Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-04-07
5niscellamu.
An Elopement Repented.
FATE OF THE ELoPERs.


nothing had been known in this country
of his whereabouts. In 1850 Case was
Collector of the Port of Sandusky. He
fell in love with the wife of his deputy,
Henry Francis, seized $4,000 of gov.
ernment money, and eloped with Mrs.
Francis and her little child. They fled,
ss it now seems, to Ceylon. A short
time ago an American missionary made
the acquaintance of Case and Mrs. Fran
els. He describes them as living in an
earthly paradise, but both haunted by,
and one dying of remorse and home
sickness. Their bower was living tomb.
We quote his description of the interview
in which he detected the personality of
the guilty pair.
"Sir," said Case, in tones which shall
never forget, E" if have sinned, God in
Heaven knows what | have suffered !;
and if in F's bereavement he has cursed
me, that curse is fearfully fulfilled.
Poor Mary is dying-ha been dying for
months, and | have known it. 1t has
been for me to see the failing step, the
dimming eye; it is for me now to see the
terrible struggles of her almost worn out
frame; it is for me to listen to her Ian
guage of remorse that sometimes almost
drives me mad. Yes, mad, mad, mad 4"
he said in frenzy, rising and crossing
the floor with long, hasty strides. Then
burying his face in his hands, he ex-
claimed Too late too late / have
repented f" There was long pause, and
he continued, calmly: No human
means can now restore my poor compan-
ion. Her moral sensibilities become
more and more acute as she fails in
strength, SO that she often reproaehes
herself constantly" A weary, mournful
sigh broke from his lips, as if his heart
would break. OH if he knew" he
exclaimed again, if he knew how bitter
a penalty she is paying, he would pity
her-and, if it could be. forgive. Will
you see her, sir
l shrank from the very thought.
She has asked for you, sir; do you
deny her request Hearing that you
came from America, she entreated me to
bring you to her | promised that |
would"
Up the cool, wide, matted stairs he led
me, into a chamber, Oriental in its fur
nishing and chaste in its magnifcence
There, half reclining in wide easy
chair-a costly shawl Of lace cast over
| her attenuated shoulders, the rich dress
ing gown clinging and followed to the
ravages sickness had made-sat one
whose great beauty and once gentle gifts
made the light and loveliness of sacred
home The eyes only retained their lus
ire; they were wofully sunken. The
blazing fire, kindled at the vitals, burned
upon her sharpened cheeks burned
more fiercely, more hotly, as she looked
upon my face.
The first question asked, was Are
you going back to America, sir ?"
The hollow voice startled me. ]
seemed to see an open sepulchre. told
her that it was not my intention to re,
turn at present. "Oh, then, who will
take my child back to her father Z" she
cried, the tears falling. | am dying
and she must go back to him. 1t is the
only reparation | can make, and little
enough for the bitter wrong | have done
them" 81 hoped, sir, you might see
him." she added a moment afterward
checking her sobs II hoped that you
might tell him that his image is before
me from morning till night, as-I knew
he must have looked when the first shock
came. Oh, sir, tell him my story. Warn
oh, warn everybody Tell him l have
suffered through the long, long hours
these many years -ah God only knows
how deeply" Mary, you must control
your feelings" said my host, gently
Let me talk while may" was the an
swer. Let me say that since the day
/ left my home ! have not known a sin
gle hour of happiness. 1t was always to
come always just ahead = and here is
what has come-the grave is opening
and l must 60 to judgment"
Mrs. Francis soon died. Case has
since died The daughter started to re-
turn to her father in vessel that was
lost at sea. 1t was supposed that Fran
els committed suicide after the breaking
up of his home, as nothing was heard
from him. His story, which has lately
come cut, is as dreadful as that of the
others
Up to the time of the elopement, Fran.
els had lived with the utmost confidence
in his wife's honor, and when the appal.
ling truth of his betrayal dayned upon
him, it partially turned his brain, and
he became a mOnomaniac, with only two
/ ob;acts in liea-to cain revenge ON Case