The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-08-18
WHOLE NO. 1881.
A Beggar's Romance.


Did you ever notice the little old wo-
man who turns the crank of wheezy old
hand organ on one of the railroad via
ducts Day after day, summer and win
ter, rain or shine, she Is seated there ON
little eamp-stool, grinding out the same
old distracting tunes. Hot or cold, she
always wears the same faded gown, and
the same threadbare shawl is always
drawn tightly across her shoulders. A
little black bonnet, rusty with age. is
pulled well down over her forehead. 50
as TO hide her pihched and eareworn
features Perhaps you have caught Il
chance glimpse Of her pale face and saw
something in the pitiful expression that
caused you to stop for an instant and
drop a coin into the little tin cup. IL
probably never occurred 10 YOU that the
life history of this street beggar Is inter
lined with choice bit of romance. You
certainly never dreamed that the humble
creature before you was once the belle
of salt Lake City, leader of fashion, and
the heiress To millions. Yet she was.
She is the oldest daughter of of John
Brigham Young, one of the wealthiest
men in Utah, and fayorite niece of the
once famous Mormon prophet She was
reared in luxury, and received liberal
education. Gifted with rare musical tai
ents, she became celebrated among her
people as an accomplished vocalist, and
at one time was the principal contralto
in the choir at the tabernacle She was
her fathers joy, and just rs she WAS bud
ding into womanhood be pledged her
hand to rising young elder who had
been active in PROSECUTING for the Nor
mon Church. She reconstructed, but
without avail
A short time before the day set for the
wedding she was secretly married to
young newspaper man. He was Gen
tile. When her father got wind of the
marriage he renounced his daughter and
east her out of his house She fled with
her husband to New York. where he OBJ
tanned employment as reporter on
morning newspaper. Shortly after his
eyesight became affected and he was un-
able to retain his position. Then came
the struggle for an existence. Their little
savings were soon exhausted in irving to
restore the husbands eyesight, and after
three years treatment he became totally
blind. Though disinherited and reduced
TO poverty, the devoted wife remained
true to her marriage VOWS. She wrote to
her father begging him to aid her, but re-
ceiving no reply, sought for employment
Every one turned deaf ear to her APP
peals for work and as last resort she
accepted an engagement in concert sa-
loon. There her splendid voice attracted
attention, and she was able To earn
enough to give her blind husband COM
Portable home. Their prosperity, how
ever, was short-lived, for not long after
she was prostrated by sickness and the
fever robbed her Of her voice and left her
but a wreck Of her former self Dis
heartened in spirit and feeble in health,
she began the life of street beggar, wan
dering from place to place and finally
locating in Chicago, the Mecca for power
ty-stricken Bohemians. Although drag
ged down to the very depths of despair
4 a n -. e -
clung to the sightless old man who un-
Willingly caused her downfall Recently
a woman who knew the beggar many
years ago saw and recognized her, and by
close questioning elected the sad story of
her unfortunate career