The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1876-04-06
AN .ELOPEMENT REPENTED.
THE FATE AS COLLECTOR or
THE PORT OF sANDUsKy

from the Buffalo Eapress.
A few days ago we published a
brief announcement Of the death Of
Harlow Case in the Island Of Ceylon,
whittier he fled twenty FIVE years ago,
and until now nothing bad been
known in this country Of his where
abouts. 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
Government money, and eloped with
Mrs. Francis, and her little child.
They fled, as it now seems, to Ceylon.
A short time ago an American mis-
sionary made the acquaintance of
Case and Mrs. Francis. 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
this description Of the interview in
which he detected the personality Of
the guilty pair:
"Sir," said Case in tones that
never shall forget, ''ii ! have sinned,
God in Heaven knows what l have
suffered and If in F.'s bereavement
he has cursed me, that curse is fear
fully fulfilled. Poor Mary is dying
has been dying for months, and 1
have known it. 1t has been for me
to see the failing step, the dimming
eye; it is for he to see the terrible
strusg les Of her al most WORKOUT
frame: it is for me to listen to her
language of remorse that almost
drives me mad. Yes, mad, mad,
mad - he said in a freuzy, rising
and crossing the floor with long, has
ty strides, then burying his face in
his hands, he exclaimed "Too late!
too late! have repented!'' There
was long pause and he continued
calmly: mo human means can now
restore my poor companion. Her
moral sensibilities become more and
more acute as she fails in strength,
| so that she often reproaches herself
constantly" A weary, mourntul
sigh broke from bis lips, as if his
heart would break. "Oh! if: he
knew" he exclaimed again, "if he
knew how bitter penalty she is pay
ing, he would pity her-and if it
could he, forgive Will you see her.
sir p
! I shrank from the very thought.
"She has asked for you, sir; do
you deny her request? Hearing
that you came from America, she en-
treated me to bring you to her. I
promised that l would"
| Up the cool, wide, matted stairs
he led me into chamber oriental in
its furnishing and chaste in its mag
nificence. There, half reclining in a
vide easy chair-a costly shawl Of
lace cast over her attenuated shoul.
ders, the rich dressing 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
lustre; they were wofully sunken.
The blazing FIRE kindled at the vitals,
burned upon her sharpened checks
burned more fercely, more hotly as
she looked upon my face.
The first question was: care YOU
going back to America, Sir?''
Tho hollow voice startled me. I
seemed to see an open sepulchre. I
told her that it was not my intention
to return at present, ooh, tn Ell, who
will take my little child back to her
father?' she cried, the tears falling.
Il 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"
II hoped. sir, you might see him."
she added. a moment afterward,
checking her sobs; hoped you might
; tell him that his image is. before me
from morning till night, as l knew
he must have looked when the first
shock came. Oh, sir, tell him my
story. Warn, oh warn everybody!
Tell him have suffered through the
long, long hours these many years
aht Cod only knows how deeply"
MARY, you must control your feel
ings," said my host, gently. "Let me
talk while may was the answer.
, LET me say that since the day I left
my home I have not known a single
hour of happiness. 1t was always to
ome-always just ahead-and here
is what has come-the grave is open.
: ing and l must go to judgment.
Mrs. Francis soon died. Case has
. since died. The daughter started to
return to her father in a vessel that
= was lost at sea. 1t was supposed
, that Francis committed suicide after
the breaking up Of his home, as
nothing was heard from him. His
i story, which has lately come out, is
as dreadful as that Of the others:
Up to the time Of the elopement,
i Francis had lived with the utmost
!. confidence in his wife's honor, and
u when the appalling truth of his be-
II trayal dawned upon him, it partially
j. turned his brain, and he became a
j. monomauiac, with only two objects
e in life-to gam revenge on Case and
e get hack his child. He sold his lit
It tle nronertv at \ sacrifice. and set OUT