The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-26
How | Came
to Marry
By ALLAN C. LAMOND

10 prospect together. Mansfield ha,
ieft mother and sister, to whom h,
was much attached Unfortunately hi
mother had received an injury to on,
OF her eyes. and since her sons depar
ture for the west 1t had extended 1,
the other eye. and she was gradual,
becoming blind
Inc letters she wrote Mansfield wer
pathetic. She hoped that he might b.
with her again. but she did not HON
to see him. His sister wrote him that
II possible. he should come home tia
his mother might see him once NOR,
before losing her sight. But he IN,
no money for the journey. and if h,
could get home he would not be ahl,
to get back again. He was a resoiut.
fellow and averse to giving M wb.,
he had Undertaken namely. to go back
If ever he did go back. with Il fortune
l was no better off than Mansfield
We wandered about with hicks M,
our shoulders wherever we believed
there might be gold and at last sur
ceeded In striking dirt that promisod
to pay. While we We're getting 1t una
shape to secure capital with which IA
work 1t Mansfield was taken sick Flo
was Ill long while. and during this
time / wrote letters for him to bis
mother and sister. In these letters. Mt
his request. | forged his Handwriting
that they might not suspect that he
was unable to write them himself
Furthermore, he charged me TO FOL,
them that he had struck mine of
value and would soon 90 east with a
view to forming company to work IT.
The poor fellow did not recover He
asked me before he died TO make
over bis share in our mine to his moth
er and sister and If possible 80 east
as he had hoped to do. and either sell
the mine or organize company. as I
might be able. Dreading the shock of
his death on his mother. he asked me
to keep up the deception till I should
60 east and arrange with his sister for
breaking the sad news to his mother
found an opportunity to sell out for
$4,000 and awaited myself of it, III
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, | went at
once to the town In which they lived
On my arrival sent 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
l had had an opportunity to see her.
She appointed a meeting with me at
the home Of one Of her friends. l went
there and told her the bad news 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 q condition to
bear It So we arranged between US
that until she was better was to
write letters as before. putting off the
son and brothers arrival
Mildred Mansfield was a very lovely
girl. sympathized with her deeply,
and 1t was matter of satisfaction
that was enabled to turn over to her
her brothers share in what 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
lady. who was in her room above,
heard my voice below and got it into
her head that l was her son. The
IDEA occurred to Mildred of permit
ung her mother to believe me to be
ner sou, and saw no objection to the
pan So | went upstairs and submit
TED to hugging and weeping that
We're almost hysterical
The mine Is sold, mother" | said,
and my share is $4,000. It's all in
oank right here in this town"
I'm very happy" she said through
ner tears. though can't see you. You
must stay here always. and so long as
I'VE neither you nor your sister must
marry, but live here for me and each
other"
Mildred was too embarrassed by this
10 make reply. 80 l was obliged to
make it myself.
Yes. mother. We will live only for
you and each other"
was looking at Mildred when said
tais' and she raised her eyes and blush
N' Then she said. You'd better give |
mother time to recover from her ex-
etement," and l went downstairs.
wen, we were In for It now deeper |
.uan ever or course | was obliged to |
uAe up my quarters in the house. and |
since Mrs Mansfield was blind as a |
oa' she was not available for chaper-
W.. W. we talked over the matter of
@ .rls her the truth, and finally said
why not let her remain In igno-
-" .anee! We can be married, and that
WIN VIII make 1t all right for me to live
..le' After your mothers death. II
Nv WISH 1t. l will help you to get the
marriage annulled."
~ we had a wedding ceremony per.
,rued, just to enable US to deceive
~ Mansfield for her own good. and
n .aea she died we concluded to let the
I'iage stand. And that's the way
A. ane TO be married man today and
,,.,, ,a'ner Of seven children-just to
49, u giving an old lady on the brink