The San Francisco call., 1896-02-19
SECRET FROM THE GRAVE,
Annie Parker Sacrificed Her
Life to Make a Friend
Happy.
a Sentence in a Letter From the East
Brought Her Face to Face With
the Inevitable.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
i y

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
9Oo Broadway, Feb. Is.
Now that Annie Parker is in her grave
the secret that caused her to end her life
in the bay has come to light. The story
of the young womans trouble bears out
all that her friends and relatives have said
OF her worthiness and nobility OF charac-
ter.
The secret is contained in one sentence
OF a letter received from Mrs. Wood by
Miss Parker a few days before the young
dressmaker left her home for the last time.
The sentence referred to asked Miss Parker
to do all in her power to help make cir
cumstances such that it would be possible
for the absent wife to return and reside in
happiness with her husband What the
circumstances were is but too well known.
They are told in a letter received by Mr..
wood two weeks ago and shown to a re-
porter.
The absent wife told her husband that
as she stood before the altar in the little
church at Maryland before which they had
been married, she had prayed earnestly
that he might be able to free himself from
the demon that was destroying him. The
same wish was expressed to Miss Parker.
10 one OF her intimate friends Miss Par
ker had told more OF her inmost thoughts
than she appears to have told her brother
and sister
For thirteen years Miss Parker had been
IN the employ OF the Woods. During
this time she learned to lean greatly on
the Woods as a child might toward its
parents. Mr.. Wood said he was accus-
toned to call her Annie and he looked
upon her as one of the family. Itis known
that the friendship between Woods and
Miss Parker was of an intense nature, and
during the past few months it increased
conscious of it. bit did not possess the
strength Of will necessary to subdue it.
After Mrs. Wood went East the friend
ship between Wood and Miss Parker was
very noticeable. This was known to the
family and was the thought that induced
Albert Parker to go to Woods house the
same night that Annie was missing. The
young woman made every effort to stife
any demonstration that might not be
strictly honorable toward her absent
friend, but, according to Wood and the
stories of her intimate friends, she did
cherish an affection for him.
Then came the letter from the East. 1t
asked in clear language that the one who
knew better than any one else the circum-
stance that had separated husband and
wife should use her influence 10 bring
| about restoration. 1t was more than
that lonely heart could bear. The mission
was too exacting.
| Miss Parker knew that she could never
carry it out. Her honest nature realized
| the danger of the situation. With true
conscientiousness she faced the tragic IN
evitable and decided that the path of re-
conciliation for Mrs. Wood would be much
more smooth if those whom God had
united were left to themselves.
When the final debate took place no one
will know, but evidently prior to the
evening before it was carried out The
unhappy girl sacrificed her life rather than
have it appear that she had done aught on
which the world might frown.