Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-06

pathizing with his mistress and believing her
not to be sinful at heart, follows the train of
prisoners from town to town, and even fol-
lows her to Louisiana where the nephew of
the governor smitten with her attractions,
wishes to possess her, aud bids for her as for
some quadrOon slave Terrified at the pros
pect of becoming the wife of such brute,
the poor girl flies to the swamps and dies in
the arms of her first lover, who continues
faithful to the last He, with a broken heart,
turns from the corpse, to fall into the arms OF
his friends-for friendship sometimes accom-
panies men who do these reckless things.
The friend has followed from France to
Louisiana to redeem his companion from en-
vironment, and finds that the denouement of
the intrigue has become complete by the
females death. He leads his wrctched friend
back to the city and the ship, and takes him
to France to resume his place as clerical
and friend of sinners.
Such is the story of Mauon Lescaut-.the
belief that there are women who fall from
virtue without criminal intention, continuing
to the present time, has kent this little story
alive, so that it has become u subject of
opera and painting, while all the other writ
ings, hundreds in number, OF the Abbe
Provost have fallen into inocuous desuetu1e,
as an erring president once phrased It,
John Keel, who lives on the edge OF Ten
nessee, not far from Louisville. courted
pretty Lucy Walker, neighbours daughter,
and married her IN 1916. The couple lived
together for thirty years and raised family
of four children. All the children married
and moved away. The old couple became
lonely, and they got young Lady named
Jane Hunter to come and live with them.
Miss Hunter was about twenty, bright and
attractive. IL was soon evident that Mr..
Walker was much attached to young Miss
Hunter. His wife grew jealous and accused
him of falling in love with the girl He
frankly admitted it and said that he would
marry her IL he did not have wife
already. Mrs. Walker left her husband and
soon afterward obtained divorce. The old
man and the young woman were then mar
ried and came over the line into Kentucky
to live. They bought farm about three
miles from here and lived together appar-
emily happy for twelve years. At the end Of
that tune they disagreed and separated, the
second Mrs. Keel, like the first, obtaining q
divorce. The old man went back TO rennes-
see where the wife of his youth had re-
manned faithful and alone. His heart turned
again toward her when they met, aud he
proposed that they be remarked. She
agreed. The other day the wedding oc-
Cured, and they have returned to the farm
upon which they began life when they were
first married, forty years ago.
The death-bed marriage of John LawtOn,
past national supreme ranger of the For
esters, has invested the closing scene of his
life with touch of romance says PrOvi-
dence, Il. l., dispatch. Lawton was a man
of considerable means ana had big aud
generous heart. Touched with the devotion
of Clara Louise Eliuora Fogg, his house
keeper, he offered her his hand and heart as
he lay dying, with but an hour of life to live.
The person to whom he offered to devote the
remainder of his existence labout sixty nine
minutes) did not ask for delay nor toy with
the offer. She was, no coy maiden, but
matron OF thirty-fye, who had passed
through period of miserable matrimony
years ago. She had nursed him with ten
der solicitude aud with unselfish devotion,
and had refused to be relieved of duties
trying enough to PROSTATE the most robust
woman. He appeared to be 30 desIrous
OF being accurately informed as to
his condition that he created an impression
that II there had been any hope OF recovery
he would have reserved ms hand for some
other woman, 70 whom rUmor says he was
engaged Ia New York. But the medical men
were positive nothing could save him. His
housekeeper had gone into the bed chamber
with tray containing dellcacies, when Mr.
Lawton beckonod her to hIs side.
VI want you TO do me q favor" he said.
~ want you 10 marry me. have but q few
hours 10 live and want 10 make you some
return Tor all your goodness and attention.
Will you have melh
Half an hour later the Rev. Mr.. Plummer
read the marriage service at the side OF that
death6ed aud Mrs. Fogg became Mrs. Law.
ton' In less than another half hour she was