Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-25
mother came. She spoke to me quite

mother came. She spoke TO me quite
rs If were yet but a child; questioned
me as TO my welfare during the eight
wears had been with my foster
parents. And then she spoke To me of
my mother dying in the hospital wards
eighteen years before, and entrusting
me to her care.
"She placed n small package in my
hands. dear. addressed To You. and
babe me keep it for you until the date
written on the outside. 1T will unravel
the secret of her birth, your mother
said. A moment more and she was
dead l have kept the trust"
From under her cape the nun drew
forth a square. bulky packet aud gave
it 10 me. As | gazed upon the UNI
familiar writing Of my mother. my eyes
were blinded with tears; for let the
Disclosure be what it would. she was
my mother still. felt could not read
the dear words there. Home! Home.
''Wait. dear" and the super Dress
drew from out the ample folds of her
black gown an official looking envel-
ope sealed with red wax, Il was to
give you this also"
| thanked the good nun and with
drew. As / re-entered my foster
mothers room. found her with tear
stained face. hushing her infant to re-
pose. My foster-father sat white and
silent by her side.
Father! mother"' | cried. rushing
to them. II have but just re ceived this
the history of whom and what | am.
Let me prove my love. my gratitude,
by placing ii in your hands unopened.
Read it. Ii is but just that you who
have done SO much for me, have made
me all l am. have given me all l poss-
ess, should be the first to know whom
you have befriended"
Mechanically raising me. Mr.. Ler oy
tore the package open and drew for tn
from II jewel casket bundle of letters
faded yellow with age. An agonizing
cry broke from his lips, as he turned
thu EN- over one by one. and read the
loving words inscribed thereon. all
signed IL and addressed TO + Ina
child | was. Opening small leather
case, there looked out at him beauti-
full girl with dark eyes and hair; and
opposite TO this was-himself as once
lie looked in the bright flush of early
manhood.
A sigh broke from his lips. and with
a reverental air he raised each trnket
from the casket One plain golden
hoop he turned over on his finger.
again and again. "E. l.. to J.. ~. {. "
he murmured, repeating the words as
if some charm were in the sound. \
marriage certificate; but he passed il
b. and eagerly clutched tiny note
that lay now alone in the empty
bjoutcrie. 1t was addressed 20 III
daughter Edna Mr.. Lcrot started
Is he read the words; AMI IA glance
fell wistfuIly upon me. See NJ the
anX ETY. for HIM TO proceed Onat NV
face must plainly have eNpre,sei) he
turned to the paper in hs uani. AMI
read aloud. but il broken tOur.:
Bellevue Hospital, AR 81 1927
My CHILD:-l am dyiug, on pu surely
dying. Aud OF broken heart. FIR Ia % ! iny.
has proved falthlc's To tac VOWS hc sppt-. lie
grew weary OF me aud learned 20 loyc PHI" her
heard him call her name IN ni- dr'u.u-. and
/ taxed him with the fact H. trtcd to .,Iihe
nv Jealous fears; but IN vain. / Persisted ln
my charges. lie ansN cred. hrs kud then
CURLY. In anger ! spoke the CrI ] Wpid- mat
drove him from me. Next la. hIs lawyer
called aud told me my husband had settled
=
that | was but woman aud could nos
struggle on with trouble, that he WISHED me
TO feel | Was perfectly independent aud could
enjoy the blessings OF wealth. / would re-
ceivc nothing; AMI wrote him that when they
laid me ia NV grave, ! would bc no more de sd
10 him then than | was at that very moment.
Six months later you came-my baby girl:
and would have lived for your sake; but the
wound Ia my heart Is mortal one. Today /
read OF your fathers approaching marriage to
rfv I La fuI kyif Sti
pray 10 God To save him from his sin to take
me To Hun, aud leave my darling free. For
love MIN, the father of nv child. DO not seek
TO find him, dearest Leave him TO his new
found happiness He did not love the
mother he cannot love her child. God will
watch over and protect Nv lamb.
81. G. LEROY.
and |, great Cod what am gasped
my foster-mother. THAT letter was
written but month before our
marriage. And this hapless babe. oh.
would he had never seen the light of
day."
What could say in the presence of
that mothers agony. How could l
hush her grief? glanced at the large
white envelope that still remained un-
opened. Perhaps there was comfort
there. | tore il open and found en-
ClOHtu ttl NiItu CopN w buc NiIlb III
record of the death of Edna ~. Clair
Lerov."
you were MARI ed when2" ii ask
ed eagerly.
.On the 4th OF Nav. 1926, ;" answer
ed my foster-mother, family.
Then God be praised! / cried. that
the poor orphan you took to your
heart can clear the clouds away from
your home. Nv mother died on the
30th of April. 1926. and handed her
the paper held. | turned toward my
father. and yearningly. the dear arms
opened 10 receive me-his own. his
very own child. Together we APP
preached the mother and the babe.
but W tn stern. set features. she waved
her husband away.
"Wife-"
mo. no; you deceived me. Married
me, believing that you were still bound
to another.
Il deny this | swear. by all | hold
sacred. that believed her dead. News
reached me of her death. by an acct
dent on the lake. There was several
I;xas loct NJ tho tiroa apI bar mama