Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-06-02

This proved a very feasible plan
and the pecuniary results were mos
satisfactory.
Thus matters vent on for a year o
more.
at was during lmegene's seven
teenth year that her mother was in
vited to spend the summer in Europe
with an invalid cousin, and, as lie
husband and daughter urged her to go
she finally consented TO leave them To-
three or four months.
"She sailed early in June, and, TIVE
weeks later, there came to Milford
young man from Yale, to be tutoret
for a couple of months
"He was the son of Mr.. Prentice, c
well-known New York broker, and
very charming fellow.
1T took but a short time for the
young people to fall in love, and in q
very few weeks he asked permission Of
Imogene's father to marry her.
"The clergyman was delighted and
wrote to his wife, saying:
The young people are so happy,
and the fellow very attractive.
couldn't wish for a better match fol-
our daughter. My only objection is
their extreme youth Then he added
that Mr.. Prentice, ST., had been up to
see them and was equally pleased with
the engagement,
"ln the course Of ten days came a
cablegram from his wife saying:
Break engagement at once. | sail for
home by next steamer.
This message was a dreadful blow
to the young people concerned, and
greatly bewildered the clergyman.
However, nothing could be done
but await his wife's arrival, and then
matters would probably s~traighten
themselves, In the meantime his wife
had sailed, and landing in New York
the following Saturday had driven di-
rectly to the office of the young mans
| father and asked for an interview with
him.
"Mr. Prentice was as much distressed
at the broken engagement as the
others, and he readily granted her re-
quest,
at is easier for you to imagine, than
for me to describe his sensations, as
she explained her cable by this story.
She began Immediately:
"'Mr. Prentice, your wife was a very
dear friend of mine. We were at school
together, and shortly after separating
as schoolmates, she married yon and
went to the south to live. | heard from
her occasionally, and knew she was
very happy, and, later, heard that she
had a son.
About four years went by, when,
one day, she wrote to us that you were
in Europe on business, her little boy
was with some relatives. and she was
alone and very miserable in a New
York boarding house, and asked me if
| would ONE to her.
My husband was away from home
at that time, and there was nothing to
prevent my leaving, SO | came to New
York and joined your wife.
~ had been with her but a few
days when another child was born-a
little girl.
Prom the first | said the mother
could not live.
She knew it also, and called me to
her bedside.
"'She took my hand, and said;
"'"Jeanne, you have been my best
friend all my life, | have not long to
i've, and ! ask a last favor OF you.
90" - know your great sorrow In life
is that you have no children; | ask you
now to adopt my baby,
"'''lf | could die, knowing my little
girl was to be brought up under your
care %, and influence 9 Vi W. eppy.
@ s4s 6aa resistance, tn n m m"4,
again. In that case, a stranger to me
will be the mother of my child,
"'''My husband has the boy to re-
mind him of me, but this baby I%isf
you to take.
"'''Will you do this for me?'
"I hesitated but a moment, and Their
promised.
"'She was too weak to say any more
and she died that day, without speak
ing again,
THE same evening | wrote to yor
telling you of your wifc's death, ant
added the awful lie that the child haC
died too.
"1 signed the letter by my nader
name, that you might never trace M,
and discover your child.
AFTER the funeral ! took the baby
home, and told my husband | hat
adopted her, that l was under bond o.