- 3 -

me in bed sick. When you entered the room your greeting was,
"In bed again? Through your carelessness I know." It is
needless to comment on such a greeting at such a time. From
that time things went from bad to worse.

Night after night you left me alone and sick with a young
baby until a late hour and once you were out all night. During
day time I seldom saw you after breakfast until six or seven
o'clock in the evening and part of this time I had no help
and was obliged to do my own work and look after the baby.
Your conduct and the severe work I had to do taxed my nature
beyond its endurance and one morning I became unconscious and
fell in the bathroom. When I regained consciousness I was in
bed and could hardly lift my hand. It was several days before
I could leave the bed and stand upon my feet. As soon as I
was strong enough I determined if possible to raise some money -
you had given me none for some time - to go to some place where
I could get sufficient nourishing food to give me a little
strength. I would rather have died than seek aid from my
father and let him know my distress, so I borrowed thirty dollars
upon your diamond ring from Mr. McKinley. When I told you I
was going away for a short time you asked, "Where did you get
money?" I told you. I cannot recall your words but I shall
never forget your base insinuation. It left a sting which
time cannot remove. And well I remember how my indignant look
caused you to blush for making such a remark. I took the baby
to Harpers Ferry where we remained four or five weeks and re-
turned home feeling some better but far from well. It was im-

- 4 -

possible for me to regain health and strength in my ill and
weakened condition and constant worrying about your affairs
which I knew were desperate as you failed to supply the means
to defray the ordinary expenses of our home.

In October 1895 you again left me ill and burdened with
our child and only five dollars for support. You directed me
to call upon Mr. McKinley when the five dollars were expended
and I obtained from him thrifty dollars more. When these thirty-
five dollars were exhausted Mr. McKinley declined to furnish me
any more. I notified you of the fact and you sent me six dol-
lars at one time, twenty-five at another, fifteen later, total
$46.00 up to Nov. 14th, '95.

The peculiar manner in which these small sums of money
were sent to me and your persistent refusal to let me know
anything about your personal affairs created in me such a feel-
ing of uncertainty that I concluded that it would be best to
break up housekeeping, rent the house as soon as possible and
take room and board at some suitable place where I would remain
until your return. Accordingly in Nov. '95 I broke up house-
keeping, stored the furniture at my father's - he was kind
enough to let me place it there to save storage - and secured
room and board at Mrs. Alberts. I did not secure a tenant for
my house for six months.

You sent me $60.00 and then and there your remittance
ceased. From the time you left me until you ceased to me
assistance and stopped writing to me you sent me in all $106.00
with which to feed clothe and pay the other necessary expenses

- 5 -

of myself and baby. It was totally inadequate for the purpose
and I found myself in a very embarrassing and humiliating con-
dition. Added to all this you ceased to answer my letters
and left me no alternative but to conclude that you had de-
liberately deserted me and your child. Still, hoping against
hope for your return and desiring to have a place where you
would be welcome on your return I kept the room at Mrs. Albert's
until the first of August 1896, eight long sad and weary months.
Could any wife show more loyal devotion to a husband?

Deserted by my husband, burdened with a young baby, wounded
in my pride and sadly disappointed in the object of my affection.
ill and without the means of support, I was compelled to seek
relief. There were but two ways open to me. Either encumber
my house or appeal to my father. When I thought of the future
of my child I could not do the former and so appealed to my
father for shelter and support of myself and child. It was a
bitter bitter thing for me to do but stern necessity compelled
me to do it. With loving kindness he generously received me
and my child where we have enjoyed a comfortable home ever since.

This in brief is the history of our married life. If you
can find anything in it to warrant me in having any confidence
in your professions of love now and desire and ability to care
for me and baby in the future I would like to know where you
can find it. It would be idiotic on my part to again abandon
a comfortable home and subject myself to the misery and de-
stitution you imposed upon me while depending upon you for
support.

In reply to your notice that you are ready and willing

- 6 -

to give me and our child the support that is due a wife and
child it is only necessary for me to remind you that without
cause and at a time when every dictate of sentiment and duty
demanded your presence you left me and my child without the
means of support and added insult to injury by refusing to
write to me or answer my letters for such a long time that I
accepted your action as a desertion and my self respect as
well as my future welfare forbids my acceptance of any pro-
fessions of affection or assurances of support for the future
you may now make.

You cannot desert me and leave me to shift for myself when
it suits your convenience and return to me at your pleasure
even if I had a home to which you could come. It will soon
be two years since you left me and when the two years expire
I shall apply to court for a divorce. I am sure my happiness
lies in a life separate from yours. I do not detest you, as
the father of my child I cannot; neither have I any passion
against you or objection to your seeing our child. I will be
glad to have any aid you may see fit to furnish for his support
which is his lawful right but I shall not seek or expect it.
I will endeavor as best I can to raise and educate our boy,
if God spares our lives, in such a manner to make him a useful
and honorable man. To do this will be a difficult task with
the limited means at my command. But every dollar I have and
all I may be able to earn, if need be, will be devoted to that
purpose.

In our last conversation you assured me that if I desired

- 7 -

a divorce you would make no opposition to it. I was glad to
know it, as such a course on your part will be in some measure
a reparation of the wrong you did me in taking me from a com-
fortable home and kind and loving parents when you knew you
were unable or worse unwilling to give me decent support.
Besides such a course will be better for both of us and our
child. It will enable us to be friendly which doubtless
would be beneficial to our son.

N. E. P. T.