Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-07
KATIE WRITES VERSE
LATEST FANCY OF THE uNFoRTU-
NATE GIRL AT THE ALMsHOUSE.
! Another Interview with Mrs. King
A Romance.


cautions of the almshouse nurses Katie
O'Keefe, or Jessie Miller" as she still
confders or pretends 10 consider hereeli, was in
formed Of tho contents Of the DIsfATcH's article
reyealing her identity.
She listended TO the lady who gave tho nfor-
nation very attentvoly, then pooh-poohed tho
matter and said that It was all nonsense. She
declared that she hadn't sister or half-slster In
the world. and that her only relation was a half
brother living in Cincinnati. She had had, che
said, an uncle named Bishop who lived In Gooch-
and, and she knew Mr.. Catlin there. Her
mothers maiden name, she said. was Isabella
Bishop. She was the only child OF her mothers
marriage, and after her mothers death her
father married a widow with one child. That
child is her half-brother, now residing In Cncin-
Yesterday she wrote his name on piece Of
paper az Charles Curtis Keith. though sbe has,
IL is stated, given It once as "O'Keefc."
READ THE BIBLE.
Tuesday night shO sat IN the window Of her
room for several hours, and after many efforts
TO persuade her 20 retire had failed, her room
mate, one OF tho almshouse patients, re-
marked:
"Those who want 20 read tho Bible can't, and
those who cant read 1t want to-"
On hearing this Katie Immediately left her
seat In the window, took up the Bible, read In a
distinct voice three chapters from II TO her COM
paniOn, and then went 20 bod.
btAbto lNlO lDfAhls
Yesterday she spent most Of the day in writing
verses, and among her productions ia the fol-
lowing, supposed TO be addressed to her imag-
nary husband:
FAREWELL
Sunday night We parted forever:
Thou art nothing more to me.
Proudly each tie was severed
That bound my life 20 thee.
Not n single leaf did quver
When bid my last adieu,
Though II broke my heart forever,
Not n tear was shed for you.
Oh, the vow you plead for, take II,
Think not prize thee yet,
For the future love you sigh for,
Seek only 20 forget
HO.2.
Not voice shall whisper for them,
Not n rosebud would stone.
Go smile upon another,
Go worship her again.
Win her heart and ColdIy brenk II,
AZ thou hast broken mine.
Go in peace, for we have parted.
All the world IL sad to me,
Yet pray that Gods vast blessing
Ever more shall rest on thee.
JESSIE BELL MILLER.
The chirOgraphy on this was much better than
that In her letters TO Mrs. King.
NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.
During the day Richmond photographer teIe-
phoned TO the almshouse and asked If he would
be permitted 20 take Katie's picture. When the
stood that they always took the pictures Of
criminals, but she had done nothing 20 be
ashamed Of. She had no objection to hers
being taken, provided 10 was not hawked
about for sale and was TO be used for the purpose
Of having her friends Identify her.
Another Interview with Mrs. King.
Last night the DISPATCH received the following
from its correspondent at Goochland Court
house:
In obedience 10 instructions received from
the DISp I called al Mira X ING this mOTuipp
Her first words Of greeting were. How IL KRtie?'
and whom told Of her restoration TO reason and
the general betterment Of her health she ex-
pressed great satisfaction.
Katie was at ono time nurse in an asylum
for tho insane, situated IN 81. Louis Uhc name Of
which Is not recalled), as was learned by your
correspondent, and during her stay there Mrs.
King has reason % believe that she called her
herself Jessie Miller
THREAD OF ROMANCE.
A thread Of romance Is connected with Ratie's
life. II Ia the old story Of devoted lover whose
passion is unreqnited. Yes, "A most estimabe
young man, belonging To one Of the learned pre-
fessions in 81. Louis Is anxious 20 mako Katie
his bride, but she with love for freedom and
the gay, happy life Of a young girl, has thus far
refused 20 hearken TO the voice Of the charmer.
alt would be reprehensible in me-" said Mrs.
King, "tO give the name Of the young man, az
am sure Il would be offensive TO him 10 have such
publicity given 10 his sacred feelings. Ho loves
her but she will not consent 10 marry hirn.p
1Who is this Burton who In Jessie Miller's i'm
agination enacts the role of husband" quoried
your correspondents
"There Is no husband in the case, and II is
characteristic Of Katie 10 imagine such thing
I'm her present condition." was the reply. "katie
has frequently talked 10 me Of the delightful
piC-nics that used TO be given 90 tho inmates OF
the asylum at which she was nurse, and never
tired OF relating laughable and sometimes pa
thetic incidents connected with them. She often
told me during her stay at my house In Aprll
last that she was going 10 Richmond 10 picnic
into IaI 1
certainly have given her sufficient funds 10 pay
her travelling expenses. OF course / did not
want her 10 20, but then could not have pre-
vented 1t If she had determined ON the trip
FOND OF GAYETY.
any sister is wonderfully fond OF gayety and
exctement. She seems scarcely content with
out It,"
/ ala not question Mrs. King closely as TO her
sisters inner life, as she seemed unwilling that
further publicity should be given 10 the matter,
the purposes OF identification having already
There Is no doubt in her mind that "Jessle "
is Katie.
THE RELATIONSHIP, AGAIN.
What may have appeared an inconsistency IN
Mrs Kings first statement-that Katie, her
Younger sister, bore the name OF Okeete, whlst
her maiden name was Hopper, and Hopper peTe
still aliye--is explained by the tact that Mr.. ana
Mrs Hopper were divorced, aud she subsequent
ly married Mr. O'Keefe, whom Mira King docs
not remember as being n Mason, az GATED by
,Jessie Miller The Kings are not able just now
10 20 TO Richmond 20 complete the identification,
nor indeed do they deem II necessary, being
perfectly assured in their own minds that the
lost sister is found.
An Interesting Study.
The opinion stin prevails at the almshouse
that Katie believes her own story In part at
least, but IL is hardly TO be doubted that sho Is
consciously holding back some OF the real iacts
Of her life and past associations. Further, while
II can hardly be questioned that her mind Is
temporarily unbalanced, II Is not certain that
think In short Katies case in some Of It's
phases appears TO present mixed and interest
Inc study of partial dementia and adroit acting.
READING FOR A MEDAL.