The New York herald., 1870-01-14
THE PR0DIGALS.
The Penitent Dominic" and His
Youthful Affinity.
Rev. Horace Cooke at the Tombs-- Details "
the Return Of the Pastor and His
PrOtege TO ThisCity-What Mr..
Johnston Says--The Min
istcr's Defence.

this city, who have, as a matter OF course, more
personal feeling concerning the affair thah any
other class IN the community are rs yet unsatshed
with the explanations made by ths unfortunate AR.
Cooke When the intelligence was brulted abont
that tine wayward shepherd had returned from ms
wandcrlngs 10 was believed that every vesuge OF
mystery that haa heretofore surrounded the case
would be dispe.ed. but such is moi the TACT
there are certain thlngs which VIII yet bear expia-
nation.
THE STARTING posT.
There have been so many sensation accounts pub
ls4hed concerning the relations winch existed
between Miss Johnston and the minister before the
1lopement became matter or notorety, that II may
DE or moment to those who nave PAID any attention
70 the case to know the reai truth OF the whole
matter. The fact ls that Mr. Cooke had comported
himself toward the girl that the suspicious OF no
person who knew either OF them were aroused
until the day when the pair were missed from their
bones Certain ladies believe that the grl had idea
of leaving The city when she did, from the fact that
when she did she had only The ordinary clothes
she wore every day at school, aud Llcse were
not certainly Dedtting young lady Who Intended
TO make trip out OF town. But II was quile other
wise With the designing pastor. As the school WAS
dismissed on Friday afternoon he was seen by the
children who passed ont leaning against the iron
railing and quietly smoking Il cigar. "Why, MI.
Cooke,n exclaimed one OF the young LADIES' of his
congregation who happened 10 notice hin, Il heard
you were very SICK; how are YOUR The pastor
Strengthened himself up and. touching hls hat with
oil the grace OF Chesterfield, replied, somewhat
confused IL am much better; very much
better. am waiting TO see gentleman friend OF
NINE" The girl passed on, and in "a few minutes
aiterward. as Miss Johnson came oul, ne turned
about and walked up toward Broaaway, and on
reaching the corner Joined the girl. that was tue
hast seen OF them by any one wlo knew them nnni
they returned on Wednesday from taeir nying VISIT
out OF town.
MISS JOHNSON LIKE BARKis'
The friends OF the young girl contend tina. the
simple circumstance that she went away without
Io,ng most '.giris OF the period" would do
seeing 10 II that she had several Saratoga trunks
well stocked and expressed through TO their destna
tion beiorchand-is ample prof that she mad no
idea or leaving town that day. Miss Johnston her.
self states that Mr. Cooke met her after school on
FRIDAY and .persuauedn her by noneyed words 10
lily WIN MIN wherever ne would 60. Alter a htte,
very little resstauce on her part 40 great was her
regard for tue advice OF ner pastor -ni,n who had
conducted her To the well oi truta anu taught her
how hldcous thing is SIN III tue eyes oil The Lord
she,
vow.ng she would ne'er consent, consented
Now, II so happened that Matte was always in
the habit o, taxing NICE little lunch with her every
morning on starllng out 10 school, with which sac
regaled herself at midday, ana the habit OF having
one; yet, somehow or another, on Friday morning
the lunch which mad been prepared was not taken,
aud turned out 10 De the nrst tnng which excited
suspicious Of family al home after Mr. Cookies
absence had been prolonged to satisfy his WIFE
Whether or not Inis iIltlc incldent conclusive
proof that the eirl uid not wish 10 be DuTueued with
the Thing, knowing that she was TO leave town some
time during the day-pTobaby diru. The noontin.e
recess--ls u question Whlca Is Yet III exceeding
great doubt
THE BIRDS FLOWN
AT any rate the lunch that not taken, and the
everybody concerned in the welfare u the shepherd
and ms lamb that they had gone away without bid
ding tnelr friends formal goodny. The mInister'S
laiiy and that OF the missing glri joined nands III
inelr efforts TO find out whtner the two had nown
had they gone 10 some city iote or 10 the Far Nest
TO get up revival on their own hooky And vet
they might have taken it into heads 10 go 10
Europe trusting that an ocean between them anu
ther friends might be sunicien. barrier 10 All
ruthless interference. These were the questions
which soreiy troubled both 1aines and IL is quite
likely thar they would have been even now III as !
much OF fog about the matter ever nau the sud
den return ol Tie prodlgas 10 this city and
explanation on the part OF The gill, given a |
Quietus To the general anxiety.
