The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-12-25

There, Mr.. Jeremy, I've DlOuSn ~. 49,.
ERE trunks In good time, and shall havc
to have two dollars, for I've had to dri'e
fast, I'll tell you.' ,, IN
Certainly. my good man. replied NC
who was atdressedas Mr.. Jeremy: three
of them II you like Then handing tie
man bank. note for five dollars, ana aiso
folded and sealed paper, he added =
'Here,-I shall give you five; but you
must promise to take this letter to some
one OF the newspaper offices, and hand IL
to the local editor; but don't, under any
circumstances, tell from whom ysu receN-
al It. VIII you take the five, ana no
this, or must give the three to some
other messengerT
'Oh, I'll take the letter, Of course. But
with another grin-'do you think theyh
print itY'
Mr.. Jeremy betrayed little surprise ut
the mans manner, but answered, with y
pleasant smlle:-
Il guess SO. Items arc scarce
Softly whlstllng popular air, Mr.. Jerf
emy stepped aboard the Empire. Inc
baggagenan looked after him admiringly,
and muttered to himself, You're sharp
'un. Il don't make any difference to you
whether Cass or TaylOr's elected, SO you
gifts the petticoats on your side, know
and he Jumped on his wagon, and drove
away. wei content with his afternoons .
earnings.
The steamers bell rang out the last
note of warning; the lines were cast loose,
the cleaning engine slid away with cat.
like tread, the pOnderous wheels shook OH
the flashing spray and the good steamer
Empire, frelghted with inanimate value
and pulsing life, bearing the buoyancy OF
youthful years and pleasurable Intent,
and the uneasy imaginlngs Of unscrlph-
lous aud plotting guilt, moved out on the
bosom of the lake.
The afternoon of the succeeding day
was far advanced. The westering sun
pierced his level lances through the veil
Of grimy smoke that settled along the busy
river, and far out across the green bosom
Of the lake their golden points were DIM
med and blunted against the purple east.
The clatter, rather than roar. which was
the business voice Of the Chicago Of that
day, was dying into quiet, and over vast
regions where one now hears the rumble
Of the horse cars, and the many-toncd
voice of traffic, tho air tremblcd only TO
the faint bcll-notc from grazing kline, or
their mellowed lowing, rs they lazily wan
dered lOmeward.
The steamer Baltic. from Buffalo direct
had just arrived. The hustle oflandlng was
almost over, and the knot of idlers which
such an event ut that day always drew,
was moving gradually away. A gentle
briskly ashore, leading by the hand q lit
tie boy of not more than flveyears. Both
were well but plainly clad, Indicating n
,,,tI lIx, al nd nf a.
gentlmen wore that expression of pleasur-
unmlxed with apprehension, which one
always feels upon return home after
long absence.
''We'll soon be home now, Harry, my
boy, and l shouldn't wonder If mamma
half chokcd you with kisses
'Oh, I'm SO glad to como homc,' return
cd the boy. Il am tired of boats and wa
ter. And we've got such lots Of nice
things for mama, too; haven't weP
.Yes,pet; and only think how lonesome
mamma must have been oil these weeks,
without her little boy
He caught the little fellow up In his
arms, and moved onward ut q more ranid
pace.-Along Lake street he greeted cJo
or three a,jaualntAnces with brief nOdLto
each while they, unnoted by him, looked
after him with troubled eyes and COM
passionate shake Of the head.
Threading his way rapidly and conf.
IDENTIFY he turned up Clark street, passed
under the shadow Of the old court house
to Lasallc, and up that street to a point
not many hundred feet away from the
spot where the great new buildings of the
Young Mems Christian Aass0clation have
recently been burned. Here he turned of
dlagonally. and crossing some vacant lots,
approached q low, white cottage.-He saw
rs he came up. that the blinds were all
closed, and the house looked deserted
and silent. But 1t was hot day, he said
to himself, and behind the blinds must be
the fiuttering curtains and cool shade OF
pleasant home. Besides, he thought,
she Is not expecting me; am moro than
week ahead Of time.'
He stepped on the little stoop and turn
ed the knob, but the door was locked.
Bidding the boy walt for him there, ne
went to the rear door. That, too, was
closed and locked. He returned to the
front with surprise and anxiety, and the
shadow Of gathering tear written on his
face. But he plucked up heart again
when he came back to the front, and his
little boy askcd,-
Papa, where Is mama? Why don't we
Mamma did not expect us to-day he
replied, with adreary cheerfalness, 'and
she has gone ont to see some nelyhbors,
or shopping, may be. But she'll be back
presently, and we'll sit down on the step
here, and walt for her.
But he rang the bell loudly, and listen-
cd intently rs Its echoes sounded through
the deserted rooms, before he sat down,
and tried, with q trouble heart, to think
where his wife could be. Presently the
clicking Of the gate-latch reused him from
his unquict thought, and he looked up
with an eager smile. But 1t was neigh,,
Dor, who advanced gravely, and replied
to his hurried questions only by wringing
his hand and holding out to him copy OF
morning newspaper, folded Gown to an
Indicated paragraph. He took 1t eagerly,
and the ncighbOr, walking quickly away,
leaned on the gate. Let us look over his
shoulder as he reads:-
ELOPEMENT?-Last evening, soon after
the departure OF one Of our magniil-
cent lake steamers, 1t transplrcd that the
wife of q quiet well-knOwn citizen had
taken passage for Buffalo and the East
In guilty company with young man who
had contrlved to attract the admiration Of
our business men by the boldness ana
success of his commercial operations quite
as mnch as that Of their daughters ana
wives by his personal graccs. The run
away seems to have been conducted In the
most deliberate manner. The gentleman,
within a few days, has closed up oil his
outstanding business, announcing his pnr-
pose to remove from the city; and the Ia
dy, up 10 within few hours OF her de-
parture. having continued the apparent
course OF her lie with the utmost sang
froid, making engagements with friends
and nelghbOrs for days still In the future
and ostentatiously bewailing the absence
of her husband, whom pressing business
called to New York several weeks ago.
On the whole, we have rarely heard OF
case exhibiting cooler depravlty.-
parties names we suppress for obvious
reasons.
LATER.-Slnce the above was In type,
we have learned that Mr.. B-rn.s Is accom-
panied In New York by his only child, a
| hr,,vht little how Of three wears old or