The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-01-27

o,ipt SlumbeTS and threw the inha b.
+ants into state of the widest excite
,nent. The whole affair, the beginning
Of which dates back many years, is the
most disastrous aud pathetic ever known
in this part of the state. In the fall Of
1878 among the many victims of the yell
low fever which ragged here for several
weeks were John and Mary Hoover, two
Young married people, much thought of
nv every one. After their death, and, in
fact the day of the funeral, their many
friends formed group and held con-
sultation as to who should adopt their
child, Mary Hoover, the little 5-year-old
maid who stood before them orphaned.
and not only that, but, so far as known
then, having no relatives; no claim, in
fact, upon any one or anything. The
people of this section were then intimate
with poverty, and, like all poor folks the
world over, were well supplied with
children. There Vas not a parent heart
there but went out to the sobbing child.
and one AID all were willing to give her
home temporarily, but for all time,
with SO many little ones Of their own to
care for, it seemed then impossible to
promise. And while they discussed the
matter, each mother wiping tear away
and wanting the child for time at least,
aHtte lad of not more than ten years.
who had watched and listened attentive
Iy, walked up to the wee maiden, kissed
Der tear-stained cheek, took her by the
hand and led her away to where an old
couple stood, just ready to turn the fork
of the path home ward. Much to their
surprise he announced his intentions CT
taking the child home to his parents, who
he though, in the kindness of lis tender
heart, could easily feed another mouth.
And il this he was quite right. His fam
ily welcomed heartily the little stranger
and took her unto themselves as their
own.
This boy, Robert Moore, being the on
ly child, had sorely missed the compan-
ionship with which most children are
blessed, so that the coming of the giII
was the brightest thing that could have
been ushered into his life, Naturally.
these two little people grew into each
others hearts as they grew IN years.
mary Hoover from then until she was
just emerging into woman loved the
boy as brother, but as time went by it
was plain to be seen that he loved her as
something more. But of this little was
SAID until Mary was 16 and Robert 21,
ABOUT this time, after many weeks of
earnest Pleading the girl allowed herself
70 De persuaded into promising, when all
InlhgS suited, to marry the young man.
LUIS: however, was against her desire.
ana she had promised because she did
not know what else to do. She we'll
knew that she was indebted more to Rob
ert than any one else, that she owed all
to him and his parents, and the
only way to show her full appreciation
10 them, to half pay the great debt. all of
which she could never pay, would be by
giving herself to their boy, thereby max
ing him happy, and in so doing creating
happiness also within the hearts of his
parents. But that was duty to them.
and in thinking of that, for the time be-
ing, she forgot the duty to herself. She
looked upon The boy as her brother. his
rather and mother as hers also. She
loved them all as such, so how could
even think of wedding him? She turner
,nlS over IN her mind every minute in
Vne Gay and spent Sleepless nights bat
'Hng With duty. She felt that, feeling
"e she ala about the matter, she would
Oe committing a sin to marry her foster
DroIher, and she determined then and
Iere mat at any cost it must not be,
DuC Vi thls she had not courage enough
az HISt TO tell Robert, but as time passed
vi sad occurrence in the family
Smoothed the way. Her foster father
Ilgo, and less than a week his brother
IolloWeC him, leaving five children with
ouI klth or kin save Robert and his
mother. SO, as it NAV be IMAGINED the
sole support of them all, from then until
ooHS;r "GIe grown, devolved upon their
yyoaI ,n hooert. One day, not many
soif E fs,i HlVer this, Mary expressed her
bor n lul'y and clearly to Mrs. Moore and
niah Son' ana when the three saidgood
raon, tHey each carried to their own
'TSn t hearts n were sorely oppressed.
or an C"E - young people avoided each 9th
to% %nu Gne painful subject was not again
in Ib The I"o pom This, however, did not
unhan ,p%Sl conceal the young mans great
ed MAJ 4 tL, tne sight of which so griev-
and finS o"SC she concluded to 90 away
thereby Ro uU,le elsewhere, hoping that
the motbaU 'elt would forget her. Both
such stem d b son protested against
and left 9 Ill., out the girl deemed it best
ty, strong ana enc was young and pref
over that nsrt l 20 rious aud known all
trouble in a@o; VI the state, so she had no
good peonlo an being domciled among
She visitnl II was long while hefnre