You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart radio and Grimm and Mild

from Erin Manky.

In the 1800s, women-born to affluent families in the religious deep south had their lives

practically planned out for them at birth.

They would learn to be quiet, demure, and charming.

They would grow up in boarding schools where they learned needlework, studied Bible verses

and were groomed for marriage.

After becoming a suitable bride, they were expected to give their husbands ears.

Their duties included child rearing, going to church, and supporting their husband's

career.

In their later years, they might hope to grow old surrounded by children and grandchildren

before passing away, with any luck as quietly and gently as they lived.

Pearl Heart wanted none of that.

Born Pearl Taylor in the Canadian Village of Lindsay, Ontario, she originally moved within

the strict guidelines expected of her.

But at 16, when her parents sent her to boarding school, Pearl met Frederick Heart and decided

her predetermined life wasn't for her.

Her new bow wasn't exactly the kind of man her family approved of.

He'd tend to bar, drink heavily, gambled, and rarely missed an opportunity to sleep with

any woman willing.

It's unclear what Pearl saw in Frederick, but the two soon aloaked.

Perhaps she'd aimed to live an exciting life void of stuffy upper-class rules.

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