The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-01
NOT ALL ROMANCE.
A Milwaukee Lady Who Figures in Cables
Romance of DIR. Sewer.

Romance of DIR. SEWER.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
One of the bell boys at the Plankington
House, flirting through the arcade, yesterday
afternoon, paused long enough to answer a ques
ton as to the location of Mr.. Geo. w. Cables
room
"There it is" said he, his index finger indcat
ing half-opeI door.
Come in, lazily drawled voice from within
in response to the hammering of Sentinel re
porter's knuckles on the panel of the door:
''Mr Cable?" ventured the reporter beh6ldine
tall figure, decidedly en- deshablle.
NO Mr. Clemens" replied the humorist, who
was the occupant of the room. Mark Twain was
in his afternoon attire, consisting of long
white nightshirt. trimmed in blue, and cigar.
He was smoking the latter with evident salts
faction 'Mr. Cables ROOM" he said, as the
smoke from his Havana foated toward the cell
ing, lis just across the hall"
The Southern novelist appeared a moment
later, greeting his visitor pleasantly. Being
urged to narrate tho circumstances attending
the conception and writing of his story, CDR.
Sewer. from which extracts were read at the
academy last evening, Mr.. Cable replied, sub
stantially:
THE characters, that is the principal ones,
and the main incidents of the work are true.
One afternoon, as l was passing the Office of my
family physician, he called me in and said he
wanted to tell me true story. Not needing my
protest that was busy. he seated me and, re
cllning on his lounge, related the story of the
people call John and Mary Richling
1.-The story of their trials affected me deeply,
and at my first leisure moment | wrote out the
plain story. This read to my father-in-aw on
condition that he should not tell it. The recital
of the facts brought tears to his eyes, and with
this proof OF the story's sympathetic strength l
wrote the novel"
What was the story in brief9"
''Simply this: John Richiing I do not know
his real name, for he never revealed it) had mar
ried dainty. sweet, pretty little woman in Mil
waukee. He was from Kentucky. They an
peared in New Orleans, and that was where my
DR.. Sewer first saw them. He was called to at
tend the young wife. He helped her through
several sieges of illness. Her husband was
searching for position. and all this time the
Mary was found by the Doctor in the charity
hospital Creditors had sold the bed from under
her, and this was all that was left for her.
THE Doctor asked if her husband had failed
in his duty to her, but she replied: No, he could
not do So Shortly afterward John became an
inmate of the hospital, and remained there for a
few weeks. On his recovery, Mary by the Doc
tors advice, was sent to her mother. here in
Milwaukee. The Doctor watched over John till
he finally got place with baker named Rich,
on Benjamin street. Here he proved of immense
value to his employer who died, leaving him in
charge. John finally sickened and came into
the doctors hands again. He wanted to send
for Mary. but the doctor dissuaded him. A
uduSuLcr WAS OOrH 10 MARY In milwaukee, and
John as he lay dying, handed picture of his
daughter to the doctor, saying: This is my
baby whom have never seen. Mary's picture
do not need, as have it always in my heart:
When, | am dead, bury this picture over my
heart
THUS he died, refusing always to tell his
name, as-~2ch revelation would bring reproacll
on his family, who had failed to treat him as
they should. Now, somewhere up here is this
little woman and her daughter If they are not
dead. They are as dear to me as if they were
my own children. Now, as / talk of them, my
heart rises in my throat, and tears come unbid-
den to my eyes Mary would be about forty
years old, and | am hoping always that my book
or some notice may come to her eyes that will
help to reveal her to me-"
What is to be your future literary work. Mr..
Cables"
'As we travel about, think often will start
to write story of my stories So many little
pleasant things occur in connection with them
that the recital of them will be very pleasant,
and think, readable. For instance. while DIR.
Sewer was running as serial, lady in Georgia
wrote. asking me to be kind enough not to al
low Dr.. SEWER to marry Mary. The lady's hus-