Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-05-13
beforeP Is he divorced?" asked I, in
|

"No, not divorced. He told her that
he didn't want her no longer, an'-an' he
was going to marry agen, an she say
'ver' we'll, if you likes anoder better
than me ain willing So he didn'tneed
no divorce"
And did Anne know this?"
"Oh, no; she wouldn't hear when we
tried to tell her, an now she won't
talk none about him. Why, was
there to dinner onct, an Patrick he
come in drunk, an when he went out
says: Patrick, he's pretty drunk, amt
hep an Anne she says, awful fierce;
He hain't drunkp"
| told Christine to say nothing to
Anne of my knowing her trouble, but
to ask her if she would come and work
for me for few weeks preparatory to
our moving to another city.
Anne came, and soon went about her
work just as she used, only that she
was very quiet, and looked hollow.
eyed and sad. Patrick had gone ''nord,
to Meenesota," where he could make
lots of money, but he would come back
"Oh, yes, he would come back soon, 4"
she said, with little catch of her breath
that went to my heart.
Christine came often, and from her
learned that Patrick had taken with
him several sums of borrowed money,
and that he had said that he did not
mean to return.
Anne, with a quiet dignity strange in
one of her class, kept her troubles and
her sorrow to herself The day before
we left for our new home she came and
begged me to take her with me-
Until Patrick comes?" asked |.
TIL en- she broke down and told me all
Patrick had gone for good He had
told her that he was tired of her. She
had supported him all winter, and now
she wanted to earn money to pay his
debts
asked how she would dispose of her
furniture. 1t was not hers, she said; IL
had never been paid for. Patrick had
bought it on credit" and she had sent
it back, and now she had nothing-no,
soothing of her own, except her beauti,
tul dishes, and she would never have
ans, use for them again. Then she
broka down completely and sobbed
bitterly
She packed away her one possession
and stored the box at Christine's, and
then she came away with us. All OF
her wages she sent to pay Patrick's
debts. We told her that she was moi
responsible for his debts, and Urged
her to save her money for herself; bu,
she would not She said that Patrick
had borrowed from those who coulG
not afford to lose their money, and she
told us of one old man Who unknown
to his shrewd but shrenish wife, hac
loaned Patrick all of his litJe hoard Of
savings His wife scolded> him anc
sometimes struck him, Anne said, be-
cause he was poor, and Anne must pay
him back before the old woman taunC
that it was all gone.
At first Anne was diverted by he,
new surroundings but soon she began
to lose interest in her work, and having
once broken her silence concerning he1
troubles, she poured them forth freely
She said that 1t had all come upon hel
for punishment 1t was because sh,
had loved Patrick too much-bettel
than her father or mother. She sait
that now her life was all over, and sh,
was 'jung-so jung-only eighteen
jears"
AS both interest and health tagged
| sent her back to her people, wher,
they said she wandered about in
sha bby gown, rarely rousing from he
melancholy and seeming half crazed b,
her grief, Then gradually | lost al
trace of her
Three years ago friend sent me
slip cut from country paper. 1t state,
| that Patrick had been arrested in Min
nesota for bigamy and was now lodge,
in jail. He had three wives, but two
the Chicago woman and the girl whol
he married in Minnesota, made tn
trouble. He was sent TO the peniter
tiary for two years, his offense, havin
two living wives, Anne would not az
pear against him. Again lost trac
of Anne until one day the postma
brought an awikwardly directed parcel
not quite sure of the address. rec
ognized Anne's writing and elaine
the package. 1t contained severa
yards of beautifully made linen lace
but not word except Anne's nam
and address.
Fine and exquisite, | knew wha
hours of patient and loving labor tn
lace meant for poor Anpe's slow, clum
sy fingers, and was touched by tn
gift.
A letter of thanks to her brought
long reply. Anne was'living in per
itentiary town, working and waiting
for Patrick to serve his term, whicl
was nearing completion.
His troubles had made good man c
him, she wrote, and he wanted t
marry her when he was free. She ha
forgiven him and she-well, she love
him-that was all
And SO they were married. ono
more, and she wrote me, to quote he
words-that life was sweet agen.
She sent me a photograph of herse
aud husband, brave in bridal tinery
They stand hand in hand and look g
stiff and awkward as only brid;
couples can look in picture. With
bit of sentiment that has touch {
pathos in it, Anne wears her old wee
ding gown. 1t is short in the skirt an
cruelty tight in the waist and sleeves
for the Anne of to-day is no seventeen
year-old girl
Both her face and Patrick's sho
lines that were not there when sa'
them last The corn-colored mustach
which was Patrick's glory had disaI
peared and his head is too closel
cropped for beauty, but there is a
earnest expression on his face which
like, and which promises better thing
for poor, faithful Anne. And belieV