Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1875 — Whose Daughter? [ARTICLE]

Whose Daughter?

There went to Davenport, lowa, eighteen years ago a poor young couple, who had a pretty child for whom they were not able to provide. The child was a girl, and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Martin, having no one to love, offered to take the girl and make her their own. This they did with the free consent and to the great joy of the poor young couple. The girl grew in grace and loveliness, and was embellished with all the feminine accomplishments which shine in society and turn men’s heads. She was a beauty and became a reigning belle in polite circles. She had all the luxuries of life at command and wealth and position in prospect. She supposed she was the own daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin. A short time ago she found out by some means the secret that hid been carefully hid from her. She ascertained that she was Miss Martin under false pretenses. Her real mother —still poor—was in Davenport, always near her daughter and seeing her every day. The other day the young lady mysteriously disappeared, and it was noticed that the mother became invisible in Davenport at the same time. Putting the two disappearances together it is not difficult to solve the mystery. Nothing is known about the interview between the mother and daughter when the former told her love after eighteen years of separation. It would make a pretty story, but will have to be omitted here. It is one of those family secrets with which die public have nothing to do. There is no doubt that the mother and daughter have gone together. The young lady forsook her foster-parents without even bidding them good-by, and cast luxury, wealth and position behind her. But she took her gentle ways and education along, and that looked like robbery. She left her foster-parents in the deepest grief, for they loved her as their own. They had a funeral in their hearts, where they buried the hopes of eighteen vears. Had blood any vested right to now in and sever such hearts as these? It was not a true mother’s love that could advise or even permit it.— St. Louie Republican.