The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-03-24

calling her mamma" Since we did
not know her name l soon fell to call
ing her by the same name as the
children.
None of those coming to investigate
her found that she was the person
they were looking for Her stay,
which was expected to end any mo-
ment, was prolonged from week to
week, from month to month. Then
one day some gossip about us was re-
peated to me. and | decided TO submit
to her the question of marriage.
Therein lay puzzle. How did we
know but that she had husband,
even children of her own? And sup
pose she married me one day aud was
restored to former home the next?
What terrible complication
The mystery" MS l shall call her,
was no more puzzled as TO the best
course to pursue than |. If we mar
ried and afterward she was torn away
from me and my children would not
and they be the sufferers? For
months we could come to no decision
But. strange to say, she as we'll as
began to dread that her identity might
be discovered, and for two reasons
first. the discovery would break up
what was becoming happy home,
md, second, her own real status might
be an unhappy one.
It was necessary for at least one OF
us TO determine to take the risk of
marriage, and arrived at this inevi
table conclusion first. Indeed, was u
Tong while persuading her to my view
He'd II not been that women are prone
to heed provldential interposition
doubt If should ever have succeeded
in my suit. That had asked to be
sent n woman to take care OF my chill
dren and she believed that my prayer
had been answered not by fate, but by
Providence, was her chief reason for
at last consenting.
And here again another difficulty
was met My brides name was not
known. She chose Mary, n very com
mon but very beautiful one. Under
this name she insisted on being bap-
tied arguing that II she had been
baptized before the second baptism
would he void. but if she had not been
baptized II baptism before her mar
riasc would hold good
And so we were married. Some
women held up their hands In horror
Mt her marrying when she might be
lea Ing mourning husband and chill
d"6n elsewhere. But none of them
euud predict what would be their own
decision were they called upon to act
In a similar position.
Years passed during which my lit
tie ones We're charmed Mt the appear
anee from time to time of baby broth
ers or sisters. l prospered, and there
VS. nothing To be desired in our fam
liz circle. Ny wife did not In all this
time show any signs whatever of a
returning memory. IL there was a
shadow upon our happiness 1t was that
II might come back or that those to
whom she had belonged might get
some clew by which they would find
her
my expenses naturally increased
| There were six or eight boys and girl
| 10 educate. and II was difficult to max
ends meet, especially as most of tn
oldest boys and girls wished to go t
college. My limited income was no
sufficient for the purpose, and I wa
1llged TO deny them.
One morning | was awakened with
u shake. My wife was looking at me
with singular expression, but with a
happy one
at has all come back to me-" she
said.
Great heavensw exclaimed.
It's nIl right. ! am Sarah Deane.
was brought up in Missouri. | am
the oldest of six children. l deter
mined TO relieve my father and mother
of the necessity
"You were not married2"
no"
THANK Godw
Il was going east to study typewrit-
ing and stenography. ! was to have
lived with an aunt In New York who
was childless and wished me TO make
my home With her"
"Do you remember your aunts
nameT"
certainly Cook"
And your father and mother?'
a panied expression passed over her
face.
.They are both doubtless dead since
they were quite old when / left them
How they must have suffered on my
account
A great load was lifted from our
shoulders. The older children knew Of
our secret, and they were as happy as
| at the revelation.
My wife Immediately took II train
for New York, resuming Journey
that had been interrupted for fifteen
years. She found that her aunt, as
well as both her parents. was dead.
She also discovered that her aunt, who
had little property, had left It to her
i'm ease she should ever return. The
lady had been confident that her niece
would some day return and had made
no other provision for her bequest
consequently no one could touch 4
and the income having accumulated
the total amount was now quite for
tune.
My wife proved her Identity, receiv
ed her Inheritance and insisted on
spending n portion Of 1t on her stepsor
and daughter, whom she sent to col
lege. We are now not only happy
and contented family. but no cloud
hangs over us.