Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-10-21


the street was her husband coming home at last ;
but still he came not When she returned to her
work at the table, she was seized with dependency
and alarm. She now bethought herselfthat it was
not Sebad's way to go out so suddenly without
saying word, and to stay out so late. fhe had
changed his mind, and been obliged to go out that
evening, he would surely have said a word to
that effect to his wife, who was sitting not far
from him. Never did he 60 out for a single hour
without acqualnting her, and desiring her to save
his supper for him F; and now he was away the
whole night She turned over in her mind his
behaviour during the day uneasy as she was,
she fancied that it had not been altogether
al but on closer reflection, she could not adj
duce any particular circumstance. The anxious
wife tried to recollect whether any petty jar had
| arisen between them, but she soon said TO her
self, C How could forget quarrel so serious as
to drive a husband away from his wife Besides,
it was not Sebald's disposition to bear such Vi
client grudge!' 20
GATHERINGS thoughts then turned to his cir
cumstances but as far as she knew, these were
prosperous indeed, had they been ever so derang
cd, the senator, man universally beloved and
esteemed, would have need to abscond by
night on that account, for he had friends and
wealthy relations who took an interest in his wei
fare.
Amid these musings day dawned, and Cath
crime extinguished her lamp Weary she was,
sleep kept aloof from her eyes. By degrees the
family began to stir, doors opened, and the short
dry cough of the grandmother gave notice that
she was awake. The children came, and Cath
crime said not word to them to the old lady
about the absence of her husband But she could
not long conceal it. People came upon business;
the messenger of the senate wanted him friends
asked to see him and at last she was obliged to
confess that she knew not where her husband
was. A day suffered to pass and then it
publicly reported in the city that Senator Beer
lein had Disappeared and nobody knew what
had become of him. Some now prete nded that a
man S hat and stick had been found on the bank
of the river others declared that report of fire.
arms had been heard at night in neighboring
wood, and it was whispered that the corpse of the
suicide had been carried very early in the morn
ed for the purpose. Still more extraordinary ru
mors were circulated it was alleged that Mr..
Beerlein had been conducted by an escort over the
frontiers to be punished for some crime suddenly
discovered in neighboring country. 1t is easy
to conceive what Catherine and her family must
have suffered when they heard these reports
The poor fororn Woman still believed her hus-
band would come back daily, hourly-but she
was disappointed. A month passed away, two
months, three months, and not trace of the SEN
ator was to be discovered. Advertisements in
the newspapers proved trutless; and private in
quiries, indefatgab!y prosecuted equally
unavaling. The man was as completely lost as
if he had sunk into the earth. Nobody had seen
him 90 out at the door, nobody had observed him
in the street; minutely as his dress, face, and
figure were described, nowhere had such per-
son been seen ia any Of the neighboring places
Three years had elapsed, and the lost senator
had ceased to be talked of, when, late one eve
ming, likewise in the middle of summer, man
knocked at the door Of Beerlein's house He
looked pale and fatigued. He was asked what
he wanted The stranger evidently aston
ished at the question.
WHO are you'" said he 10 the young man
who opened the door. "What brings you into
my house ?"
''Your house!'' exclaimed the youth, scruti-
nizing the interrogation from head to foot. "This
house belongs to Mr.. Van Peters, the wine-mer
chant, and | am his clerk.
+" Van Peters !" exclaimed the Stranger
" What silly oaf you must be TO crack such II
stupid Joke AS if did not know where the
wine merchant lives, and where my own house
is =
With these words he pushed the young fellow
roughly aside, and assembled the wel-known stair
case. He went along the passage; here he saw
furniture and pictures that were strange to him.
He was about TO open the door of the sitting
room, when bursts of obstreperous laughter, the
clang of glasses, of men in loud dissipation met
his ear.
els it possible ~ said he to himself; "has
Catherine company and especially such noisy
company as this p
He opened the door gently, and was filled with
horror on seeing number of drunken faces
around a public house table, The apartment
which used to be kept neat, so clean, com
Portable, looked dirty, and was filed with tobac-
co-smoke. The wainscot was damaged, and here
and there gone from the wall. The chair at the
window, where his grandmother accustomed