Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-03-12
MISS NEVINS PENNED IT
The Letter to Blaine Written With,
out Coaching,
Judge Palmer offered Assistance, Blu Sh,
Felt Able to Reply to the Secretary
without Assistance - Spicy
Revelations Promised.

blulnt, VIC ulNOTCtu WIG VI DdulCS VI
Blaine, jr, was at the Wellington
house for a few hours. She was en-
route from Sioux Falls, S. d., to New
York and was accompanied by her lit
tic boy, her French maid and a nurse.
Mrs. Blaine did not object to having
her name appear on the register of the
hotel, but her first movement was to
give orders Thai no reporters card be
Sent up to her apartments. With
Landlord Gage she left instructions TO
say to newspaper men she appreciated
the courtesy of the press, but she had
nothing more to say concerning her
recent suit or Of any matter connected
with her manifold troubles of the past
Then she ordered luncheon served in
her rooms, preparatory to continuing
her journey eastward over the
Lake Shore at $50 o'clock. After
luncheon Mrs. Blaine took II stroll
about the parlors of the hotel, and,
meeting a representative of the Herald,
chatted briefly.
The unfortunate young wife of Sec
rotary Blaine's s~capegrace son when
in good health is undoubtedly a most
| attractive woman But illness and
mental suffering have greatly changed
her. She looks at least thirty years
old. Her face is pinched and her com
p~lexion sallow. Beneath her express
sive blue eyes there are deep. black
lines, and the eyelids are also dark.
She has by no means recovered from
the severe attack of rheumatism which
Frustrated her a year or more ago, and
there is u p~erceptiblc limp when she
walks across the floor. She is unable
to raise her right arm above her head
and otherwise bears evidence of the
great physical and mental suffering
she has borne so long. Mrs. Blaine
smiled sadly as she extended her hand,
which, be it noted, was once a very
shapely one, but now is thin and pale
to Wilderness. She was dressed in a
loosely fitting robe of brown, caught
at the neck by a pearl and diamond
horseshoe.
you must not attempt to interview
me" she said. Il have declined TO see
all newspaper men since leaving Da-
kota, and it would not be right to give
you a scoop as believe you call it.
But seriously, there is nothing for me
to say. | do not want the notorietv
which | have thus far found ii impos-
sible to escape. In my letter TO Mr..
Blaine, ST., | have said all hat could
be said, and | have nothing to add un-
til the ten days have expired. If he
fails then to produce the evidence |
have demanded | will publish every
atom OF evidence ! possess bearing on
this case. | do not make this threat
for a bluff When / was granted n
divorce the whole matter ended so far
as ! was concerned. | did not want 1t
reopened, bit Secretary Blaine has
seen fit to attack a sick woman through
the press.
~ mean now to defend myself and |
will not conceal one single thing.
When | strike it Is between the eyes
and not in the back. But then | am
interviewing myself for you You
mustn't print all ] say. 1t would do
me no good"
II was quite evident that Mrs. Blaine
had forgotten she was talking with a
reporter. But as the thought of her
troubles came to her the poor girl
could not help the outbreak. The
tears stood in her eyes as she recalled
Mr.. Blaine's charges and then her in
~dignation got the better of her sorrow.
At this point Secretary nleine'p lit
tie grandson ran through the hall in
search of his mother, and when he
spied her the troubled look vanished
from his bright face. With outstretched
arms and n joyful cry of mamma he
ran to her and kissed her. That Mrs.
Blaine's love is centered in this boy no
one could doubt had he seen the look
of motherly pride thai came into her
eyes. There was no ostentatious ex.
preston of affection on the part of the
young mother. 1t was the simple, en-
during love "A good woman shows for
her frstborn.
Little James Gillespie Blaine, now
nearly 5 years old, is a manly little
fellow who bears n strong resemblance
to his grandfather. He is well formed,
has a handsome face and great ewes that
he uses as though he knew they were
meant for seeing people and not to be
hid behind bashful and dropping lids.
He surveyed the reporter from mead to
foot and then graciously held out his
hand.
II couldn't find your room, mamma"
he said. land wasn't lucky to find
you?" The nurse came and took the
young gentleman away. In going he
bowed with the air of n courtier.
1T has been limited that YOU had the
assistance of someone in writing the
letter you addressed to Mr.. Blaine CON
corning his personal statement Mrs.
Blaine?"
1T is untrue, and you may say so il
it is ever charged against me. You
may say ! wrote every line of it my
self. Within an hour after ! had read
Mr.. Blaine's statement was at work
on my reply. Not a living soul as
sisted me, and neither did | submit it
to anyone for approval or d%isapproval.
My lawyer asked me il would reply
and told him | most certainly should.
He limited at giving me the benefit of
his assistance, but | refused all such
proffers.
II had lived in the Blaine family
and knew as no one else could how
to reply to this most unexpected at
tack. Oh, dear, when is this heapiug
Of abuse going to end? Was it not bad
enough to be obliged to go through a
trial for divorce with all its attendant
notoriety? Was it not cruel to hear
garbled extracts Of my love letters
given to the public and be branded as
an adventures, who courted the son
of a prominent man? Mr.. Blaine. |
see, declares he will not publish the
letters l ask for. But | will do exactly
as / said / would at the end of the ten
days, and then the public will Judge !
whether l am the designing woman of
mature years who stole away n boy
and made him marry her. Mr.. Blaine
Is a great and powerful man, but he
shall not ruin my character; no. not if
he were ten times greater will fight
rs hard as anyone when | am forced 10
do SO, and | shall not stab my enemy
in the back either. There shall be
nothing that will stop me in a course
one determined upon. How can men
be so cruel? Now | will not say an
othar word |