St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-08-16
WY Did He DO 1t.

Why Did He DO 1t.
The reader who is acquainted with
Nathaniel Ilawthorncs delightful Twice
lold Tales, may bear in mind Il curious
little sketch included among them. and
called Wakefield.
The story referred to was first publish
ed III the year ISIS, in a book called
Political and Literary Anecdotes of his
Own Time, by Doctor William King,
Principal Of ST. Mary Hall, We will
proceed to put our readers in pos
session of the facts of the case rs they
are set forth by Doctor King.
Mr.. Howe is described as q sensible.
wclI-naturcd man. with an estate of some
seven or eight hundred pounds Il year,
united 10 4 young lady Of agreeable per
son anA manners, and in every respect
an excellent wife. who came of rood
family in the " WeSt of ENGLAND. and whose
maiden name was Mal!"t. Two children
Were borne Of this marriage, neither of
whom, however, lived 10 attain the
age Of fifteen. Doctor King seems to
have known Mr.. and Mrs. Howe about
the year 1906.
We pause 4 moment to state that the
Doctors anecdotes. We're not published
until long after his death. which hap
pem,d in l-63. They We're written,
nevertheless, It Is evident. with Il view
TO publication. In Il preface he state,
that he was in his seventy-sixih year al
the time of his .jotiing down the notes,
memoranda. and detached pieces which
constitute his book Most of the ancc-
dotes. he affirmed. were derived from hi
own knowledge; the rest were related
10 INN by friends, upon whose honor and
veraeity he could depend.
The llowes lived in a house in .]ermyl
street, near 81. .]amcs's Church. They
had been married some seven or eight
years, and were generally regarded as ;
very happy and comfortable couple. On,
morning Mr.. Howe rose early, and IN
formed hi> wife that he was obliged t,
90 as far as the Tower to transact some
particular business. At nocn the same
dIv. Mrs. Howe received note from hel
husband, appri>ing her that he was un
der the necessity OF starting for HOLLAND
forthwith, and that he should probably
he absent three weeks or month The
month passed; two month, - thel
three months-but no tidlngs were re
cciyed from Mr.. Howe. His wife grew
seriously alarmed. She was at loss t,
understand the meaning of his absence
His silence was still more inexplicable
She could only imagine that his abrup
departure might be due to pecuniaI,
embarrassment. 1t was possible, o
coursc-though from nothing he had eve
said was she justified in such suspicion
that he had, Unknown to her, contract
ed some large debt, or incurred SOM
serious liability, and had fled the countr,
to be out of the way of his difficulties.
For some time, in addition to he
. alarm at his absence. she lived in a ieve
Of apprehension of the demands of credi
tors, of seizures, executions, etc. Blu
2 nothing of this kind happened TO troubl
her. As time went on it was though
advisable to inquire into the position o
AIr. iIowe's affairs. His estate wa
found TO be perfectly free and uncumber
ed. Not only that, all the bills Of til
tradespeople with whom he had ever ha
any dealings were found to have bee
paid up to the time of his going away
and among his papers were discovere
y formal rccel pts and discharges from a
;. persons with whom he had had any kin
n of monetary transactions. The month
grew into years, vet still came no new
of missing Mr. Howe His wife was {;
length compelled to apply for speci;
Act OF Parliament to procure a prope
settlement OF her husbands estate. and
provision for herself out OF it during hi
- absence, and under the uncertainty us t
whether he was alive or dead. BY an
y 10y the poor woman was to be more sharI
y tried. Her children drOoped and fac
ty cd, and at last were taken from her ST
n; n, then-lett entirely alone-thought prop,
iaI nj to reduce the number of her servan
IS tS and her housekeeping expenses ST
sr removed from Germyn street, and b.
81. came tie tenant OF Il much smaller hou:
in Brewer street, Golden square.
u! 'lL Seventeen years had passed away
Mrs. Howe had long since mourned h,
ey husband as dead, and forever lost to he
rs Late one evening, while she was at SUI
"S per with certain of her friends and rel
on tions-Dr. Rose, physician who h;
al ui married her sister, being of the compal
n nd there was brought in and handed
N her letter, the writer of which, not su
scribing his name, requested her to gra
u.s. him the favor of a meeting upon the fC
w. lowing evening in Birdcage Walk, 5
.Iames's Park. When she had read t
note, Mrs. Howe, somewhat puzzled
70 the nature Of its contents, passed it on
Doctor Rose, as she said with a laug
You see, brother, old as l am l ha
yet found an admirer." Doctor Re
examined the note His face assumed
very grave expression. Then, after cal