Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-24

peateO TO me, ana Il ueclucu 10 SuOhAt
TO her the question OF marriage
Therein lay a puzzle. How did we
know but that she had husband.
even children OF her ownr And sup
pose she married me one day and was
restored to a former home the next?
What a terrible complication!
The mystery as l shall call her.
was no more puzzled as to the best
course to pursue than 1. IL We mar
ried and afterward sheswas 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 1
began TO dread that her identity might
be discovered. and for two reasons
first, the discovery you'd break up
what was becoming n happy home.
and. second. her own real status might
be an unhappy one.
1t was necessary for at least one OF
US to determine to take the risk OF
marriage, and i arrived at this inevt-
ia Bile conclusion 1rst. Indeed, was
long while persuading her to my view.
Had It not been that women are prone
to heed providential interposition I
doubt IL / should ever have succeeded
in nv suit That ! had asked to be
sent a 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 conserving.
And here again another difficulty
was met My brides name was not
mon but very beautiful one. Under
this name she insisted on being bap-
tized, arguing that If she had been
baptized before the second baptism
would be void. but If she had not been
baptized a baptism before her mar
rage would hold good.
And so we were married. Some
women held up their bands in horror
at her marrying when she might be
leaving a mourning husband and chill
dren elsewhere. But none of them
could predict what would be their own
decision were they called upon to act
In similar position
Years passed, during which my lit
tie ones were charmed at the appear
ance from time to time OF baby broth
ers or sisters. prospered. and there
was nothing to be desired in our fam
fly circle. My wife did not in all this
time show any signs whatever Of a
returning memory. If there was a
shadow upon our happiness 1t was that
1t might come back or that those to
whom she had belonged might get
some clew by which they would find
her
But when my children grew older
my expenses naturally increased.
There were six or eight boys and girls
to educate, and IT was difficult to mike
ends meet. especially as most OF the
oldest boys and girls wished to go to
college. My limited income was not
sufficient for the purpose. and I was
Obliged to deny them.
One morning / was awakened with
a shake. My wife was looking at me
with a singular expression, but with a
happy one.
at has all come back to me-" she
said.
Great heavensw I exclaimed.
Its all right. I am Sarah Deane.
I was brought up in Missouri. l am
the oldest of six children. l deter
mined to relieve my father and mother /
Of the necessity
"You were not married?"
"No"
"Thank Godr'
81 was going east to study typewrit-
Ing and stenography. l 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 aunt's
namer
"Certainly-Amelia Cook"
"And your father and motherf"
A panied expression passed over her
face.
'"They are both doubtless dead since
hey were quite old when I left them.
How they must have suffered on my
A great load was lifted from our
shoulders. The older children knew OF
Dur secret. and they were as happy as
at the revelation.
My wife Immediately took n train
or New York, resuming a Journey
hat had been interrupted for fifteen
ears. She found that her aunt. as
veil as both her parents, was dead.
She also discovered that her aunt. who
lad little property. had left 1t to her
n case she should ever return. The
ady had been confident that her niece
would some day return and had made
10 other provision for her bequest;
Consequently no one could touch II
nd, the income having accumulated.
he total amount was now quite for
une.
My wife proved her identity. receiv-
d her inheritance and insisted on
pending a portion of it on her stepson
nd daughter. whom she sent TO col
ege. We are now not only a happy
nd contented family. but no clond
angs over rs.
Mar. "A in American
History