Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-01-25
A HUMBLE ROMANCE.
Story of n Daughters Devotion and r.
Lovers Faithfulness.

Twenty-Five years ago there was ro-
nance at Maysv:lle-a love story in
which there was nothing out of the or
binary. 1t was like hundreds Of others,
and there did not then appear to be
possibility that 1t would become re-
markable. 1t became known there that
two young people, who Will be called
John Smith and Mary Jones-because
that is not the name of either of them
were engaged to be married. John
Smith had been paying attentions to
the young lady about two years, and
the announcement of their engagement
did not cause any surprise.
The wedding day was set. and near
~ all the preparations had been made,
when the mother CT the bride-to-be be-
came i'll. On account of her illness the
marriage had to be postponed. In a
short time it became apparent that her
mind was impaired, and still little later
the terrible truth forced itself on the
minds of her friends-the mother of
Mary Jones was insane.
Arrangements were made to send her
~ viz 1ti1i. >tII'i IL NtS tAcu tudl
her daughter raised objections. She
would not have her mother sent to the
asylum at all. and declared that she
would devote her life to taking care of
her.
When she made that VOW Mary Jones
was IS years old, 4 bright. intelligent
young woman. handsome and talented
In addition to that she was engaged to
be married to one of the best Young
men in the country-a young man OF
wealth and refinement to whom she
had made solemn promise. Her IA
Their owned large tract of land and
fine house. He was amply able to
employ nurse for the demen1ed wom-
an as long as she might live and to his
mind there was no reason why his
daughter should not marry after
reasonable length of time.
There was q reason. however-the
strong sense of duty the daughter had.
and her resolve she would never leave
her mother while she lived. She tri-
umphed over the arguments of her
friends. and settled down to life in
which there appeared to be little hope.
except the reward for fi1ial duty. She
put aside all thought of the life she had
contemplated. and from that dav she
has been her mothers devoted and low
ing attendant. The mothers mind is
total wreck. She is not violent, but
her mind is gone. and she must have
constant care and attention. TWENTY
five years have passed since she became
demented. and during that time her
daughter has not been away from her
single day.
twenty-five years ago John Smith
used to call every Sunday night at the
home of Mary Jones. They sat on the
cool front porch during the summer
and by the freside in winter. Then
they planned thei: future-the happy
life they were to live after they were
married.
John Smith still makes the Sunday
night visits as regularly as in the olden
time. If he should miss one Sunday
night it would be understood at once
that he was i'll, or that some other good
and sufficient cause had prevented him
from being there on time His hair is
gray, and there are wrinkles in his face.
The girl he expected to claim as his
bride is an old maid now. and her once
bright eyes are beginning to lose the
luster of youth, but she is still firm in
her determination to remain with her
mother as long as her mother lives. The
engagement has never been broken.
The young man said he would wait I'M
til her task at home was over, and he has
waited. The years, seem long to him.
but he is true. If he ever grows impa-
tient, the patient face of the woman
whose emotion is more than remark
able is enough to make him ashamed
of his impatience. 1t is said to his credit
that he has never made the slightest
effort to persuade the daughter to leave
her mother. ..-.. -~.:
Stories like this are often told in
books, but this is one in real life.-St.
Joseph (Mo.) News.
. ..