The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-21
SHE SACRIFICES JEWELS.
Estr.ngcd Wife of Gen. SickIcs Gives
Gems to Save His Relics.

r. Sickles, the S7-year- old veteran Of
wars and diplomatic service. which
We're TO have been sold under the
Sheriff hammer, have been saved by
his wife, from whom he has been
estranged for p years. She is wo-
man of noble Spanish birth, whom
the old General married Al years ago.
That the husband, with whom she
could find no happiness, might not
know the sorrow of parting with his
treasures, she took her Jewels of the
happy days Of her youth when she
was belle 1T the court Of Queen
Isabelle of Spain, and passed them
pawnshop.
She wept as she parted with the
rich gems-enough Of them to draw
from the Golfers Of the money lend
er the $500 needed to satisfy the
judgment against General Sickles' rel
| les.
| Il have done it for him." she said
in English punctuated with a soft
Castilian accent, and tears rolled
down her cheeks.
My mother and 1 did not know
that father was in trouble until a
week ago, when we read it in the
newspapers" said Stanton Sickles, the
son Of the General, who lives with his
mother and has been connected with
the diplomatic service. I'VE were
down at the seashore when we read
of his grief at the prospect of losing
the things that meant so much to
him.
Il have not seen my father for two
years until last night, when he was at
a dinner at the Hotel Lafayette sur
rounded by number Of his old vet
eran friends. / did not speak to him
then. i stood by and thought Of
the sacrifice my mother. who could
not live happily with him, was to
make today to insure his happiness
| Then / went away"
About l o'clock this afternoon Mrs.
Slckies, accompanied by her son, left
their home at West Eighth street.
Though they seldom see and more
rarely communicate with the old
General. his wife and son live Just
around the corner from his residence
AT 70 Fifth avenue.
Together mother and son went to
the safe deposit vaults OF the Kniek-
erbocker Trust Company, at Thirty
fourth street and Fifth avenue. Stan
ton Sickles remained in the waiting
room while his mother went to her
safe deposit box. She came forth in
a minute with f2hr-sized white
pasteboard box in her hands. 1t was
tied around with ordinary white cord
With this box held carelessly, il
sceRled, she and her son worked their
Way through the nOonday crowd in
the shopping district. Their de-stina-
ton was McAleenan's pawnshep a,
Thirfy~fifth street and Sixth avenue.
aged woman and the tall, athletic
young man as they entered the Ten
derloin awEshop. The proprietor Of
the resort knew that the lady was
coming with Il quantity of rich jew
els Or which she wished to raise S.
200. OF that fact he had been in
formed by General Sirkles' lawyer
with HON Mns Sickles had communi-
Gated.
Mrs. Sick!es broke the string that
bound the cover to the little box she
laid on the pAwnshop counter in
front Of her Tears trickied down her
checks. and her son stood by her siS.e
his head barred
She took from the box .one by one
those memories OF the days Of youth
anc romance. There We're ropes of
pearls and heavy hands OF gold set
| with diamonds.
There wan one Jewel, a diamond
and sapphire bracelet over which she
fingered long before parting.
Blinded by tears She stretched out
her hard to lay this with the Others
Which were to be hid away in the
nloney-lenders safe. il fell to the
floor, and as young Stanton Siekles
picked it up and put it in Sts place his
| mother said:
hat was the gift from your faith
| e. tfat | loved most. He gave il to
ne the day you were born"
From the pawnshOp Mrs. Sickles
went To the office OF the Lincoln
| Trust Company. where. the hard part
| of her ordeal over, she paid the mon