Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28

~ Almost feared it to be the last lone
steep. Mary looked so thin and oa1o
But presently her blue evos ana"o,
began. "'e she
You see, I was nothing but a little
GERMAN girl, Mary Schneider, with a
common school education, and I had
begun to learn the dressmaking trade
l was young, only seventeen, when 7
met hlm-Ed Lunn. He was an Amerf.
eaH' and my folks, when they found
nm coming to see me, were mad at mo
But how could I help loving him?
ne was SO upright, so honor
able and sogood to me. He was a con
auctor, and getting good pay, so we had
10 wait for nothing, and by and bye
we We're married.
we We're very happy. He used to
BRING me trinkets on every return trip.
ana was as proud of his little wife as
though she were a queen. And after
Edna came, we thought our happiness
was perfect. He got me a hired girl.
and whenever Ed was in on q rum, we
would go walking, and sometimes we
would have a buggy ride.
by and bye little Willie came. and
my time was taken up with the little
ones. and there was considerable trouble
on the road, so Ed and 1 did not have
SO many happy hours together.
At last, when Willie was about
two years old, the officials on the road
taxed our men to such an extent that
many left. Ed was one of the first, for
lie was almost dead for sleep, and they
would not let them rest at all. So he
and many others went out to Utah.
They make two cents a mile there, and
before long Ed was a conductor. It
was an awful good piece of luck, for
some Of the poor fellows did not ven
get to breaking for two Or three weeks.
But Ed wrote back such encouraging
letters, and wanted his little wife SO
badly.
But that was not to be until some
time in the spring. However, at home
L was happy and fullof plans, and when
after the little baby, Robbie
came, I got along SO we'll that in May
was ready to so. AS a friend of mine
wa going out to her husband, we went
together. 1t was a pleasant journey,
the little ones We're so good.
ED met us at Salt Lake City, and if
we were never happy before we were
happy then. We stayed a day in Salt
Lake City, and Ed took me into the
Mormon Tabernacle, where the music
was so grand. Then we went on to
Lehigh, which was where Ed was 10.
Gated. He had a snug little cottage fol
me, and two maids, which was an I'm.
expected surprise, for 1 was not used tc
being waited upon. However, the next
day / noticed some very peculiar actions
about each, and asked Ed some ques,
tions about them. Among other things
I asked him if they We're married,
and-oh! my God!-he told me they
were his wives!"
The quivering frame was clasped in
the matron's strong arms. Nothing but
the sobs of the unfortunate woman
could be heard. Presently she quoted,
and, with utter disregard of her feel
ings in the matter, continued:
ED said every n did it, and that I,
being number one, was at the head. /
wrote home for help, for money to get
away, for anything, but they only an
swered that I could expect nothing else,
having married an American. A Ger.
man would never have treated me so.
But 1 was not entirely without
friends. The lady with whom 1 went
West loaned me money to get away, and
I was going back to my old home for a
divorce. 1 had taken dear little Robbie
with me, and had gotten away on a pre-
text of visiting my friend vino had set
tied at Salt Lake City. But on the
road Robbie sickened, and when
reached Denver I had to stop off with
him. He died there, poor little boy,
but I never wished him back. Then ]
drifted here and there, as my money
was gone, and at last came here.
1t was a year ago to-day that Ed told
me the two m were his wives. Ma
God forgive him the awful wrong he
did me, as freely as I forgive him."
That night Nurse Mary died, and the
matron in her inmost heart registered a
vow that, come what might, she would
avenge the death Of poor, loving Mary,
who died of o broken heart.
CENTRAL AFRICANS.
In the country at the back of Lukolela
there are some powerful but peaceable
tribes, at the head of whom is a chief