The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-23

the fact. He tried to soothe my jealous
fears; but in vain. / persisted in my
charges. He answered, first kindly, then
curly. In anger, 1 spoke the cruel words
that drove him from me. Next day his
LAWYER called and told me my husband
had settled the whole OF his fortune upon
me- saying that l was but a woman
and could not struggle on with trouble;
that he wished me to feel l was
perfectly independent and could enjoy the
blessings OF wealth. Iwould receive nothing;
and wrote him that when they laid me in
my grave / would be no more dead to
him then than / was at that very moment
Six months later you came-my baby grit
and would have lived for your sake; but
the wound in my heart is a mortal one.
To-day read of your fathers approach
ing marriage to my rival, and his lawful
wife still alive. pray to God to save him
from his sin; to take me to Him, and leave
my darling free. For / love him, the father
of my child. Do not seek to find him,
dearest. Leave him to his new found hap
piness. He did not love the mother, he
cannot love her child. God will watch
over and protect my lamb.
E. ST.. C. LEROY.
"And !, great God! what am II"
gasped my foster-mother. "That let
ter was written but month before
our marriage. And this hapless babe,
oh, would he had never seen the light
of day!"
What could I say in the presence of
that mothers agony. How could I
hush her grief? l glanced at the large,
white envelope that still remained un-
opened. Perhaps there was comfort
there. I tore it open and found en-
closed certified copy of the official
record of the death of Edna st. Clair
Leroy"
"You were married when?"I asked,
eagerly.
"On the 4th of May, 1896" 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. My mother died on
the 3Oth of April, 1926" and hand
ed her the paper held. I turned to-
ward my father, and yearningly, the
dear arms opened to receive me-his
own, his very own child. Together we
approached the mother and the babe,
but with stern, set features, she wav-
ed her husband away.
"Wife-"
"No, no; you deceived me. Married
me, believing thatyou were still bound
to another"
81 deny this. Iswear, by all l hold
sacred, that l believed her dead.
News reached me of her death, by an
accident on the lake. There were
several lives lost at the time, and her
name headed the list. Later l mar.
ried you. Years afterwards learned
that the Mrs. Leroy that persisted
was not my wife, but a relative by
marriage, a cousin merely. l was
helpless then; we were man and wife.
I hid my secret to save you pain, but
when l saw that babe-our son-and
thought what he must be, felt the
crime concealment had been. 1 was
tempted to throw myself at your feet
and confess all; but l was coward,
I feared to lose you. Inez, wife, can
you not forgive me?"
left them alone. Later on they
sought me, and the happy light in
their dear eyes told the darkness OF
distrust had passed away, and the
calm of perfect love and trust pos
sessed their souls.
All me! this was years and years
ago. They are all gone now-father,
brother. But far away on the
eternal shore they are waiting to well
come me home to their arms again
Yankee Blade.