The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-03-13
ENocH ARDEN aEDIvIvUs.
A True Story in Which ali are
Happy;
LENA Ratti ~

|
, LENA Rattir'
And as the door of each coa~h
was opened and the words of the
depot master rang out above the
changing of the dinner gongs and
the shouts of the cabmen and hotel
!. runners, the passengers turned in
their seats to observe whence the
voice came
Presently tall, handsome young
lady rose from her seat in the rear
coach, and glancing slyly at the un-
informed official, was seemingly
inspired with confidence and re-
sponded:
That's my name, sir
The official stepped briskly to
! her side, and after the interchange
OF few words in an undertone they
left the coach together.
On the platform stood an elderly
man, eagerly scanning each femf-
nine form and face as the passen-
gers emerged from the coaches and
hastily entered the waiting rooms
or hotel
1t was the first time in all the
years of depot Master Veitch's ex-
perience that he had been called
upon to introduce a lady to her IA
ther, whom she had never seen. He
performed the service gracefully
and affected business elsewhere as
the two strangers embraced and
were each in turn almost smothered
with kisses. It is seldom that an
active railroad official, after years
OF intimate associations with the
travelling public, has time or inclina-
ton to share in the sentimentalities
of those with whom he comes in
contact, but this time Mr.. Veitch's |
voice was husky, and more than one
glistening tear drop coursed down |
his cheeks and fell upon his new
gray uniform.
Twenty years ago Joseph Ratti,
Of Gentry county, Mo-, was married |
to Miss Tickermer. Both families
were in good circumstances and the
young people were highly esteemed.
But the brides mother had objected |
to the match, which was the result
of long courtship, and while re
luctantly consenting at last to the
marriage, it was apparent that she
never cherished for the young man
that tender affection which has
made the mother-in law an object
of special interest and admiration
throughout the world.
Soon after the marriage Mrs.
Tickermer expressed a desire that
the entire family remove to Saline
county. Mr. Ratti, who was com
fortably situated where he was, OBJ
jected to this arrangement, presum-
ing that his young wife would ap-
prove the decision. But the inf1u
ence of the mother was more power
full than that of the husband, and
when the old lady took her depar-
ture, almost before the honeymoon
had passed, the daughter and bride
went with her.
1t was a crushing blow to the
young farmer, to whom new life
and a new world had just been re-
vealed and whose hopes of happi-
ness were thus crushed and scatter
ed in 8 day. But although be en-
dured it philosophically, and made
no effort to induce his wife to re-
turn, still from that day he was
changed man. He prospered and
accumulated wealth, but it was ap-
parent to all that his sorrow was a
heavy burden. Hard lines came In
his face, his form was bent and his
hair and beard were prematurely
sprinkled with gray.
Several years later he was official :
lY notified that his wife had insti-
tuted proceedings to obtain a di-
voree. 1t was easy to defeat this
effort, and after the trial was over l
he began suit in Gentry county
against his wife, alleging desertion /.
as a cause OF action, and obtained :
decree of separation.
During these proceedings he ;
learned for the first time that he
was the father of beautiful girl, (
just budding into womanhood.
The remainder of the story may
be briefly told.
The mother-in-law died and the
wife repented of her error. By her
consent Lena, the daughter, who is
now nineteen years of age, wrote to
her father a pretty letter, full of
tenderness and devotion, and ex-
pressing long-cherished wish that
che might see him and be with him
in his declining years. The letter
delicately limited of spark of the
old love lingering in her mothers
heart for the husband whom she
had wronged at the instigation of
another.
The past rose up before him like
dream. He had learned to hate
his wife, but after q mighty strug
gle within himself the gates of his
soul were opened and a flood of
love poured in to drown all the bit
terness that existed there.
He replied to his daughters let
ter and sent her money to pay her
fare, together with some token of
good will for her mother.
Yesterdays meeting was the re-
suit of this correspondence.
Lena was coming home, and her
father had FASTENED to st. Joseph |
to meet her. He had never seen
her, he said, and solicited the assist
ance of depot Master Veitch, who
discovered her in the manner above
described.
A few hours later the father and
daughter were speeding homeward,
over the st. Joseph d Des Moines
railroad as happy as a bridal pair.
There is still another scene to be
enacted in the interesting drama
There will be another meeting at
the St. Joseph Union Depot. An
other wedding will occur in Gentry
county and Joseph Ratti and his
bride will complete the celebration
of their honeymoon, after twenty
years.-St. Joseph Herald.