IN TIE CITY or BKorHEKLY LOVE.
Cooke contenred himself on return with
saylng that he and Matte haa mol been far
away but this indefinite answer was not satls.ac
tory 10 those who desired more light on tie suDIect
and IL left Tor Matte to tel! somewhat oi the
night. She states thai they lett tins Guy on Friday
evening and proceeded to philadelphia where tney
arrived about midnight. They put up AT "a hotel,
and Cooke, after seeing tnat made comfort
able III her new quarters went out saying he would
be Uack In lew mlnuteS lie acted strangely, she
says, as bewilderea and knowing exactly
wnat he was really about She waiIeu and waliea
but Cooke did not return. Finally. overcome by
The excitement she nad passed through. she fell
asleep, and when she awOke IL WAS broau daylight,
anu the rafting OF carts owes the pavement ana the
hum OF voices in the street showed that the CITY was
up ana DONG But where was cooker she looked |
about her and saw nothing bus the furniture n the
ron, fne pictures on tAe walls and na PASTORS |
trunk III corner, just as ~ had been dragged in
upon lheir arrival. NAere her she pressed |
her nanas to her aching mead and asked herself If
she was dreaming Tue sht 6ast oi IL steam pipe |
from a factory near py ana the heavy boom OF u
chnrcn clock striking nine O'CLOCK told her that she
not dreaming. she started up ana rang tne
bell. servant soon Answered iiaif frightened at
she knew moi what is the man Knocked AZ her door,
che turned the key 10 unocs Il but iouud that IT
was unlocked. She had fallen asleep after Cooke had
goue out and, OF course had nos thougnt OF locking
the door before his renfn wnch she believed would
be In q lew minutes. she turncd lhe knob and half
opened the door. The servant wltn duster IN hand
stood smiling In the Railway.
"Ud you ring mssf"
ayes. Can you tell me II the gentleman who came
with me is down slairs2 she SAID hat AFRAID OF her
own voice In the strange place.
''The gentleman VINO cauie with your ] don't
know VINO you mean Have ever seen him, 2"
'Go and see, please. He IS Il tall man, with
whskers and musiache, and dressed IN back. The
clerk VIII know hinl. We arrived about twelve
O'Clock last nght.n
TO tell the truth, Miss Johnston ignorant OF
what name Cooke had registered on the book AT the
,desk.
..le is not down stairs,n said the scranton nis
return. ..iie was in the office smoking about
O'Clock and then went out-'
FOUR DAYS UNACcorNTED FOR.
This Is all that can be learned OF the visit Pha
.dcipna, although II Miss JoLnstons friends saw dt
they might be able to throw some light Oh the SUB
Ject Where Cooke went 10 when he let the MOTEL,
1when ne came back and where he and the gIri ieIt
1le City OF Brothersy Love- or whether he came on
Ajt ne and she followed him, sr oerso ques-
tao, " that are YET unanswered. There are many
stoi a1oat concerning their stay at that city, but
Of tnem are reliable en0agh 70 he made pubic.
There certainly must aave been some preconcerted
plan settled upon by the par wnle they were
as totheir Iuture movements, else they
co Id hot have arrived together in tais city
IL t.eS did on Wednesday or. al least, arrived
at one Of our hotels in the same Carriage
on that day, whether they arrived In together
or NOT. Where they passed saturday, Sunday, Mon
day and Tuesday Ia not known TIE girls family
positively refuse TO give any Information the sub
)eet, and Cooke himself IL equally reticent Yet
why the movements or tie pair and where their
temporary aDodes were on those days should be
concealed ~ something altogether nnscconDtable-
III strikes one as quite natural that the girls family
M least, should be willing, indeed anxloks to show
the pubic that they arc able TO account Tor every
day and night Of the daughters absence, ana To
show that Cooke and her at no one time occupied
the same apartment.
al think" said a HERALD reporter to Mr.. john