The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-04-07

eight months after their wedding day
by the death OF the young wife. And
In those months. though her husband
abused and neglected her. not a word
OF complaint or reproach ever passed
her lips. To crown an this. her hus-
band. although now a fugitive from
Justice. has made formal claim TO his
wifes share In her fathers estate.
which he says Is about $4,000. The
beginning Of this strange story Of the
marriage OF a young. cultured white
girl. only Is years old. the daughter
OF wealthy people. TO an ignorant col
ored boy. whose only thoughts In life
we're for horses and crap-shoOting.
goes as far back AZ Miranda Foote's
childhood. when she received n fall.
from the effects OF which she never re-
covered This put her away from the
usual sports and plays Of a country
child. and her chief delight was TO
bring music from the organ which
stood In the sitting-room OF the old
farmhouse She went 10 the district
school with her brothers and sisters.
and though she received a good com
mon school education. there was no
greater pleasure FOR her than taking
her music lesson and practicing scales
and exercises. On account OF her dell
cate health little or nothing was ex
pected Of the child about the house.
and as she grew 10 wOmanhood the
duties which usually fan TO a farmers
daughter were either performed by her
mother or sisters. and In every way
Miranda's life was sheltered one.
3ironghursi. the birthplace Of Miriam
da Fooie. Is a small village about thlr-
~ miles from Galeshurg. m. Long be-
fore the village was there the Foote
family was known for their wealth.
Years ago u. +. Footc came to Illinois
and purchased a few acres two miles
from what Is known now as the VII
lage % Stronghurst As time vent by
and he was a successful stock raiser
he added to his land. and when he died
several years ago this had increased
until the estate embraced some 400
acres.
The small wooden house with which
the Foote family had been content In
the early days had long since been
replaced by a big rough stone dwelling
which Is known FAR and wide In the
country around about as the stone
house Long before the death OF Mr.
Foote bis self-earned fortune was
placed al 100000. and a. some OF the
younger children we're FAR from Of
age the property was 10 be intact IN
40 the girls and boys had grown 10
manhood and wOmanhO0d But Mr..
Foote was not a greater money maker
than his wife. in whose management
his fortune was left Soon after hls
death she added the breeding Of race
horses 70 that OF the other stock rails
INK upon the farm. All the country
around and about Galesburg Is famed
for is hne stock. but no horses Tor
miles about are more famed than those
raised by the mistress OF the stone
house. John Crawford went TO the
stone house last April 20 help IN the
care OF these horses. From the time
Of his birth. a quarter Of a century
ago. he had been one OF the familiar
darkies Of Galesburg. Crawford grew
20 manhood. doing what he liked
most 10 hang around livery stables or
any place else where horses we're kept.
He did no, care for school. but OF mu-
sic he was fond, and from his boyish
days was always able TO play all the
sweet airs he heard. and play them
well. too. This. no doubt. was the
great charm that he had for Miranda
Foote. While China" Crawford was
al the big stone house he received ev.
cry kindness from the family. but Il
was In the eyes OF Miranda he found
the greatest favor, for by the hour he
sang and played to her. The more in