The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-07-09

l.
wood very bad. If Holl came back
could come and enjoy myself but a
it is I'll never have any peace till
know where he is. If they
have all deserted me the Lord has no
as | find in ways more than one if il
had not been for his help and strength
ening power | would have been beyont
my own control for nights and nights
was morphined but now | cannot
sleep only one-third to one-half of tn,
nights. If people think | was to blame
for Hollis going away, why don't they
find out. The more they hunt for him
the better it suits me. Our corn is
getting so weedy and some seed was
poor that Holl had and | had to get
more and part had to be replanted and
with one man taking care of everything
it's more than he can do, so I'm afraid
our corn crop will not amount to much.
He gets up at 4:3O mornings, but he is
so puttering its eight o'clock before he
knows it. L make from fifteen to
twenty pounds of butter per week and
we have another fresh cow, so will
make still more. We cannot get any
one to help pillow corn. They are all
afraid they will not get their pay. l
was out this morning and plowed corn
as long as | could stand it, but my
head is so bad | cannot stand the sun
long at time. Goldie is with me
yet and l do not know what [ will
do when she is gone. | cannot stay
alone as people talk so much and
cannot afford to hire anyone. | have
to hire a boy if l can get one to help
out doors. So [ do not know what to
do. Holl left me with 80 cents. Of
course l have kept alive and cared for
my children so far and am going to
try real hard to keep on. I'll quit,
hoping this finds you well and happy, as
ever your Grace
Maybe you will think | have talked
plain, but you study it over and see if
| have not spoken the truth. If it had
not been for my little boys and girls
| certainly would be where peoples
talk would not worry me. They al
ways talking about poor me and | do
not know of anything l have done to
make people talk. | think it is the best
thing for person to do is to take
something and get out of the world
quick and people will quit their talking,
would have some rest if l was only
over the River Jordan"
Is She Possessed of Dual Mind?
Could Mrs. Ledbeter have written
that letter while possessed of the knowl-
edge that her husband had been murder
ed? Has the woman dual mind? Is
she one of the greatest of hypocrites?
Mr. and Mrs. Ledbeter engaged in
wordy wars when they lived in Red
wood Falls. The city bus driver was
called to the house early one morning
to convey Mr.. Ledbeter to the Mime
apois and st. Louis depot where he was
to board a train for st. Paul. AS the
driver approached the house he heard
there words. 81 could kill you
for half cent" Missed the shrew, but
Mr. Ledbeter did not answer her. He
was a man of peace and paid no at
tention to her outbursts of passion
This same bus driver confided to the
newspaper man that Mrs. Ledbeter at
tempted to palaver over him several
times, but he would not stand for her
not believe in such nonsense" declared
the honest Jehu, with display of en-
phasis.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ledbeter were in Red
wood Falls during last winter and they
visited friends there. Mrs. Ledbeter
referred to Frank Smith, as ''the lovliest
man." and said that it was due to ner
influence that Mr.. Ledbeter had not dis.
charged him. A few days ago Mrs.
Ledbeter referred to Smith as ''that
dirty man."
One of her lady friends told The
Free Press representative that she had
never seen the ring referred to by
Smith as one given Mrs. Ledbeter
by young man whom she wanted to
"Mrs. Ledbeter did not keep
any secrets from me-" said this lady,
"and | am sure if she had such
ring she would have shown it to me
and told me all about it."
Speaking of the quid of tobacco found
in Ledbeter's mouth when the post
norton examination was held last week
Monday, several Redwood Falls men
were free to state that Ledbeter was
in the habit of taking chew of to-
bacco when he went to bed at night.
Unfortunate in Business.
Mr. Ledbeter was unfortunate i'll one
business deal and the loss amounted to
several thousands of dollars.
About year ago, Ledbeter purchased
a stock of goods in Wisconsin, trad
ing in 400 acres of land valued at
$40 per acre, and paying $1,000 in
cash besides. This stock was shipped
to Winthrop and William Schwandt.
brother law of Mrs. Ledbeter, placed
in charge. A few days before last
Christmas this stock-or what remain
ed of twas shipped to Redwood Falls
and disposed of at auction. About
So 300 was realived in nineteen days.
The stock was old and shop worn and
when it reached Redwood it was worth
about $500 at wholesale prices. There
was something like $500 worth of new