The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-19
THE STORY OF A "FRRAF
BY MARIE MoRE-MARsH.

FROM tnt CHtCttyO fHtef-OCeuN.
Unless you have more self-control than
most of us, you would have given an invol-
untary start at the first sight of Mary
Newton, for she was frightfully deformed.
Hers was not a grotesque, picturesque de-
formity that interests even while it repels.
but rather a horrible, helpless shapelessness.
Powerless to walk or to help herself in
any way, and unable to sit. or even to hold
up her head without the aid of mechanical
appliances, she spent the most of her time
in an ingenioastg contrived wheeled chair.
Two iron rods at the back supported
curved rod overhead. shaped like the frame
of bed canopy; from the middle of this
hung strap with a padded rest, which
slipped beneath her chin and formed prop
for her head, while similar straps hanging on
each side passed u lder her arms and sup
ported her shoulders.
She never went out of the house, and as
the neighbors had never seen her they
made great mystery of her, but her story
was really very simple.
Eighteen years before, her parents, who
were English people of wealth and refine
ment, convinced that her recovery was
hopeless, had brought her, then child of
two, with them 60 America.
To spare her the pain of knowing her
misfortune and to hide their own sorrow
from their friends was now their aim; so,
bringing with them few trusty servants,
they hid themselves in the heart of a great
city in a strange land.
Little Mary was bright of intellect and
was given thorough instruction by both her
mother and father in the languages and
sciences; she was an exceptio ally fine
mathematician and a good linguist, and
had read and studied the standard authors
her parents carefully wedding out every
thing that might possibly attract her atten-
tion to her own condition.
She had a cheerful disposition and, suffer
ing no pain, and SURF unded only by those
whose every care was to keep all knowledge
of her affiicGon from her-it is little wonder
that she had never realized the full extent
of her calamity.
When she was 10 years of age she lost her
parents in terrible accident: while driving.
their horses became frightened and dashed
| through an open bridge, killing them in
| stantly.
Wilkins, her nurse, who had borne her in
her arms since she was a baby carried her
into the darkened room where they lay. No
traces of their violent death were percept-
BILE and they appeared as if in peaceful
sleep.
Mary's impotent grief was heartrending:
powerless even to stretch out her hands to-
ward them, she lay in Wilkins arms a
quiveriDg mass. 30, papa-mama-take
me, too. she begged piteouSly, and for the
first time they VINO had never refused her
slightest request were silent to her entreaty.
Her grief was the unreasoning. unrealizing
grief of a child.
The next day she seemed to have sud
denly acquired womanliness, surprising
in one of her limited experience. She asked
Wilkins to take her once more into the
chamber of death; cal n and fearless was
her last farewell. dear ones, will be
patient" was all she said.
When the business of the estate was
settled it was found that besides her home
Mary had almost nothing, unfortunate
investments having left the property in
very bad shape.
Mary knew practically nothing OF this
Wilkins managed everything, aud when