Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-04-06
(From the Sandusky Register.)
The WAGES OF SIN.

W GSl>S vi kO1N.
Many Of our readers will remember
Harlow Case, who was Collector Mt this
port IN 1850, by appointment Of Presi-
dent Fillmore. We have just come into
possession of some facts in relation To
this man, and others connected with
him, that will be read with interest,"
Case had as Deputy Collector, during
bis term Of Office here, a gentleman
named Henry Francis, with whose wife,
q lovely and accomplished woman, Case
fell desperately in love, and she also
conceived a passion for her adlnirer,
with whom she agreed to elope as soon
as favorable opportunity offered
Case concluded to make an opportuni-
", and did So. He collected about
$4,000 in gold for customs, etc, and
one day, while his deputy, Mr.. Francis,
was away from home, Case and Mrs
Francis and her daughter, n beautiful
child, fled from the city and went to
the Island of Ceylon. As soon as the
defalcation and elopcment We're discov-
cred the widest excitement prevailed
in the city, and steps were at once Ia
ken to apprehend Case, but all efforts
availed nothing. The knowledge of his
wife's guilt and the loss of his child
was terrible blow to Mr. Francis, W ho
soon afterward left the city and has
not. we believe, been heard of since by
any one here.
We have been fortunate enough to
get possession of an interview of an
American missionary with Harlow Case
and Mrs. Francis and her daughter ut
their home i'll far-off Cevlon. The min
lister had been on business trip to the
place where Case lived, and the latter
was introduced to him rs an American
who was i'll quest of health, and desired
to get away from the cares Of active
business life. The missionary made ar
ranEemcnis with Case to take a ride one
day, and the latter was to call at the
formers stopping place and start from
there. Below We give the mi.sionarv's
story complete:
i thought myself fortunate in falling
in with so agreeable a gentleman, and
considered his face and manners peru-
iarly refined. On our second meeting
noticed singular rcstlessncss of the
handsome dark eyes, an irritable bitter
ness of the lips. and dispositian to be
constantly ON the move, shown i'll the
tapping of light bamboo cane, of the
motion of the foot or hand. These
things. however, did not strike me as
singular at the time, but, coupled with
what | afterward learned, were certain
evidence that the man already felt the
gnawlng If the worm that never dies.
One forenoon we left the little seaport
town where | was sojourning. and rode
short distance into the interior Of the
gorgeous island. Most glorious were
the surroundings on every hand.
That is my house." said my new
friend, pointing TO low-roofed cot
tage, surrounded by wide veranda.
from whose clinging vines sweet odors
were flung upon the soft atmosphere;
but from the moment the words were
uttered his sociability departed With
in the cottage inclosure were walls. bow
ers and fountains. Chaste statuary was
dispersed over the grounds with most
charming effect. The house seemed q
fairy structure, rising in the midst of
flowers and foliage. Aud the man W ho
~sst beside ME, whose smile mounted no
higher than bis hps-the dreamy, far
looking discomfort in his eve growing
every moment more perceptible-was
the owner of this Eden-like home. We
were met on the threshold by lovely
child of some eleven summers. Her hair
hung in curls. Her eyes were particu-
larry lustrious yet mournful in their
beauty, and on the young brow seemed
to see something, shadow of sadness
and unchildlike quiet, as she greeted
NV new friend. Dressed in pure white,
she glided in before us, and to her was
left the duty OF entertaining me, whsle
Mr.. c., excusing himself in the remark
that sickness necessarily called him
away, for half an hour or 90, left the
room.
as your mother very unwell ?" l
asked of the little girl, who. With those
shallow filled eyes of hers, was regard
Ing ne gently but attentively.
"Yes, sir, mamma has been sick along
time" replied she, dropping her eyes
while ber lips ,rembled.
'"Did YOU come from America 2" she
asked timidly, after long silence.
''Yes, my dear. Do you know anv.
thing of that country 7" returned,
growing more and more pleased with,
her expressive face.
"0nly that mamma came from there,
and think" she added hesitatinyly,