her presence.
Then she told her story, simple. short,
and sorrowful.
Born and brought up in little town
not hundred miles from Albany. and
by parents who. though not wealthy.
were i'm comfortable circumstances. and
the owners Of small hotel, she had led
I happy, joyous life, until she reached
IL, al which age she enjoyed all the dig
nifty Of leading the village choir and
driving her own span Of ponies. About
that time the salesman Of well known
firm in 81. Louis stopped at her fathers
house, fell IN love with her, proposed
marriage, and was accepted; she think
ing 1t a very fine thing 10 have a lover
from n large city.
Shortly afterward they were welded,
and went to st. Louis 70 live, her hus-
band taking her to his sisters home.
His sister was spinster Of uncertain
age and temper, but having large in
terest in the firm which her brother rep
resented, carried things with high
hand. and completely ruled him. When
the young wife was introduced she was
first found fault with because she was
young, then because she was pretty;
her manners, clothes, and acquaintance
were all criticised and condemned; the
husband, not having the courage to up
hold his wife, siding with his sister.
To Louise, a petted and only daugh-
ter. this treatment was maddening. She
resented il, and matters went from bad
10 worse. Finally. without taking even
change Of clothes with her, she ran
away in a fit Of desperation, and came
10 this city, where she joined the Hippo
drome As related
The young lawyer listened to the story
with painful interest, deciding on only
one thing, that she must not renew her
circus life. At first she insisted on re-
joining the company when she was well
enough. Int finally yielded to his sugges-
tion-study for the stage, a she had con-
siderable dramatic talent. This she did
with Miss Fanny Morant, who asks $500
term for two terms, and with such sue
cess that she felt warranted in making
her appearance AZ McVicker's last season
in . The Two Orphans" and under the
name of Miss Meroe. Charles. 1t is
needless 10 say that the young lawyer
paid the expenses If her dramatic train
ing and furnished her outfit, but il is
needful TO add that all his efforts for her
were made with a disinterestedness as
rare as it is beautiful in the generosity
Of man toward woman, especially to-
ward the woman who Is loved. Her
confidence in his honor he held sacred
by upholding hers, and so il happened
that afferward while on Southern tour
with Edwin Booth, who took a kindly
interest in her. they played in St. Louis;
and among the audience was her hus-
band, who At once recognized her.
The next day she received a long let
ter from him expressing sincere repent
ance for the past, acknowledging his
lack Of courage, and adding that his
sister was now dead, and that il she
would return he would devote the re-
mainder Of his life to making her
happy.
This letter she sent to the man who
had 80 generously befriended her, with
a note saying that 10 him she owed
everything, and promising TO follow his
decision
Realizing that the offer meant for her
honor, comfort and peace, he answered
in one word, . Return which she did,
and is now settled in her new home in
St. Louis, and that is the reason that the
world theatrical knows no more Of Me-
roe Charles.
The other case I have reference 70 Is
that Of pretty Kitty Stokes, who for the
last two years has been Barnum's best
bareback rider. She was literally born
in the profession; her father having
been all his life connected with ii, and
for the last 20 years manager. Kitty's
mother was the daughter Of circus
performer; her husband first met her
in the ring; they were married, and he
then sent her 70 a French convent re-
treat to finish her education. After
that she never returned to her old life,
bnt all her four daughters are in
the profession One Of them, Emma,
stopped during performance in Phila-
delphia to be married TO fellow-per-
former, and then went on jumping
through the hoops. Kitty, who is next
to the youngest, has been earning 1925
per week, and expenses for herself and
mother Very strictly brought up, she
was never allowed to speak TO any one
connected with the circus, her mother
not allowing il for propriety's sake, her
father in deadly fear Of her marrying.
Kitty rather rebelled against this close
keeping, for ii deprived her Of the ordi-
nary enjoyment Of girls Of her age, and
she soon found silent sympathizer in