St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-15
DYING OF The LEPER.
The Very Sad History Of the
Lovely Mrs. Nellie
Mathew.
She Was Forced to Marry a
Man Whom She Really
Detested.
Her First Love a TreacherouS
Villain Who Wrecks
Her Life.
Contracted the Loathsome
and Fatal Disease in
Honolulu.

bereft her mind of a knowledge of hel
terrible affliction. Her brain, inflamed
by the fever of the disease that IS kill
ing her, wanGerS back to the time when
she was babbliDg child in Maine. She
thinks that she is again romping through
the meadows at the old farm house neal
| Lewiston, where she was born. Her
pratlle is all about gathering wild flow
ers in the fields and the wintry nights
by the coy hearthstone. The doctors
| hope that heaven will continue its
kindness and not clear from her mind
the cloud that conceals from her a
knowledge of her actual condition.
| Il is a long road from cosy farm in
| Maine to bed in the C ty and county
hospital in San Francisco. but over its
hard way her feet have passed. Thirty
| years ago as lovely child she followed
! her grandfather around the farm; today
| she lies waiting for death to come in
| mercy to relieve her from the weary
fever called life.
The road over which she passed from
the Maine farm 10 the California hos
pital had many twists and turns; it
passed through many scenes of beauty,
DuL III also WOulu GuIUuRll UIdIy UOSS
and pools of mire.
The little girl was the child of one of
the many men who laid down their lives
for their country in the War of the Re-
belllon. After his death her mother
took the child to its grandparents for
care, while she herself strove to make
money enough to some day have little
home to which she might bring her
child. She soon made name for her
self as a milliner in Lewiston. She
worked in the shop all week and re-
turned home to her child on the Sab
bath. One happy day in each week the
little one spent with "mamma." Both
mother and child suffered from the sep
aration, and at last the mother thought
that she must take some step toward
making a home in which they could be
united.
California was then the goal toward
which all who wished to make money
turned their steps, and it was to Cali
fornia that the young mother came,
hoping to SOON be able to send for her
little one. But California without
friends is a lonely place, and soon the
heart of the young widow turned to one
who promised to make home for her
and for the little one for whom her
mothers heart ached. She married him,
and soon mother and Child were re-
united.
Nellie was now lovely girl of ten or
ing about her rosy face. Her blue eyes
looked fearlessly out upon the new
world about her. Her new father.
though not wealthy, was able to afford
her everything needed for happiness.
She had teachers and surprised them
by the eager thirst for Knowledge
which she brought to their Instructions.
But California did not offer the golden
opportunities which Honolulu held out,
and another move was made. In the
new land business was just beginning
to open golden stores to those who held
the key, and the father was soon counted
among the rich men of the island king
dom. The little girl had grown up and
was now lovely maiden who was a
favOrite in society in the little Sea-girt
city under the palms. She stood high
among the best people in he city. and
was tavOrite in the highest circles in
that excessively clannlSh and exclusive
city.
And then love came, but it was a de
StrOyer instead of blessing.
She loved one who was unworthy of
L
was only the passion of a constituencies
roue. He was reckoned one of the
prominent merchants of Honolulu.
Even though he was unWorthy,i if they
had married all might have been well,
but he had entanglements which pre-
vented his marrying. Some say he was
already married. There were several
half-white children and their brown
skinned mother living in little cottage
back of his place of business, and some
of the little brown faces bore striking
10 his ruddy face.
At last people began TO chatter about
the girls attachment for the man.
There could be nothing said of evil, TO
there had been no wrong so far. Soon
the talk reached the ears Of the parents.
They knew the girl was innocent and
pure, but they also knew that her love
was wasted. They tried to persuade
her to drop all thought of the man to
whom she had given her heart. They
urged her to marry one whom they told
her would make her happy. What
matter if he was as old as her father?
Old men make the best of husbands
This was the argument
they used. She resisted for months. but
at last, after an interview with her
lover, she yielded.
She married the man selected for her
by her parents, and had he been wise all
might have gone right.
But he was not wise. He invited the
man who had been his Wife's first love
to their home and made him welcome at
all hours. The scandal which had been
Sileuced by the marriage aWoke and |
grew stronger thar ever.
A child came to bless the new home, |
and had busy tongues been stilled Nellie |
might be lovely wife and a happy |
mother today. But SANDER whispered |
tales which had little, if any, truth in |
them.
Busybodies took tales TO the husband
and then to the wife. The husband at |
first believed nothing against his wife,
and he was right. Weak and foolish |
she may have been, but she was still a |
true wife and pure mother.
But constant dripping wears away the |
hardest rock, and at last he hus ba nd |
began to suspect his wife. Harsh words, |
some say even blows, followed. A quar-
rel between the husband and the old |
over took place and then SANDER barred |
is teeth and what had been whispered |
was now spoken aloud.
The girl sought solace for her troubles
II the stupefaction of drink and the |
tunes Of opium, and it was from that
ime swift descent into the depths
nt0 which she now lies waiting fol
teath. Lower and lower she sank until |
he friends who had stood by her so
ong felt that they must let go the hand
which they held. hoping that they
night raise her to secure ground once |
more.
Her husband secured divorce and |
Ter mother took her child. a lovely |
prite of three years. the picture of her
mother as she was when she ran about
IN the little farm in Maine. She had |
ost home, husband. child. parents and
rood name. Her old lover had even de.
erted her. She was destroyed by slaD-
Ter, for had she not been evily spoken
II when still innocent she might today
,e living in her happy island home.
One noble man was left, one whose
owe transcribed the depths to which
he had fallen, and who married her,
They did not remain long In Honolulu,