The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-10-02

The Story of Two Young Girls,
Adopted in Babyhood.

II walls have ears as the adage as
serts. then the pine boundaries OF the
MAYORS office heard the details of a
most romantic story yesterday morn
ing. A gentleman occupying a high
official position in the city government
called at the Mayors office in sad
mood and paid his adopted daughters
fare from St. Louis to some point in
Arizona, where she is to join her own
mother, of whose existence she only
recently became aware. The city Of
fetal paid the money with sigh. and
as he received the ticket which was to
be the instrument of transporting from
him one whom he had learned TO love
as daughter. his eyes became moist
and his voice grew husky.
Commodore, the history of that
girls vicissitudes is q strange one"
s'Come inside" said Commodore
Smith. land make Sergeant McGrew
and myself your confidantes. We have
hearts softened by constant contact
with misery and can at least go out to-
wnrd you in the way of sympathy"
The gentleman addressed ran the
back of his hand rapidly across his
eyes and followed the pair into the
tive of the city. Then the following
tale was told.
In the year 1860 happy family lived
in Maryville, Cal, hus band, wife,
and two children, both girls, one four
and the other two years of age. Sud-
denly it became known that the father
was becoming addicted to drink, and
it was not long before he was hope
l., fn
from him, and the Court gave her the
custody of the two children. Shortly af-
terward, while the latter were sick with
measles. the husband kidnapped them
and took them East, and wrote 10 the
wife stating that both the children had
died. The mother, knowing the chill
dren were sick when torn from her
side, believed the false misSive. and
mourned them as dead. Subsequently
the man came to st. Louis with the
children. Finding that mis- health was
failing him, he made strenuous efforts
to get his children adopted by persons
in good circumstances. The younger
child was adopted by a family which
moved To Erie, Pa, and the oldest girl
became a member of the family of an
employe of one of the city institutions.
Since then he has become the head of
an important department OF the city
government. The child was adopted
| ten years ago. The father afterward
| led an aimless life. doing chores for
| saloons and writing bills of fare for
restaurants, in return for which he re-
| ceved in the first instance occasional
drinks, and in the second occasional
meals. About year ago he obtained
free transportation from the Mayor TO
| Olney, III. Before leaving for that
| place, however, he had an interview
with his oldest daughter. in the course
| of which he confided to her the story
of her abduction, and the fact of her
| mothers existence.
| He obtained from her a solemn prom
ise not to repeat what he had told her
till after his death. He bade his daugh-
ter farewell, and left her forever. He
died in April last, and the daughter in
St. Louis told her adopted parents
what she knew of her antecedents. 4
rich bachelor uncle in Maryvilie. Cal. ,
was written to, and it was learned in
reply that the mother had married a
wealthy Judge in Arizona. A letter
was then dispatched to the mother. and
few days ago reply was received
from the judge. her husband, inclosing
800, and asking the adopted parents
to send the girl at once to him in Ari-
zona. In the course of his letter the
step-father says:
You are coming. my dear daughter.
to loving hearts who have many years
mourned You as dead. On your way
hither do not stint yourself. Take q
sleeping-car. and buy everything thai
will make your journey pleasant and
relieve its tediousness."
The girl has always been treated as
member of the family by her adopted
parents, and she has received goo,
education. The youngest child has
not been so fortunate in the matter OF
education. and she will be sent to q
school in the East before being return.
ed to her mothers house. The adopt,
ed father of the oldest girl has made
her present of her ticket to Arizona,
and the 800 which her step-fatheI
sent will be used in the purchase OF
clothes and other necessaries for heI
journey. The adopted parents, while
10th 10 part with the young girl. who
has been so long in their charge. say
they have too much affection for her to
stand in the way of her social advance
ment.-'St. Louis Il pub'icun.
| @--------