Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-08-14
How Came
to Marry
By ALLAN C. LAMoND

age. Elliot Mansfield, and we agreed
to prospect together. Mansfield had
left a mother and sister. to whom he
was much attached Unfortunately his
mother had received an injury to one
of her eyes, and since her sons depar
ture for the west it had extended to
the other eye. and she was gradually
becoming blind
The letters she wrote Mansfield were
pathetic. She hoped that he might be
with her again, but she did not hope
to see him. His sister wrote him that.
if possible, he should come home that
his mother might see him once more
before losing her sight. But he had
no money for the journey. and If he
could get home he would not be able
to get back again He was u resolute
fellow and averse to giving up what
be had overwhelmingly, to go back.
if eyer he did go back, with a fortune.
/ was no better off than Mansfield
We wandered about with picks on
our shoulders wherever we believed
there might be gold and at last sic
ceeded in striking dirt that promised
TO pay. While we were getting it into
shape to secure capital with which to
work it Mansfield was taken sick He
was i'll a long while, and during this
time / wrote letters for him to his
mother and sister. In these letters, at
his request. / forged his handwriting
that they might not suspect that he
was unable to write them himself
Furthermore, he charged me to tell
them that he had struck a mine of
value and would o go east with a
view to forming a company to work it.
The poor fellow did not recover, He
asked me before he died to make
over his share I'm u mine TO his moth
er and sister and If possible 90 east,
as he had hoped to do. and either sell
the mine or organize a company. as !
might be able. Dreading the shock of
his death on his mother, he asked me
to keep up the deception till / should
go east and arrange with his sister for
breaking the sad news TO his mother.
found an opportunity TO sell out for
$4,000 and ayailed myself of it. If /
had held on the property would have
made me very rich. but / was tired of
the deception / was practicing and
knew my late partners mother and sis
ter were very poor. Taking their share
of the proceeds with me. I went at
once to the town in which they lived.
On my arrival I sent a messenger to
Miss Mansfield to tell her that her
brothers partner had arrived with
news of him. but ~cautiOning her to say
nothing about me TO her mother until
/ had had an opportunity to see her.
She appointed a meeting with me at
the home of one of her friends. I went
there and told her the bad news I had
for her.
To her grief was added the fact that
her mother, who had now become quite
blind. was looking for her son every
day. Her daughter-Mildred was her
name-waS in agony at the idea Of i'm
parting the news to her. She could
not think of doing SO at the time, for
the old lady was not In a condition to
bear it. So we arranged between us
that until she vas better I was to
write letters as before, putting or the
son and brothers arrival.
Mildred Mansfield, was a very lovely
girl. I sympathized with her deeply, |
and it was a matter of satisfaction
that / was enabled to turn over to her
her brothers share i'm what I had real |
lied for the mine
One day. desiring to consult with
Mildred. / went to her house to see her.
| could see no risk OF revealing the
true situation in doing so. But the old
IGnU yUhn uy09 IN hos ~-~ /
heard my voice below and got it into
her head that / was her son. The
idea occurred to Mildred of permit
ting her mother to believe me to be
her son, n / saw no objection to the
plan. So / went upstairs and submit
ted to a hugging and weeping that
were almost hystericaI.
The mine is sold, MOTHER" said,
land my share is $4,000. It's all in
bank right here in this town"
I'm very happy" she said through
her tears. though l can't see you. You
must stay here always. and so long as
| live neither you nor your sister must
marry, but live here for me and each
other"
Mildred was too embarrassed by this
to make a reply. $ ! was obliged to
make it myself.
Yes. mother. We will live only for
YOU and each other"
/ was looking at Mildred when 1 said
this. and she raised her eyes and blush
ed. Then she said. You'd better give
mother time to recover from her ex-
element" and / went downstairs
Well. we were in for it now deeper
than ever. OF course I was obliged to
take up my quarters in the house, and
since Mrs. Mansfield was blind as a
bat she was not available for a chaper-
We talked over the matter OF
telling her the truth. and finally I said:
Why not let her remain in igno-
rance? We can be married, and that
will make it all right for me to live
here. After your mothers death, If
you wish it, I will help you to get the
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