Omaha daily bee., 1886-10-10
A TRUE TALE In THREE PARTS
A Michigan Matron of Fifty Linked to a
Bluebeard Of Eighty,
= pEcElrFUL OLD DuFFeR.
Romance and RealIty-A Lonesome
Widow Beguiled into Marriage
by the Ghost OF Man
in Omaha.
tWrHtcn for hc Omaha Sunday Bee. /


sufficient for the present purpose. In
days not remote the sunshine of domestic
happiness mingled there with the noisy
laughter of romping boys and girls.
Fond parents gazed with love-ht eyes on
the budding darlings, four in number,
and ere they had fairly reached the legal
tender age of seventeen and twcnty-one.
the father was stricken down by death
in tie early autumn of life. The dark
shadow of the great reaper rested long
on the homestead, lightened only by the
toll of young but willing hands They
strove successfully to keep the family
treasury in comfortable condition, aud
the name of Dekoben became the syn
onym of thrift in the neighborhood
AS the years sped on the family
gradually separated. First the girls
were married, and the boys followed the
example after the lapse of reasonable
intervals, and last May-day found Mrs
Dckoben bidding farewell at the altar to
her fourth and last 1t was sad day to
her. To be sure she had a choice of
homes to 20 to- but their occupants had
others to love. Like dcthroned queen
she contemplated her deserted court,
without subjects to rule and DO her bid
ding, no longer looked to as guiding
star for good and a barrier againt harm.
While thus struggling in a sea of men
tai gloom, amid the ruins of former
happiness, gossipy neighbor whispered
Marry again" 1t stag
gcred her ut first, but it struck tender
chord, and soon blossomed like the morn
ing. glories round her door. The neiph-
Dor knew friend in Omaha, widower
past nifty, with a sulliciency of the worlds
goods to make her comfortable the rest
of her life.
'Do write n lctter.to him." said the
neighbor coniidentially; "he is an elegant
gentleman, and I'm sure, if you can
catch him he would make splendid hus-
band. Besides, Eugene, you re without
home comforts, your children are all
gone, and the best thing you can do is to
look around for n new and comfortable
hearth. There isn't any harm in writing"
Mrs. Eugene Dekoben frightened up
considerably as she discussed the uues.
ton alone. Just rounding forty.seven,
fair and reasonably fat with none to
dispute her conduct, and Il growing de-
sire for an eligible mate, she determined
to test her friends advice.
PART TWo.-PARTED, TOO.
An early mail hurried "A carefully
worded letter to Edgar Neill Iosp,
Omaha, Neb." He had already been adj.
vised by the confidential friend and did
not require much study to discern the
object of the note. A prompt response
followed, and the correspondence opened
up auspiciously, Tri-weckly letters,
rivalIing in intensity of expression the
scorching days of summer, were ex-
changed, rs well as photographs. The
all-important question was followed by
q red ink yes, and preparations
Edgar, lovingly, addressed her, invested
lavishly in silks and the finest linen, as
well as bonnets and ribbons to match.
Bits of family lace and rare jewels that
did service more than once for brides,
were brought out and prepared for the
happy occasion, Early in July she bid
cheerful farewell to her Michigan home,
and in due time arrived in the Gate city.
Her own Edgar met her at the depot but
she knew him not. He was not the
Edgar of the photograph by long way.
Eugenie drew back in disgust as soon
he produced evidence of his identity
You old reprobate; you deceitful scoun-
why did you lie to me, telling me you
were only fifty, when you are eighty if
day Oh, you horrid old bag of bonesI'
Trembling with disappointment and
rage, Mrs; Dekoben swept past her in
tended, almost paralyzing him with
look of scorn. That she did not scalp
him then and there she regrets to this
day. The ideal gentleman of means
mentally carved on the banks of Rasin
creek was farther from the reality than Il
Virgins prophecy, and the fragments of
her idol were bathed in plinding tears.
Tosp was anything bat the matured
Apollo he pictured himself. The weight
of four,score years made camel-like
bumps on his back and furrowed his
forehead and cheeks, and melancholy
ridges of weary hide fortified the corners
of his mouth. A pair of pea-green ewes
pcered from bloodless sockets, willie
below rose double back, sharp
pointed nose, bearing unmistakable
evidence of liquid caressngs. A
the Sharp outline of 4 parch.
ment face, and the battered remains of a
sawed-otf derby covered his pate. A
thread bare suit of blue hung wearily on
his frame, and liver pad necktie pro-
tected his SHIRT from the polka dots of
navy clippings" Against such rem-
niscence of mankind Eugenie's heart re-
rebelled. To wed him would be an invi.
tat'on OF funeral, and "a harvest of
barren regrets" She decided to return
to Michigan and repent her folly among
her children and grand children.
PART TIREE-AND ONE.
Mrs. Dekoben had scarcely landed on
Raisin creek before letter arrived from
Tosp. In doleful words it told the story
OF broken heart of sorrowful DAYS and
sleepless nights, OF bursting love for her,
and burning desire to make amends
Tor old age, TO cover his wrinkles
with greenbacks and round his
anguiarity with golden eagles He intl-
mated that she acted hastily IN leaving
him, that u sandstone front with costly
furniture and creature comforts awaited
her. But now, oh sad thought!-the
labor of love is lost; the key is turned on
what might have been n charming home,
and life is "A burden without her.
Eugene read and reread this twelve
page epistle, The more she read the
more she releLted. and three more in the
same strain had the desired effect. Per
haps, " thought she. IL have injured him.
i will go To him and comfort him in his
last days. He can not live long anyhow,
and them
Again Eugenie crossed the Missouri
and married Edgar without further delay
The charming home proved to be TWO
shabby rooms near St. Mary's avenue,
and the elegant furnishings were of the
plainest kind found in second hand shops.
Ten days had passed before she realized
the enormIty of the deception practiced
upon her, From being "gentleman of
leisure" he toilcd ten hours day at his
trade and tottered home at dusk, weary
and decaying fragment OF truth. HIS
property boasts proved as empty as his
purse, and tenement in Chicago claimed
by him belonged to a divorced wife.
Daiarninad IN ma ka tha hast of a hat