The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-07-10


bis farewell note there was a revulsioh
Of feeling In his favor, and one Of the
officers WHO had messed with him since
he left West Fofnt said that Richard
son came very near being q hero"
This mans view was sustained by 9th
er officers in the regiment, and one OF
them made this statement:
Richardson was the object Of our
Utmost contempt. l cannot tell Just
how heartily we despised him, but we
will hold bis memory with kindlier
feelings. Perhaps the man was a cow
ard, but at least he had the courage
not to sacrifice Miss Kelley. We were
never able to understand what had
come over Mack. He used to be SO
bright and light hearted. He was a
whole souled fellow, and I know he
was deeply In love. All would have
been well had he not fallen uuder the
Influence of the drug. am sure OF 1t,
for knew Mack Richardson's as
brother, and until this unhappy incl
dent l valued him as one of my closest
friends. He was Ill last fall, and !
suppose It was then the morphine mas
tered him. Poor fellow! How little we
thought when we condemned him as
tile mcanest, most worthless Of men he
was battling to save the young woman
he loved and knowing that his victory
meant humiliation and disgrace for
himself. His end has been terrible, but
I am sure 1t is not without the saving
grace Of a manly action"
Richardson wooed and won Miss
Kelley when his regiment was sta
toned in Brownsville about year
ago. After the Tweuty-sIxth was trans
ferred to Fort Sam Houston Richard
son frequently visited the Kellcys, and
the wedding was set for four weeks
ago. The plans for the wedding at
tracted attention throughout the state
as one Of the most fashionable Of the
early summer. There were guests from
all parts Of Texas, aud several rela'
tives Of the Kelley family Travelled to
Brownsville from tire east. 1t had been
arranged that Richardson should come
to Brownsville the night before the
ceremony and stop In a hotel. He hau
named a fellow officer as best man,
but when 1t came time to go to the
train Richardson was not to be found,
Two hours later he returned to his
quarters and quietly announced he
would wait until the following morn
ing, the day OF the ceremony, and ac-
company all the officers. He dressed
himself as II for the wedding and on
the way to the station seemed to be
the merriest in the party Just as the
train was pulling out he announced
that he had forgotten the wedding
ring and, swinging from the rear plat
form of the train, waved his hand to
his comrades and told them he would
follow within an hour. But he did not
appear, and all that was received from
him was a telegram to the effect he
was III.
Miss Kelley bore up bravely and
alone in the large company continued
in faith In her fiance. After several
hours had dragged around she faced
ali the guests in her wedding gown,
reminded them that 1t was the twenty
fifth anniversary Of the wedding of her
nsrents and requested that 1t be cele-
brated BY the banquet that was to have
been her own wedding feast. The
guests applauded her, filed into the
great dining room Of the Kelley man.
sion. and throughout the feast the girl
laughed and carried herself as II her