The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-13
rH1RErlY-YEARs>A 'W4NDERERR.
= from N. Y. Sun. Oct. 2d.1.


'Thirty-one years ago Albert Hall was
travelling salesman. for dry GOODS firm
doing business in Pearl street. He was
steady, quick at business, and rer f
bly, successful: So attractive were his
ways to customers that the. firm intrust.
ed him with*.the. best line of country
travel they had acquired. Frequently he
was absent for weeks, but he returned
with the regularity of clock wor k. There
were attractions for him here. Though
he was young man Of but twenty-five
years Of age, he was marriediand had two
infant boys, the younger ;: Of whom was
but few weeks old. The wife dotted on
her husband, and was jealous Of the days
spent upon the road (which kept them
apart. Their neighbours in Williams.
burgh, where they had a modest little
home, looked upon them as models Of
conjugal happiness, and apparently there
was nothing in their present lot left for
them to desire. r. ~.S*
Suddenly the sunshine was blotted out
of the picture. Young Hail went upon
business trip for the firm, and failed to
return at the appointed time. Days
passed without :tidings, and the anxiety
Of his wife and friends was changed to
desperation. His accounts were correct
and his remittances; had been sent in
promptly, but the man himself could not
be found. Advertisements were put IN
the newspapers; rewards were offered for
his discovery, dead or alive; letters We're
written to every place where he had1bcen
in the habit of stopping; detectives were
employed, and no means OF ascertainlng
his whereabouts was neglected. 1t was
all in vain No tidings Of the missing
salesman were ever heard. Persons re
sembling him, were heard Of here and
there, and attempts were made to identify
them, but every effort finally failed: The
firm and the friends made up their minds
that he had been murdered, or had died
suddenly and unrecognized in some
strange locality. The wife s grief in the
meanwhile was heartrending. When the
first terrible agony Of, suspense had set
tied down into more patient sorrow
she could -. not :. believe her
husband dead. She was sure he
woi,ld return. She listened for every
footstep, and sprang up eagerly when a
door was opened. Ever she hoped against
hope, and prayed in faith. But, like a
TRUE mother, she went to work for her
babes, and reared them carefully and
we'll. The younger, Henry, died in
childhood, but the infant, who was
named after his father, grew up strong
and hearty. He could not remember his
father, but his mother taught him 10
look for his return.
Years passed, and still the faithful wife
watched and waited. Her friends re.
monstrated with her, and assured her
that the lnan who had left her SO sud-
denly was certainly dead. She said lit.
tie, but she did not yet wholly despair.
Latterly she has told one of. her more
intimate friends that she would stand at
the window and feel her heart leap into
her mouth when she saw a figure that
rescmbled her husband approach the
house. At last, however, even her cour
age gave out, and when ten years had
passed. without giving any sign of her
missing liege, she married again, and
found herself mated, the second time, to
more constant spouse. With this hus-
band she has lived quietly and happily
ever since. Their married life has not
been blessed with children. But the son,
young Albert Hall, was married,
and his mother found field
for her love in the four children that had
blessed her sons hearth. The son has
resided latterly in Williamsburgh, but
the mother kept house in Bank street IN
this city, where she is known to her
neighbours as Mrs. Catherine Storms.
A few days ago, just thirty one years
after the mysterious disappearance Of the
elder Albert Hall, a gentleman rang the
door bell of a house in West Eleventh
street, and asked to see the gentleman
who resided there. Finding him absent,
he inquired for the gcntleman's wife, and
was admitted. AS he was handsomely
dressed, and bore the appearance of a
man Of substance, the lady supposed that
he had business with her husband, and
told him where the latter could be found.
Still the stranger stayed, and continued
the conversation, with such strange
twinkle in his eyes that the lady was
disconnected. His elegant broadcloth
and massive gold chain at last grew to
look suspicious. Finally the stranger
said:
MADAME, don't you know mc?''
Il cannot say that / do,' was the
reply, ~.
Ibid you never hear Of Albert Hall g
"You don't mean old Albert Hall 2
The very same.'' ". = !
Eyes. knew him. He was q worthless
scoundrcl, who deserted his wife and
babies"
IL am Albert Hail. was the quiet
reply.
II don't believe you,' was the EN-.
phatic rejoinder. She then examined
him more closely. Albert Hall had been
very tall and slender, and his cheeks
bore inst the SUSPICION of Mhiskcrs when