The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-10
How | Came
to Mary

In the gold hunting days | went out Il
to the gold fields to make fortune. c
fell In with young man of my own I
age, Elliot Mansfield. and We agreed
to prospect together. Mansfield had .
left a mother and sister. TO whom be ,
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.
IL 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 II he
could get home he would not be able
to get back again. He was resolute
! fellow and averse to giving up what
| he had undertaken-namely. TO go oach'
| if ever he did 90 back, with fortune |
| | was no better off than Mansfield
We wandered about with picks on
our shoulders wherever we believed
there might be gold and mt last sue
ceeded in striking dirt that promised
to nav. While we were getting it into
shape to secure capital with which 10
work it Mansfield was taken sick. lie
was i'll a long while. and during TINS
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 ne
was unable to write them himself
Furthermore. he charged me to tell
Them that he had struck mine OF
T value and would soon go east with
view to forming a company to work It.
| The poor fellow did not recover tie
I asked me before he died to make
: over his share in our mine to his moth
$ err and sister and If possible go east.
as he had hoped to do. and either sell
4 the mine or organize company. as
q might be able. Dreading the shock OF
, his death on his mother, he asked me
. to keep up the deception till shouiu
Il 90 east and arrange with his sister Tor
= breaking the sad news to his mother
!. found an opportunity to sell out FOL
= $4,000 and awaited myself of it. II
= had held on the property would nave
!, made me very rich. but | was tired Of
:, the deception l was practicing ant
~ knew nv late partners mother and SIS
ter were very poor Taking their shar'
a of the proceeds with me. l went a
"A once TO the town in which they lived
:, On nv arrival sent messenger L
~ Miss Mansfield to tell her that he
m brothers partner had arrived VIII
=, news of him. but cautioning her TO So
~ nothing about me to her mother unit
I had had an opportunity to see he
She Amounted meeting with me
tho home of one of her friends. wei
,i' there and told her the bad news ! ma
~ for her.
,st To her grief was added the fact th'
,or her mother, who had now become qui
~, blind. was looking for her son evel
doy Her daughter-Mildred was b.
-. name-was in agony at the idea of II
narting the news to her. She cou
not think of doing so ut the time' I
the old lady was not in condition
t.. bear it So we arranged between
49,, =. that until she was better | was
us write letters as before. putting OF I
90 son and brothers arrival.
". Mildred Mansfield was very love
, girl I sympathized with her deep
ne. and II was n matter of satisfacti
ne' that was enabled to turn over to
oe her brothers share In what had re
ICED for the mine.
was One day. desiring to consult W
Mildred. went to her house to see
pos could see no risk OF revealing
hau true situation in doing So But the
ho' iady. who was In her room abe
up hoard nv voice below and got It l
uhs her head that was her son.
III idea occurred to Mildred OF peri
give ting her mother to believe me to
'lhe' her son. and l saw no objection to
o'h plan So l went upstairs and subj
uu' ted to hugging and weeping I
~ were almost hysterical.
ut' "The mine Is sold, MOTHER s
pre- and nv share is $4,000 It's al
over bank right here in this town."
you I'm very happy" she said thro
nihs her tears, though can't see you.
must stay here always and SO lon
- NC T live neither you nor your sister I
anu marry, but live here for me ana
-. other"
wha' Mildred was too embarrassed by
'nee TO make a reply, so l was oblige
, my " n"n =. rsoif
Yes, mother. We Will I'VE only
lien YOU and each other"
,oulu was looking at Mildred when
" ~ this. and she raised her eyes ana D
LUIS cd Then she said. YOU'D better
ant a GU -. 70 racovor from heI
hsu'' element" and went downstairs
Well, we were In for 1t now az
u 'ne than ever. or course | was oblig'
, take up my quarters In the house
'ather since h's ,,o;,oh,o for n oh
w. on. We talked over the matte
telling her the truth. and finally
~ "Why not let her remain In
!, rance? We can be married, and
- will make it all right for me to
n nSh.t here. After your mothers deaf
80. Won wish It, I will help you to g
, foIt marriage annulled-"
So we had a wedding ceremon!
oomo formed. just to enable US to q.
Mrs. Mansfield for her own good
,.., when she died we concluded to j
~ :, marriage stand And that's the
- ~ I came to be a married man toda