The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-21
WOOING A PENSION
MRS. PALMER CHOOSING A DYING
NAN FOR a HUSBAND.
Poverty Steps in, However,, and the
Marriage License is Not Only
too High. but the Bride
Can't Pay For Her
Last Divorce.
Is Sargeans still al;yel

Is Sergeant still aliyei
That is the query that went over thl
| telephone wire yesterday to st. Fran ci
| hospital.
There was something peculiar in ths
guery-somethIng that attracted atten
ton.
Five minutes atterward when \ reporter
for the Eagle called at the probate judges
office there was sitting in Il chair there 8
woman ia black. She said it Was very
cold when she first went in and minute
afterwards she raised the window aud
said 1t was very warm.
What do you charge for q marriage
license she finally asked.
Two fifty" be replied.
Can't you make it less than that for q
poor person'
''No ma'am," was the stern reply.
Why can't you!
Because, said The Judge, people who
ara too poor to pay 81 80 for license are
too poor to get married"
well, If l get the license will you come
up to the st. Francia hospital aud marry
usf"
The Judge thought she had better take a
minister as he was not In the habit Of
marrying people IN the hospital. She lsft
and did not even give her name.
Last night reporter for the EAGLE
tracked the woman in black to her home
on South Mosley and her name was ascer-
tained TO be Mrs. Palmer.
"Were you married todayi"
mo. SIR"
Didn't you want to be married to Mr..
Sargeant, who is now dying in the ST.
Francis hospita!?"
who told you soi Well. since you
found out. Pll tell you. / have known Mr..
Sergeant for twenty-six years and be has
been moro or less with me for some years.
He is old and have taken care Of him and
it has always been his wish that should
marry him before he died, SO that ] may
get his pension"
"How much pension does he get"
"Only Sl2, and that is not bad for poor
woman like me. Besides Mr.. King, the
pension agent, tells me that I will be en-
titled to some back pay and pension for
his services in the last war, If marry him.
The pension he gets now is for fighting in
the Mexican war"
'Well, will you marry himF'
~ don't think will. now. He is too far
gone. and there is something the matter
with my divorce from my last husband"
What is that?"
"Oh the lawyers didn't do anything
right somehow, and besides there in money
due on it Tor costs which / can't pay. If i
could settle this and Mr.. Sergeant lived
till everything would be fixed l would
marry him. but am afraid the poor man
will be dead before everything would be
settled, and / guess won't bother him in
his last hours, although he wants me to
marry him SO that could get the pension
as long rs live"
''Can't you speak to the judge abou.
your divorce; he may help you odts'
II would if could get some one with
influence to speak word of recommends
ton for me-"
A ray of hope was thrown into her heart
when the reporter told her that Judge
Reed had kind heart and would help her
if he found her worthy.
Mr.. Sargeant's death is hourly expected.
He is SO years old and is being cared for by
the sisters of st. Francis hospital. He
was in the Mexican war as well as in the
civil war; and has recorded evidence to
show that he was a brave soldier. He Is a
native of New Hampshire and is cook by
profession.
The last words Mrs. Palmer said to the
reporter was not to say anything in the
paper about "her love affair" on the brink
OF her intended husbands grave.