Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-24
SOON a WIDOW.
Death Claims Frederick Mehren We'd
ded in Smallpox Ward.

Philadelphia, Oct. 23.-Nednesday, 8
, bride; Thursday. widow.
After Drawing death to wed the mar
she loved. the greatest JOY and Keen
est sorrow that woman ever is called
upon to experience were tasted within
comparatively few hours of each
other by Mrs. Eva w. Lyons Mehren
, who was married on "Wednesday to
Frederick II. Mehran while ne was
smallpox patient in the Municipal
Hospital.
When she responded to the words o;
the marriage serVire over the tele-
phone, promising the man whose mana
she clasped to love, cherish ana OBEY
him, she thought that the proVlso uh-
I'll death do US part" had no speclal
significance, but that it was SIMPLY Il
part of the words Of the ritual Sh"
felt sure that her husband WOULD nee
eSsariiy improve after the marriage.
But Thursday. as .h, held his hand
cold in death, she realized with all its
awful solemnity ami poignant grief
that death had ind.-l parted them.
Friday the dead bridegroom. with
still fresh bridal roses on his colin, was
N'i'' ~ ioI l.l " 'Ni''N I'M
panied by the bride, to whom was
denied the right to witness the last sad
rites. For two weeks she VIII be COM
relled to remain virtually prisoner in
the hospital which has so recently been
the scene of her Wedding. She Will be
kept under quarantine until 1t is seen
that there is no possibility of her h1v-
ing contracted the disease dreaded by
all humanity, bur which was not
enough to keep her from the man of
her choice.
Mr.. Mehren died on Wednesday night
at , O'Clock, only about seven hours
after the ceremony.
The excitement incident to his we'd
ding may have FASTENED the end,
which was surely approaching when
the brave little woman entered the hos
pit;l on "Wednesday and determined
that tn" marriage should be solemn
iZrd despite the protests of friends.
In mpcriling her life it was her plan
to be near him and succor him in his
Irihulation. After the words Of Mag
istrate Mccleary had com" over the
telephone had made them man and
wife, Mthren seemed overjoyed and
refreshed. He sat propped up on pill
lows ana received the organizations
Of superintendent Morgan. DR.. Bcnia-
min F. Roger and the nurses.
As proud as IL bride under more
cheerful circumstances, Mrs. Mehrcn
sat by the bed and watched the glow
brighten hopefully in her husbands
eyes. The sacrifice the woman had
made added zcst to their happiness.
Hell be better soon" she told the
nurses. They knew better, but re-
framed from marring her hope. A
crimson flower, which he had chosen
from cluster on the small table,
Mehrcn held in his hand when he fell
| asleep that night. Then the bride
went away for a little rest.
They summoned her just before 9
O'Clock. Her husband had been call
ing. The little woman saw that the
end was approaching. She glanced
inquiringly at the physicians and
nurses, but they looked away.
In few moments they saw Mrs.
Mehren's head fall upon the pillow. She
had tainted. Her husband was dead.
Friday she pleaded that she be al
lowed to attend the funeral. which
was of course private. the body go
ing from the hospital to the family
burial plot in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Reluctantly this request was denied.
as She VIII have to remain in an $50
lated part of the hospital until the
physicians are certain she has not con-
tracted the disease.
The little woman has been twice
Md bo, ,l,i1 !,
a former husband.