Huntsville gazette., 1883-10-06
Loves Devotion.

interested. As gathered by the scribe,
the facts in the case bear out the oft-
| quoted assertion that ''truth IS stranger
than fiction" and are about as follows;
Some years ago thare lived in the city
| of Mobile, Ala, family named RiveS,
consisting of father, mother and three
daughters, aged respectively seven, tif-
teen and seventeen. the girls being re-
markable for their beauty, and the two
eldest, especially. exceedingly well edu-
Gated and accomplished and most bril-
liant pianists. Colond Rives was largely
interested in several plantations. pos
sessed property in the city of Mobile
proper, and was regarded as one OF the
| leading citizens. ReverseS of fortune
came, however, and the once wealthy
| family were soon reduced 10 decidedly
small means. In addition to other mis-
fortunes, Colonel Rifes was one day
accidentally killed blythe explosion OF
steam boiler upon one of his planta-
.tions. and his childra IN were thus de-
prived of their mains tay and support,
and thrown upon the charities OF
world unfeeling and selfish at the best.
Gathering together the remnants of
/
| Mrs. Rives decided to, leave her south
ern home and come to St. Louis to be-
| gin the battle for existence. The money
which they had sufficed forsome months.
but at last their meaps gave out, and
the only alternative was for one OF the
| daughters to obtain some employment
By means of which the wolf might be
kept from the door. After seeking IN
vain for some occupation in keeping
with her former surroundings, the eldest
daughter Eloise. was forced to accept
position as chamber1naid in the Hotel
| Hunt, at the corner Of Ninth and Chest
nut streets. The mother and the two
Youngest girls mea hwhile secured ac-
| commodations at the residence OF
kind-hearted lady named Mrs. A. b.
Waterhouse, who lives at 1910 Pine
street, and who readily appreciated the
hard lot which hadi fallen to the dis
tressed family. Like true daughter.
Eloise devoted her earnings, small
though they were. toward the support
of her mother and two Younger sisters,
and, with the assistance OF an aunt,
who also came from Mobile, and pos
sessed some resources, life was made
comparatively comfortable for them.
The beauty andi attractiveness Of
Eloise proved a stroAg drawing card for
the hotel, and many'a festive and inno-
cent drummer stopped there in the
hope of ultimately gaining favor in her
ewes. But she was discreet and kept
all admirers at a distance, with the ex-
ception of a young man who was en-
ployed in Fourth street business house
as book-keeper, and who fell passion
ately in love with her. Another adorer,
who was connected with a sewing ma
chine company, also ev.nced decided
preference for her, but she did not ap
| pear to receive his advances with favor,
and gave her affections to Seid. This
regard soon decpened into love. and the
two finally became engaged, but after
short time the inevitable lovers quarrel
| took place and the engagement was bro
! ken. This occurred nearly three months
| ago About this time there came to
| the hotel a German gentleman from
| Colorado, named r. Stager, a chem; st
and metallurgist by profession. and who
resided in the village of Garfield, a
thriving hamlet in the Centennial State.
Fortune having been kind to him he
had gathered a competency amounting
to about S50,000 Upon arriving he i'm
mediately fell yioleltly in love with the
pretty chambermah, and Miss Rives
was then able to boast of two lovers who
both swore they were ready to die for her,
with a possibilityrof the rejected one
doing likewise if She so desired. The
girl did not receive Stager's attentions
with favor, he being more than twice
her age, 50 she kept herself fancy free,
for all that the dttside world knew
Stager went back tb Colorado with the
intention Of forgetting her, If possible,
but found himself unable to do so, and
after staying away about one month
returned to ST. LOUIS again, stopping
at the Hotel Hunt, loving the girl as
fondly as ever. but she refused to give
him anv encouragement About three
weeks ago Miss hivess eyes became
affected, and being seriously i'll she
was obliged to leave her place in the
| hotel. Mrs. Warehouse took her to
her own home, 4here she could be
properly cared for. and where a moth
er's tender hanjs could ease her
daughters pain.
| IHeH iolio"tu ftAtSoo VI othSol aHcC-
ton and loyalty. by night and by day
he thought of nothing but the girl he
SO fondly loved. Flowers, fruit and
every delicacy ofainable he had sent
to the house why're his love lay sick.
Every expense whs paid by him, and
he used his money solely for her bene-
fit. Her heart could not withstand
these proofs Of hif devotion. however,
and against the wishes of her family she
consented to become his wife Yester-
day was fixed upon as the wedding day.
and at two clocS in the afternoon DR..
Vincil appeared lat the residence OF
} Waterhouse for the purpose of perform
ing the ceremony, The girl soon to be
} wife still occupied her bed, unable to
be moved. Sweet-smelling flowers
, graced the room,. and in her hand she
} held bunch of forget-me-nots.
Through the open window the sun
shone brightly, throwing slanting sun
beams upon her wasted form. At her
side stood her future husband, while
, around the bed were gathered hel
mother and sisters, Mrs. Waterhouse.