The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-04
AFTER MANY YEARS.
A Romance in Which a Sacramentan
Takes Part.
The Cruel Desertion of Famry-The
Mothers Death and Children
Parted-Again United.


Behind the counter in Standeford's con-
fectionery, near Broadway depot, says
the Oakland Tribune of Saturday. stands
little Miss Maud Richmond. A smile al
ways rests on her pretty features. and
her demeanor and disposition are as sweet
as the dainty CONNECTIONS which she dis
penses.
For some time past Miss Richmond has
been more than ordinarily cheerful and
happy. Her joy has been genuine. and
had for its handspring the discovery of a
long-lost BROTHER brother whom she
had not seen for seventeen years and
who she supposed had long since passed
into the shadow.
THEY WERE WED.
In 1870 two young people were married
in the little city of Dixon, Van Vert
County, Ohio, George Williams and d
young woman whose maiden name shall
not be mentioned. The latter was the
belle of the neighborhood. George was
the pride of the village. He was young,
handsome, educated, and, above all, he
had been soldier and had bled at Get
tysburg.
In the course of seven years three chill
dren were born TO Mr.. and Mrs. Will
Jams. They were named Maud, Frank
and May. At the time mentioned the
father was teaching school in Dixon. On
the 4th of July, 1877, he took Frank, then
about years of age, to visit brother liv-
ing some miles distant. That was the last
that was seen or heard Of father or son in
the neighborhood. The little school was
without a teacher. The Williams home
was without a father and a son
1t was thought for time that the two
had been drowned. 1t was noticed, how
ever, that girl named Meenie Waring
had also disappeared.
Meenie was a rosy-cheeked girl with
sunny tresses and ripe, red lips, who had
frequently won the admiration of the
young men of the town.
THE THEFT.
But she favored none of them. She
was attending Mr.. Williams school, and
her parents thought she was too young
Ito go with menfolks." But her parents
and her friends were deceived.
She had not been absent long, before it
was shown conclusively that she had
eloped with her school-teacher. A father
and mother were broken-hearted over
the disgrace brought upon them, and
were soon borne to the little cemetery
over the hill. A wife and mother in an
other home grieved over her desertion
and the loss of a son, who had been
rudely snatched from her by her I'M
worthy spouse.
Where the teacher, pupil and child had
gone nobody knew, and in few years
the story was forgotten by all except
few. Three years after the disappear
ance, the deserted mother, weary of
struggling with the world, secured di-
vorce on the ground of desertion.
She then married physician named
DR.. Lowden. There were no pleasures
for her, however, in the marital state,
and, one year after entering it the second
time, she died.
BROUGHT TO CALIFORNIA.
Shortly after Mrs. Williams second
marriage, the daughter Maud was brought
to Shingle Springs in this State by her
grandmother, Mrs. Homer Johnston
who, at that place. Joined her husband.
Maud lived with her indulgent grand
parents for some time, when her grand
mother returned to the old home in
Dixon, o., to gain possession of May,
who had renamed with her mother up
TO the death of the latter.
The grandmother then brought Nav to
this State also. The girls, Maud and May,
lived for time with their grandparents
and then at Sacramento with an aunt
named Mrs. Richmond. With the latter
at Sacramento May is now residing
Maud is stopping with an aunt at 1913
regard for the kindness of the former lady
both Of the girls have assumed, and for
many years, have been known by her
name.
TIME BRINGS ITS CHANGES.
Year after year pass away. The little
orphaned girls grew into beautiful and
lovabie women But where had the
father gone? What had become of Frank?
Nobody knew, nobody had been able to
trace the course nor locate the guilty and
unfeeling husband and father. Atlength,
however, a ray of light flashed upon the
mystery in which the disappearance had
been enveloped.
A month ago resident of Dixon, O..
who had known every one who had lived
three for nearly half aIcentury, received
letter from woman signing herself Mrs
Meenie Williams" The woman wrote
that her husband had died and that she
had seven children, one of the latter be-
ing boy, the son of her husband by
former marriage. She then admitted that
she had formerly been Meenie Waring
and that while attending Mr.. Williams
school at Dixon she had run away in mad
moment with her teacher. Her husband,
she said, had forbidden her to write to
anybody back home, or to tell anybody
the circumstances concerning their flight
and marriage. This, she said was the
first letter she had written on the subject,
as also the first she had sent back to her
old home. She asked forgiveness. She
claimed she was but a girl when she had
run away and knew no better. She was
sorry for the wrong she had done to some
and she had experienced sufficient misery
TO atone for the pain she had given others.
SHE WANTED A PENSION.
The letter was circulated through town.
1t became the subject of gossip for many
an hour. 1t never would have been writ
ten had not the runaway husband died in
Boone, Boone County, Neb. He had been
soldier. The widow had been told that
II she could get certain paper signed by
four men, certifying to certain state of
facts, she would be able to get a pension
OF 81 month for her children.
After the sensation caused by the re-
ceipt of this letter had subsidized, it was
forwarded to this city and perused by the
girls themselves.
10 Miss Maud 1t suggested the query,
What has become of Frank?''
She immediately addressed a letter to
him at the postotfice above referred to.
Her heart was full of sisters Joy over
the prospect OF discovering brother.
THE BROTHER FOUND.
The letter was answered. Frank lived
in the person of a big, brawny, hand
some, notwithstanding young man,
He had survived the grasshoppers, the
hail, the~drought, the storms and bliz-
yards of Nebraska, and, as proof of the
fact, sent a cabinet photog raph of him
self, which could not be doubted
The letter was long and interesting.
The young man said that he had no recol-
lection OF his mother or sisters or former
home. When he awoke To consciousness
as boy of years, his father was living
in q sodhouse on an unbroken sun.
burned, storm-beaten Nebraska prairie.
They had struggled against every mis-
incidental