St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-02-28
THE MACKEY ROMANCE.
The Poor Nevada Widow,
Whose Daughter Has Just
Welded the Prince
COHOmnRs

fornia a family Of three persons,
father, mother, and daughter. The
latter was a mere child. All we're
young. The father was physician.
Unfortunately, he injured his not
very extensive practice by intern
perance. His habits became SO
dissipated that the poor wife, dis
pairing of his reformation, and also
Of the possibility Of independent &C
ton on her own part to secure sup
port for herself and child, proposed
a separation. The man agreed to
it; but he was not put out like Rip
Van Wrinkle. He was assured that
while he lived she would never cease
to help him, and that when he
mended his ways their old relations
should be restored. He departed
to cure himself, if possible, and be
come worthy Of the woman who,
sorely beset, undertook the mainte-
nance of the family. Encouraged
by his wife's prayers, letters and
heroic conduct, the doctor redeemed
himself. At least he thought 50,
and his poor wife was more than
willing to believe it. He returned
to her home and heart, warmly well
coined back to both. Unluckily,
he had either miscalculated his will
power, or the demon of indulgence
was simply asleep, and by no
means
DEAD WITHIN HIM.
He went back to his cups, and very
soon the skeleton finger Of poverty
was laid upon his domestic affairs.
The devoted wife, unwilling to I'M
dertake an experimental separation,
and unable to remain where she
was, determined to try what change
Of scene would do for this miserable
man, who naturally kind. talented
and wholesome, seemed to be in
sanely abandoned to the devil Of
strong drink. Just at this crisis
rumors had reached California Of
the Comstock lode discovery. and
thither many Of the mining popula-
ton drifted. Across the Sierras to
Virginia City this little and most
wretched family iourneyed.
The doctor pulled himself togeth-
nr Ho,. ouybiIo and did soma hI1siness
but his health was gone and very
soon he died. Widow and orphans
were left in the very depths Of pow
erty. The generous miners had
dubbed together to bury the doctor.
They made up a purse for the moth
er and child from time to time, and
thus saved both from utter depriva-
ton of food, shelter and raiment.
There was at that time superintend-
ent of one Of the mines a sturdy
young Irishman, who, from the low
est rounds Of the ladder, had begun
to push his way to fortune. He
was not then more than moderately
well of, and little dreamed Of the
Monte Cristo casket in store for
him. He used to carry the weekly
or monthly stipend to the widow,
and his visits to her became
MORE AND MORE FREQUENT.
At last he married her, and her days
of fear on the score Of poverty were
over. She possessed a well-to-do
husband, who was the master Of his
possessions and certain to make his
way in the world. But in the days
of distress the unhappy woman had
resorted to the morphine habit, and
could not, of her own effort, release
herself from it. A young physician
at Virginia City, who had recently
graduated in France, informed her
that if she would visit Paris and put
herself implicitly under the care OF
his old master there, her cure could
be guaranteed. While the husband
remained to uncover, with the pres
emit junior Senator from Nevada,
the richest silver deposit the world
has ever known, the wife crossed
the seas and submitted to a rigorous
medical treatment. It was success
full after many months q, endurance.
Meanwhile the famous California
and Consolidated Virginia minis
were penetrated by the husband,
and the World-renowned pseanzal
Of which he was principal oWR2g,