The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-01-16
4 STRANGE STORY.


nance ard a deep tinge of sadness was
told to a reporter of the Des Moines Ia. )
Register the other day. The family TO
whom the story relates moved to Polk
county several years ago. The name,
for convenience sake, shall be Jasper.
Mr.. Jasper, years age, before the Pacific
railroad was built. was in business with
a gentleman whom we viii call Jones,
in California. Jasper was a married
man and so was his partner. The for
mer was about 10 take the overland
stage for the east when he was met by
his partner and his wife, and told that
the latter had suddenly been summoned
east to settle up an estate in which she
was interested, and Jasper was asked to
act as her escort, and of course agreed
Jasper bade his wife farewell, helped
Mrs. Jones TO q seat in the stage, and
the long and tedious journey was com
menced.
Mrs. Jones was an attractive woman.
possessing besides beauty Of person cul-
tiyated mind, a fascinating manner, and
The easy conversational style so captiVa-
ting TO man of any susceptibility. The
trip over the plains occupied nearly two
weeks. and in that time the two, Jasper
and Mrs. Jones, were thrown into such
close companiouship that an intimacy
which developed into infatuatiOn spTang
up between them, and when Omaha was
reached they resolved TO obtain divorces
she from her husband, he from his
wife-and then unite themselves for life.
The woman, after ranSaCtinE her bus
mess in the east. 4 ned with cOnsid-
cradle money, anu = - in ore OF the
central cities OF = = = yer had set
tied there before 3 SRls0 pos
-aSSei of means. r = tractor.
and had secured ! : = S,esr 1t on q
new line OF railrJ = :
They, MsIe mars. and
Jasper's vice Ilil9
city, and went 10 the p.,.lo'I' lo'I' So tpat-
pose of endeavoriug to get pr Or ~ 30
the children, whom Jasper had d-I,. '>Sil
with tham bus was recognized at the
door by the new 1ITs. Jasper. and re-
fused admittauCe. She returned to Cal
ifoTuia q sOrrOwful- grief-striciIGu wo-
man. while Jasper and his new love
seemed 20 be living III an atmosphere OF
happiness.
Time rolled on and fate turned against
Jasper. He lost heavily on his contracts.
and soon all his 0In and his wife's for
tune were swallowed mp, and the two
removed to Polk county, where Jasper
for a Time cEed out a subsistence by
clelking in country stores, or doing odd
Jobs Of any kind that would give him
that which would furnish bread FOR the
family.
Suddenly he disappeared without Civ
ing any sign. His wife was nearly wild,
for she loved him with q deep aStctiOn.
and was well nigh distracted al the un-
certainty Of his fate But one day news
came That e corpse ans EeTinC Jasper 5
description had been picked up In the
n issippi river, near @ Missouri town.
The wife had no means but She had
kind ueighOoIs, who raised a purse and
sent one of their number 10 bring the
body home. lie made the trip, but
found the body was not the one they
sought. Mrs. Jasper then turned her
energies 30 making Il living. and man
aged to keep herself and little ones, the
results Of the former vltc's union with
4 Jasper. .toleraJly comfortable, Joy offering
her services as q nurse. and an excellent
one she made.
In course Of time q letter was received
from hotel keeper in "a Missouri town,
stating that man named Jasper had
f been stricken with paralysis at his house
and was ct that time there, helpless
iJilndless and paDniless. Again the
good neigubors raised money. and once
. more q messenger WAS dispatched. This
time the messenger was successful.
The uaralytic was found 60 be Jasper,
who was brought home and nursed with
the most devoted attention by his #lte.
For months ne lay on his bed unable &C.
move without her assistance, unable (,
speak. His sufferings were ended hy
death recently. but before his spirit
. winged It's flight speech was restored and
hc asked and received the pardon of tb,
woman he had SO heartlessly deserted
and obtained from her a promise tha
she would write to his former wife aHC
ask for her forgive ness, This Mrs. Jas
per did and received a reply, by which
She was informed that the first Mrs
Jasper was now Mrs. Jones that slit
freely forgave both Jasper and his wife
that she was taking care Of the chidrel
Mrs. Jasper left behind; that Jones Ia,
UrOSpered wonderfully, and felt enough
interest in his former wife to see tha
she should not suffer, and wound N
. with an invitation to return 20 CalifOT
MA. where a home would be prov.de'
: for her and all her future wants provides
for. This offer WAS accepted and Mrs
{ Jasper left about the first Of the month
There ismaterial enough for q romano
, here and moral sufficient fora bible, bu
the reporter hasn't time TO paint the on
or draw the other. He has sketched th
: bare facts, the imagination of his read
ers must do the rest.
zz-- Es--