Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-02-18
A HUMBLE ROMANCE.
Story of n Daughters Devotion ana IL
Lovers Fnithfulness.

Lovers Fnithfulness.
Twenty-Five years ago there was ro-
nance at Maysville-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 it 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
ly all the preparations had been made,
when the mother of the bride-to-be be-
came i'll. On account of her illness the
marriage had to be postponed. In
short time it became apparent that her
mind was impaired, and stillalittle later
the terribl< truth forced itself on the
minds of her friends-the mother OF
Mary Jones was insane.
Arrangements were made to send her
to the asylum, and it was then that
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 1S years old, 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 a nurse for the demented 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 a reason, howeyer-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 filial duty. She
put aside all thought of the life she had
contemplated, and from that day she
has been her mothers devoted and low
ing attendant. The mothers mind j,
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 heI
daughter has not been away from hel
q single day
Twenty-Five years ago John Smitl
used to call every Sunday night at tn,
home of Mary Jones. They sat on th
cool front porch during the summer
and by the fireside in winter Tier
they planned their future-the happ,
life they were to live after they wer,
married.
John Smith still makes the Sunda,
night visits as regularly as in the oldel
time. If he should miss one Sunda
night it would be understood at one
that he was i'll, or that some other goo,
and sufficient cause had prevented hir
from being there on time. His hair
, gray, and there are wrinkles in his face
The girl he expected to claim as hi
bride is an old maid now, and her one
, bright eyes are beginning to lose tn
luster of youth, but she is still firm /
her determination to remain with he
, mother as long as her mother lives. TIL
engagement has never been broker
The young man said he would wait III
til her task at home was over, and he ha
, waited. The years seem long to hin
but he is true. If he ever grows imp;
: tient, the patient face of the woma
| whose emotion is more than remarl
. able is enough to make him ashame
of his impotence. 1t said to his cred
, that he has never made the slightes
9 effort to persuade the daughter to leaV
! her mother.
Stories like this are often told
books, but this is one in real life.--S
Joseph (Mo) News