The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-05-10
UNITED IN DEATH.
Tragic Romance of a White Girl and
Her Indian Lover.


Wichita has just witnessed a romance
which in its tragic end and dramatic de-
tails is pathetic in the extreme. The vic
tins Of this hapless love were a young
Kansas girl named Ella Richards of well
to do parents, excellent education and
delicate refinement and young, full
blooded Indian brave, Jack Penthouse,
who had felt the touch of civilizations
hand and had become an intelligent and
ambitious citizen. Both died afflicted by
q terrible malady, though their deaths
were due to fearful exaggerations of love
Ella Richards was brought up in her
fathers home at Mulvane, Kan, sur
rounded by all modern refining influences.
She was heart whole until year ago,
when she visited Wichita. Then she met
the man who could gain a power over
her, who awakened her susceptibilitics,
and she forthwith fell in love with him
and he with her.
This was the growth of a month that
Miss Richards spent at Wichita. But
the sweetness had to end eventually, and
she went back to Mulvane in due time.
On both sides protestations of undying
love were made, and the two were happy
in their consciousness, even though I'M
| fortunate necessity separated them by
| 100 miles or more.
Both hoped and eagerly awaited the re-
union which they expected would follow
his appointment to a government post fol
which he was an applicant and which he
was assured by political influence of Sc
curing. But the reunion came earlier I'M
der much different circumstances thar
they anticipated.
They corresponded constantly with on,
another Daily letters came to Mulvant
to Miss Richards. For nine months THU
continued, and then suddenly they ceas
ed At a loss to understand the caus'
she wrote three or four letters, but none
were answered. There were fortnight
silence and bitter grief and disappoint
ment. Then this was relieved, only to b.
heightened, by telegram.
"Jack Penthouse is i'll with smallpox,
it read. "All communication with him !
forbidden"
The poor girl was frantic. She deter
mined to go to him. Her parents forbad
it, fearing the danger of infection. The
would not aid her. But love was to
strong to be denied. She ran away fror
them and walked 100 miles between he
home and Wichita. When she arrived
SQe TuSueu u Tie uOuSc vi Tie OutShlIt
in which her lover was isolated She wa
by his side despite the discussion Of tn
doctors and happy in the thought tina
she could nurse him back to health.
And this she might have done had
not been for an unfortunate misunde
standing. One day the two doctors stoo
! without the door of the sickroom in COZ
sultation. They talked of his recover.
but she misunderstood and thought the
r had predicted his death. She was will,
He should not die and leave her. ST
would join him in disease and death.
!, Unhappily the means were at hand.
; scalpe lay close at hand. She seized
thrust it into vein near the surface
his arm. AS. the blood started her lii
covered the wound. She drew the pc
soned blood between her lips and the
swallowed it, bandaged the arm ar
awaited the hand of disease.
1t soon afflicted her. Weakened by tt
worry and stress of nursing, she fell
ready victim. She grew rapidly wors
: Her life was despaired of, and in TO,
days she died.
Meantime the stronger constitution
the son Of nature had asserted itself. Il