The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-11
Married His Own Sister.

II. other aud two children lived in small
own in Western Ohio. The head Of the
family, Mr.. Lawtop, was a lawyer, and
speculator, and had been merchant. He
had grown rich for those days-and was
noted for his keen business sagacity and
his honest and kindly heart. His wife
had been delicate and pretty girl when
nc married her, and after hcl second
child was born her health broke down and
she became a confirmed invalid. The cou-
pie had two children, boy named Michael
who was then 'baby" and was about five
years old, and u girl named Mabel. Mabel
was a pretty cl.ild, and her parents pcttcd
.lcr and dressed her in style that made her
tho envy of all mothers in tho ncighbor
mood.
Ono day Mabel went into her mothers
room and told her she wanted to go and
play with some other little girls who lived
OH the next street. Mrs. T.awton gave her
consent, but told her to be sure to come
homo to dinner. Mabel promised, kissed
her mother gayly, and ran out of tho room
-out Of the world as far as the poor moth
cr was concerned, for she never saw her
again. Mabel did not come home to din
ncr, and at supper time Michael was sent
after her. lie soon returned with pale,
sister had started for home at noon, and no
one knew where she was. Search was
made for her in every direction, but with
out avail. No trace of the lost one could be
discovered.
Amonth aftcrward the mother { led heart
broken, and the father sold his property
and became homeless wandcrcr, with but
one object in lifc--thc finding of his lost
Tn1 Il 10 Il In irou loI
from State to State, visiting public institu-
tious where children were cared for, and
going through cities making inquiries
which he thought might lead to the desired
result, From tho United States the search
was extended to Europe, and, finally, in a
Spanish city, Mr.. Lawton caught local
fever and died in n few days, leaving his
son, then be-. of nineteen, all of his for
tune. Mr.. Lawton told his boy that he
had no near relatives except brother, who
had gone to California in the first flush of
the gold fever, and had never been heard of
aftcrward.
Michael Lawton came back to this coun-
try, entered college in the East, and
graduated with honor. Hc studied law in
the Office of famous New York lawyer,
and, after being admitted to the bar, he
went West and made his home i'll n newly
settled State, where he soon built up good
practice One winter LnwtOn went to New
York to visit college chum, Marchmont
had several young sisters, and one afternoon
Lawton was introduced to Miss Mabel Let
cher, young lady who was their music
teacher. She was exceedingly pretty and
a lady in manner and mind, and Iawton
fell violently in love with her, and before
he left the city he asked her to marry him
and she accepted him.
They were married the following spring,
and went to Lawton's Western home,
where they lived happily for six years, dur
ing which time two children were born to
't,e,n. Miss Lctchcr told Lawton after
thclr engagement that she was n, orphan,
that her parents 0ic'l when she was n child
and she could not rcmcn,bcr thcm at all.
She had been named by kild-hcartcd lady
IN Eastern Ohio. She had taught school and
madcsutflcicnt money to entcra school in the
East, where she studied music, and after
she had graduated she got class of girls
for prpi;s, and while thus engaged met
Lawto,:.
Lawt IN was sitting in his Office one day,
when an odtl-looking elderly man came in
and asked for "NIr. Luwton. an introduce
ton took place, and, after the usual pre-
liminarics the stranger said lie was law
yer from San Francisco. lie then asked
Lawton If he would tell him his fathers
name and where he was born. Although
surprised Mt the question, Lnwton complied
and the stranger then evrialncd his GRAND:
''You have heard our father speak, sup
pose, of o brother who went 20 California
many years ago, and who did not write
home of his doings. We'll, am his repre-
7 G,;n
he died. Years ago he went to---.(mcn-
tionng the town where Lawton was bom),
and there he heard Of the manner in which
your little sister disappeared and of your
fathers departure. lie tried to find him
for awhile, but did not succeed, and then
he went home again.
ole made up his mind to find your sis
ter if 1t was possible. lie employed sew
eral skillful detectives, and spent great
deal OF his money in the search. A year
ago he died, and in his will directed that
you should be his heir unless your sister
was discovered. In that event she was to
have half Of his property. saw your
name in the paper some weeks ago, and on
making inquiries l became convinced that
you were the nephew of the man who was
my friend, and who intrustcd nc with the
caro- OF his property. And nowhere the
speaker paused for an instant --"now |
have something still more strange to tell
you. We have found trace of your sis
ter. ..
"shc was stolen by party of vagrants
for the clothes and trinkcts she wore, and
was taken to East Ohio. She was taken
very i'll, and was left with good-hcartcd
lady, who adopted her as her daughter.
After her discovery she could not rcmcm-
Der her name or where she had lived.
When this lady died Mabel taught school
for several years, and then she went East
to study music. After she left school,
think she went to New York, but cannot
say. We have no trace of her for six years.
She was named after the lady who adopted
her. and was known as Mabel I.ctchcr."
'Known as what 2" screamed Lawton.
''Nlabel Lctcher"
"Great God, now she has been my wife
for six years !" 1t was 80, indeed Fur
ther examination showed beyond question
that Mrs. Michael Lawton was one and the
tnl