The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-27
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

soesseesesssesss ssSossosSese
Mineral Wells on this trip-and started to
the Worlds Fair at Chicago.
When we reached Denver we met Art
Roberts, an old friend of ours and he told
us that he had lately seen Jim Beardsley
in Denver and that he had given him the
history OF his downfall and separation
from his wife and Stella, and that while
looking for them in Portland, Ore, he had
found Stella in possession OF some strange
but good looking people, whose name or
place of residence he never learned but
learned enough to satisfy him that they
were good people and would do a good part
by her. He had tried to be friendly with
them. but saw they were afraid he might
try to steal the child, so let them 90 in
peace. He said he did not want to see me
any more.
This was too much for me. gave over
entirely to my grief and told my husband
| could not afford to go to the Worlds Fair
with such load on my mind. Sc we re-
turned to Pitkin, and then renewed our eff
forts to find trace of Stella, but met with
failure and disappointment in every eff
! fort. In reply to letters inquring about
the orphans home in Portland we were led
to believe that il was discontinued, which
| suppose was true.
In January, 1901, my husband died and
left me in fairly good circumstances with
my two daughters, Mamie and Barbara.
and we continued to live at Pitkin, where
we are in the hotel business.
~
Our postmistress is an old maid who has
seen a great deal of life. and a woman Of
good judgment. She has served for years
as stenographer reporter for various news
papers and was we'll known in the news
paper world. Her name is Miss Margaret
Fellows / frequently talked with her
with reference to my lost baby and she
would try, as many others did, to console
me. OF course. l understood this was per
functory but perhaps it did me some good
On one occasion a few days ago l was
given over to fresh flow OF tears, and in
conversation with her | said | might as
we'll give it up ! could never know what
had become OF my child She met the
emergency as very few women could, and
said:
Now. Mrs. Carlin, don't give up. You
little girl will yet be restored to you.
feel sure that some of these days letter
will reach me asking about you and telling
me where she is"
Oh the anguish of a crushed and bleed
ing mothers heart If | could only know
she was dead ! could become reconciled
Or if | could only see her ] would prom
Use her foster parents never to make mysel
known to her until they were perfect,
willing Or it might be that they had me
reverses and were poor and if only coul,
know it and send them some money j
would make me happy beyond expression
, When | saw her in my dreams she ha,
: grown in size about suited to her age. oh
/, the cruel dreams They made earth HEAVIER
= for me until my waking state returned
y when all was dark and the pent up foun
r tains of tears would burst forth anew unit
il it were possible, my sorrows would b
{ drowned in the food. 1t seemed that
: should drink of the cup to the last bite
n dregs
:. went to Sunday school June 20 Prett
d soon a note was handed me from Miss Fe
Il lows saying that she was going out for
d drive and would not be back until 3
r. D. m. and for me to come to her house
: that hour, as she had particular bushes
n with me. Now, | knew what il was.
! could not be anything else. Stella wa
found But how could wait from q
10
e to me perhaps the most joyous news til;
# a poor, suffering mother ever heard
l. could not rest or take any interest in N
% surroundings. ! just had to endure su
pcnse that human language could not e.
press Three o'clock found me waiting
Miss Fellows door. At 3 80 she cam
On admitting us 10 the front room she veI
coolly told my two daughters that 81
could not admit them to our interview
that it was me alone she wanted to sc
Then she opened another door and bee
oned me. ] followed in stupor of e!
peetation and suspense.
She deliberately took out letter al
read it to me- tore it from her hanC
and read it again myself. Then ! locke
around to make sure l was not dreamir
again.
Oh, such Joy, such peace, such rest to
sorrowing heart Stella was yet alive al
at Mineral Wells, Texas
Miss Fellows suggested that should a
swer the letter Yes, indeed would
person. Art Roberts said that Jim Beard
lev told him that the man who had Stel
was well-to-do, and he might be only ter
porarily at Mineral Wells, and il | trustt
time for writing they might he gone al
| would never find trace of them again.
~
The very best could do was to start
the Fourth of July, the happiest Fourth
July in my life arrived here on the 81
and had not taken nourishment of any xii
or slept since received the note at Sund
school from Miss Fellows, Yet l nev
felt so well in my life, My children al
friends became alarmed and procured sor
morphine for me at Pueblo, but / won
not take 1t. did not need it. ! was re,
ing, oh, the sweetest rest-resting fro