The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-03-23
THE WAGES OF SIN.
lSandusky Register.I

4hSGA1eoA"l
Many of our readers will remember
Harlow Case, who was Collector at 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 his term
of Office here, gentleman named Henry
Francis, with whose wife, a lovely and
accomplished woman, Case fell desper-
ately in love, and she also conceived a
passion for her admirer, with whom she
agreed to elope as soon as favorable op-
portunity offered. Case concluded to
make an opportunity, and did SO. He
collected about $22, 900 in gold for Gus
toms, etc., and one day, while his
deputy, Mr.. Francis, was away from
home, Case and Mrs. Francis and her
little daughter, beautiful child, fled
from the city and went to the Island of
Ceylon. As soon as the delalcation and
elopement were discovered the widest
excitement prevailed in the city, and
steps were at once taken 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, who 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 pos
session of an interview of an American
missionary with Harlow Case and Mrs.
Francis and her daughter at their home
in far-off Ceylon. The minister had been
on a business trip to the place where
Case lived, and the latter was introduced
to him as an American who was in quest
of health, and desired to get away from
the cares of active business life. The
missionary made arrangements with
Case to take ride one day, and the lat
ter was to call at the formers stopping
place and start from there. Below we
give the missionary's story complete:
l thought myself fortunate in falling
in with so agreeable a gentleman, and
considered his face and manners pecul
iarly refined. On our second meeting
noticed singular restlessness of tht
handsome dark eyes, an irritable bitter
ness of the lips, and disposition to b
constantly on the move, shown in tn,
tapping of a light bamboo cane, of tn,
motion of foot or hand. These things
| however, did not strike me as singula
at the time. but, coupled with what
afterward learned, were certain eyidenc
that the man already felt the gnawing o
the worm that never dies. One forenoon
we left the little seaport town where
was sojourning, and rode short distanc
into the interior of the gorgeous island
Most glorious were the surroundings o.
every hand.
That is my house." said my neN
friend, pointing to low-roofed cottage
surrounded by a wide yeranda, fror
whose clinging vines sweet odors wer
flung upon the soft atmosphere; but fror
the moment the words were uttered h
: soeiability departed. Within the Co
tage inclosure were walls, bowers an
, fountains. Chaste statuary was disperse
!, over the grounds with most charmin
effect. The house seemed a fairy stru
ture, rising in the midst of flowers an
foliage. And the man who sat besid
: me, whose smile mounted no higher tina
5 his lips-the dreamy, far-looking discol
! tent in his eye growing every momeI
more perceptible-was the owner of tn
Eden-like home. We were met on IL
threshold by lovely child of SON
r eleven summers. Her hair hung in curl
e Her eyes were particularly lustrous y,
: mournful in their beauty, and on Il
young brow / seemed to see somethin
:. a shadow of sadness and unchildlil
y quiet, as she greeted my new frien
L Dressed in pure white, she glided in b
d fore us, and to her was LETT the duty
entertaining me, while Mr.. O., excusiI