The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-08-08
A STRANGE STORY.
me Unfortunate 1nfatuatiOn
Which a n emphis Lady En-
tertains for a Well-KuOwn
Gentleman.

u i
does not necessarily require encourage
ment. 1t may be rebuffed and argued
with, but it grows on apace, feeding
upon Itself. 1t is impossible to &C
count tor. What is this subtle mag.
netism that makes woman forget her
dignity and love the man who never
can return her love? Why this per
sistence in a hopeless cause? Is
it something within her that
looks beyond unfavorable surround
ings and conviction that it will be
all right at some time? Whatever it
may be, it is futile to speculate upon.
Every day We see women who have
remained faithful to their ideals, dis
appointed ones patiently waiting for
time TO correct all mistakes, and
poor infatuated creatures that hope
against hope. How many SUCH mis-
lakes are made in the world
AN INFATUATED LADY.
These moral speculations are &C.
casioned by the contemplation Of a
strange case of infatuatiOn-and yet
no, strange when We consider woman's
heart-that developed Yesterday
Considerable excitement was OCCASION
ed on Carolina street, Fort Picker
ing, by the report that Mrs. Dora j.
Sharp, widow of the late Judge j. L.
Sharp. had tried to commit suicide by
poisoning. Investigation showed the
report to have been true. The cause
Of the attempt lies in that part of
nature that is stranger than fiction.
Mrs. Sharp has been the victim of a
most remarkable infatuation, and
from it has resulted suffering to her
Eelf and great pain to a worthy gen.
.leman, Capt. Robert NJ. Leeeh.
About two years ago she met this gen.
kleman casually and
FELL VERY MUCH IN LOVE
With him. He, however, did not re-
eiprocate; in fact, for some time he
was totally unaware of her feeling to-
.ard him. He was very much sur
psised when he began to receive ten
der letters from her. These he al
ssys returned, and in fact did every
hing he could to discourage her. He
conceived the idea that perhaps she
was not sound of mind. A short
time ago he happened to 60 to church
With his daughter and lady. Mrs.
Sharp saw him. Shortly afterward
abe sent for him to come to her. She
Feproached him bitterly for going
with the lady to church. He didn't
know what to make of it. She asked
him to look over her deeds and other
papers and see if her estate was all
-sght.
MY dear madam" said he, eff I
Tere to undertake it 1 would be twice
rs long as anybody else, and | wouldn't
Know any more about it when | was
sSEough than l did at first. You
ought to get your lawyer to examine
F0ur estate"
SHE WANTED LOVE.
This did not suit her at all. She
vanted him to examine the papers.
Thinking that she was pushed for
1Boney, he offered to lend her any
amount she needed. She said she did
oot need any money. She wanted
ais love, and she wanted him to mar
y her. She had plenty of property.
At the word marry, he thought it
sime to leave. This was not the end
Of it. She sent him costly presents,
which he returned. She gave his
little girl handsome diamond pin,
which he had returned. Mrs. Sharp
thought some one was interfering in
The matter, and was keeping her let
sers and presents from him. Day be-
fore yesterday she met him on the
street, and again pleaded with him.
He told her as gently as he could
chat she ought not to 60 on in that
Say. She said she
WAS GOING TO KILL HERSELF.
He told her. laughingly. not to do
that, as coffin would cost 800. and
4 was too expensive. He did not
suppose for a moment that she would
do it. She said that he would see she
Soved him better than he thought.
She had made her will in his favor,
and asked him to take care of her
aister. Yesterday he was
VERY MUCH MORTIFIED
when the news was brought to him that
she had really attempted to take her
life. The affair is very lamentable.
Capt. Leech is very much distressed
about the matter and is afraid that
ms position should be misconstrued,
At he has acted, it seems, most hon.
,rably throughout. He saws he en-