The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-03-26

ss'cert.lnly. NJ d.zllnS. : / rsplied.
" Then she aid: Il viii surprise you
By telling you TINT am NOT Eivins
Pepper, but Helen Elliott, whom you
once thought too hoDaely to even look
~
ST was thunderstruciE
sIt can not be possiblcr' cried
she replied: Tits - true ae Gospel
Listen to my explanation The change
in my appearance, know, Is wonder,
full, but / will make the canse Of II
clear. Loving you much, ~ you must
have suspected, but realizing that was
too homely to make any impression ON
your heart, became almost . victim to
the darkest despair. I spent many
hours alone weeping bitter tears
thought and thought, but could see no
ray Of hope. Suddenly y bright idea
came to me and ! acted upon it. l saw
In daily paper All advertisement Of .
patent medicine firm located in Phila-
delphia. Reading 1t, found that the
firm claimed TO be the possessors Of GER
tain valuable medicines and compounds
which, among other things. would re-
move freclxles and beautify the COM
plexion, cause hair to grow luxuriantly
on bald heads, even cause coarse, home
" hair to become Cine in texture and to
assume any desired beautiful hue, add
brilliancy to the eyes, transform by q
gradual process crooked nose into q
straight one, remove the catarrh and
make a harsh voice sweet-toned. saw
ut once that the treatment promised to
improve me in every needed respect.
Indeed, it was claimed that by thor
oughly using the wonderful compounds
as administered by a celebrated doctor
at the establishment it was possible for
the most homely person in the world to
become remarkably handsome. hailed
the discovery as blessing from
Heaven, went to Philadelphia, put my
self under the treatment for three
months; and you see the result?''
/" AT first could not believe her, but
after her father had. come to the room
and said that she was his daughter, and
after / had studied her appearance until
I had become convinced that she must
be Helen reconstructed, - to speak, /
acknowledged that there were such
things as modern miracles beyond the
shadow Of doubt.
"'Well, to make my story short, will
say that married Helen, and when her
father died, two years later, we came
into the possession Of handsome fort
une. But could not be idle, and rec
ognizing that owed a duty to my fell
low-men, went to Philadelphia and
persuaded the members of the patent
medicine firm to allow me to become a
travelling agent for the sale of their
medicines, my profits to consist OF
handsome commission on all that
should sell. Since then ! have been
travelling throughout the length and
breadth of this great country; and the
wonders that have been effected by the
medicines that have sold have been so
many that it would take me q week,
talking steadily, to tell them. And
now, gentlemen, l have surprise in
store for you.
sAt this moment lady came through
the crowd and, mounting the wagon,
stood by the side of the vender.
Gentlemen. said the patent-medi-
cine man, this IS my wife, Mrs. Helen
Rodman, formerly Miss Helen Elliott.
She is the living proof that I have told
you the truth
"a shout of admiration arose from the
spectators; for more graceful and
beautiful woman than Mrs. Rodman
was can seldom be seen in any part Of
~ ILL., H., la1r moo 90 darL n the
ravens wing and fell in rich folds upon
her shoulders, her complexion was re-
markably fine and her eyes shone like
stars.
- Are you that mans wife?' asked an
incredulous spectator.
"I ann she answered. in tones as
sweet as those of q first-class harmon
iphon. He has told you only the truth.
/ am living witness to the fact that
miracles can still be performed
s.Mr. Rodman now seized the oppor-
trinity to tell the audience that those
who had homely wives could make
their partners as handsome as wasAhis
wife by inducing their better halvessto
take Filters grand hair restorer, DIR.
Hutchinson's freckle eliminator and
complexion purifier, etc. This remark
able story had worked the crowd up to
a high pitch of excitement, and in less
than half-hour the vender sold three
hundred bottles of his different medi-
cines at dollar each" n
Drummer Dawson paused and lighted
another cigar. The oad farmers sitting
near the stove looked at each other and
winked.
WELL" said one, sit is no use talkin',
Dawson, you take the cake as the
champion liar"
"Thank you," said Dawson, smiling
as If he had received high compliment.
Ibid you ever go to that town again?''
asked another listener.--z
Eyes; and madden men you never saw
whenI recalled the visit of the patent
medicine man. One citizen said that
instead of making his wife's hair grow
the hair restorer made her bald for life;
another claimed that the eye beautifier
had put out his wife's eyes, and SO on.
Indeed, it was mournful to hear the
havoc that had been made by the fell
lows horrid nostrums and to see it ex-
emplified in the poor women who were
creeping about the streets"
81 swow, as you explain it now," said
the blacksmith, II guess you did tell the
truth. The fellow evidently told his
yarn to entrap the crowd"
81 thought answered the drummer,
shat after you had reflected little,
you would see that had told the truth,
and acknowledge your suspicious con.
corning my veracity were unjust.
Dawson smiled complacently and
maintained serene countenance as he
encountered the quizzical chances of his
companions. twas apparent that most
Of them were not convinced that he was
sincere; several, however, seemed tc
think that there was considerable truth
| in VII t he said. A. Bolles, in The
| Hon,