American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-30
A CHICAGO STORY.

A CHICAGO STORY.
HENRY DELARRE is well known in thi
city. This recital will make him bette
known. He was and is as much gentle
man of means and leisure as anythin.
else; though when he is busted with any
occupation il is that of real estate. Hi.
circle of intimate acquaintance is no
very extensive He has q few firm, warn
friends; but were he once more to droI
out of life as suddenly and completely a!
is narrated in this story he would bt
be forgotten; for business men forget as
water runs-smOothly and swiftly.
Likewise he is in love. Combine in q
man lucre, love and loneliness, and he be
comes irresistible. These very attributes
nearly brought him to death. At the
same time they unquestionably saved his
life Keeping these preliminaries in
mind the reader can understand his adj
venture.
In the West Division, near the corner of
Madison and Halsted, was located six
months ago the millinery establishment of
Mrs Albert Larken. Among the employees
was Miss Bessie Shannon, a quiet, black
haired and black-eyed girl of twenty-five
or three years of age, tall, stately, and
remarkably good looking. If she had not
larre in his passing the store, in his
meeting her occasionally morning and
night as he went from his home to bust
ness, mi hit have felt no desire to make
her acquaintance and finally to fall in love
with her; and she might have become
the wife of Il commonplace Smith, Jones,
or Brown without being the heroine she
now is. As it happily TRANSFERRED, De-
larre did become en- ,mored of her and
she of him, to their mutual joy and sOr-
row. Their love-poem ran its rhythmicaI
lines for four months, or until the first
day of May. Each was happy according
to their temperaments. The man made a
business of his affection and thought
nothing too good for her. The woman
set him up in her heart as an idol and
worshiped the lively, generous and
On the first day of May Henry Delarre
disappeared as completely and mysteri-
ously as if he had fallen into a fiery fur
mace and been consumed. The last per-
sou who saw him, SO far as known, was
Miss Bessie Shannon, whom he left at the
threshold of her own home on Friday
evening, May 1. She said "good- by, !"
fingered at the door until she saw him
turn the corner, and then with a light
heart turned away from her departing
lover and the fate toward which he was
moving. Mr. Delarre did not appear at
home that night; nor was he to be found
at his place of business or elsewhere the
following day. His room was in its usual
orderly array. His office showed no evil
dence of flight. His bank account had no
heavy drafts against it, and his business
was prosperous. All these facts were dis
covered within two hours on the morning
of Saturday, just two weeks ago. While
alarm was felt for his safety by his friends,
their apprehensions were kept from Miss
Shannon and from the world. 1t was
thought for a time that he might have
been Unexpectedly called into the country
on business; but dispatches sent to the
various points where he was most likely
to go failed to discover any clew to his
whereabouts. And when, in the course of
a casual conversation with his betrothed
it was found when and where she saw him
last, his friends feared the worst. Adver-
tisenents were immediately placed in the
Sunday morning papers, and large re-
ward was offered to both the CITY and
private police, to incite them to every
effort to ascertain his fate. In justice to
the police it should be said that they
worked nobly, for Mr.. Delarre was well
and favOrably known by many on the
force. But every effort was in vain. Not
a trace could be obtained of the un!ortu-
nate man. The river was dragged as a
last resort, without other effect than to
reposing in its Shiny bed.
The wild agony Of Miss Shannon, when
she learned, Sunday night, of the disap-
pearance of her lover, was indescribable
For a few minutes she sat like statue,
and then burst into lamentations which
were in themselves an affiiction for those
compelled to remain at her side. The
whole night long she paced her room
sleepless, fearless, and tireless. Then, in
In eli
that slumber she awoke changed
woman, a stern look on her face and in
her eyes.
81 will find him, dead or alive" she
said to those at her side. " L: is my task,
my hope, my purpose in life. My only
obstacle will be the shortness of the
days"
"The police are trying to find him, "said
Mr.. Delarre, the father.
The police are stupid" she cried
Henry has not dropped into the earth.
If he has been murdered, his BODY can be
found" And in that belief she began her
labOrs
Tuesday morning a detective came to
Mr.. Delarre.
II think-and it's but a suspicion. sir
mind you,-that your sons body is "a"
The ma n faltered at the whitening face
before him and stopped.
Proceed" commanded Mr. Delarre.
"Tell the worst"
sits hard thing to say, Mr.. Delarre."
"Say it," was the fathers reply, as he
clutched his chair with an involuntary
grasp.
"Well, then, l think the body has been
taken to medical college As | said
it's only suspicion. Somebody's body
went there very quiet like"
Prove it," said Mr.. Delarre, sternly
"There is my sons picture"
The man did not return. The body
was not that of his son. There was hope
in that failure. Miss Shannon had not
been inactive meanwhile She had made
mysterious journey to the South Side
and called at the Office of Mr. Wyndart, a
lawyer. "Out of town." was the reply
made to her. From that office she sought
detective, In company with an acquaint-
ance, whom she left in an ante room.
You will follow this man ~ she asked
of the detective at the conclusion of her
interview.
"Of course. But, if you will permit
me the question, why do you suspect
himg'
because he is a rejected lover, and
therefore an enemy of Mr.. Delarre. Fur
thermore," opening a small paper box,
"here is shirt stud which found in the
gutter, nearly half block distant from
the corner. As you may see, it has been
wrenched from the fastening, apparently.
Try these clews and let me knOw" With
that much information for corner stone
for her plan Miss Shannon went to the
house of Mr.. Delarre.
1t was while she was there that Mr..