The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-08-19
A STORY OF RUINED HOPES.


IN farmer, who for the purposes of
this present sketch will be called
Michael Lawton, died in Garrett coun-,
ty, Maryland. Garrett county Is the
westernmost county of the State, and Is
a wild mountainous region, in which
there are number of exceedingly fertile
valleys, called "glades," which are fa-
NOUS for the natural grass which grows
on them and makes them superb pasture
for cattle. The glades when broken by
the pillow make exceedingly fertile farms
and they are rapidly being cultivated by
people who do not wish to settle in the
far west.
Lawton was laid at rest under huge
oak tree, ON little knoll on his farm
He had selected his own burial ground,
and in compliance with his wishes
the small white marble slab at his head
merely bears his initials, and the two
dates-those of his birth and death. II is
neighbors knew but little of the manner
of his life or his position in society be-
fore he came among them. He bought
a small farm and came to live on it one
fall some ten or twelve years ago, and
on 1t he died. He seemed to have
enough ready money to satisfy his
needs and to pay for his land, and oc-
oasionally, in conversation, he would
say something which showed that he
hadbeen unusually well educatedand had
travelled extensively, both in this coun-
try and in foreign lands.
He never spoke of friends or relatives,
and after some abortive attemps to dis
cover his past history, the neighbors
gave it up in disgust and accepted him
for what he was,
When he died, distant relative
came into possession of the little
farm and the few household articles he
left behind, and then all trace of the
career and almost all recollection of the
existence of Michael Lawton passed
away. The writer knew the man well,
and once when on fishing expedition
with him, he related the pathetic and
remarkable story of his life, part of
which was published some years ago,
and attracted great deal of attention at
the time. The outline of the story is
vouched for, but the names of places
and persons are changed for evident
reasons.
Years ago family, consisting of
father, mother and two children, lived
an small town in Western Ohio. The
father of the family, Mr.. Lawton, was a
lawyer and speculator, and had been a
merchant. He had grown rich, very rich
for those days, and was noted for his
keen business sagacity and his honesty
and kindly heart His wife had been a
delicate, pretty girl when he married
her, and after her second child was
born her health broke down and she be-
came confirmed invalid. The couple
had two children, boy named Michael,
who was at the time referred to about
eight years old, and Mabel who was then
baby" and was about five years old,
Mabel was pretty child and her
parents petted and dressed her in style
that made her the envy of all the moth
ers in the neighborhood.
One day Mabel went into her moth
er's room and told her she wanted to
go and play with some other little
girls who lived in the next street. Mrs.
Lawton gave her consent, but told her
to be sure to come to dinner. Mabel
promised, kissed her mother gaily and
ran out of the room-and out of the
world, as far as the poor mother was
concerned, for she never saw her again
Mabel did not come home to dinner, and
st supper time Michael was sent after
her.
He soon returned, with pale, fright.
ened face, and told his father that his
sister had started for home about noon,
and no one knew where she was. Search
was made for her in every direction, but
without avail, No trace of the lost one
could be discovered. A month after
terwards, the mother died heart-broken
and the father sold all his property anG
became a wanderer, with but one OBJ
ject in life-the finding of his lost one
Taking his son with him he Travelled
from State to State, visiting public in
stitutions where children were cared for
and going through cities making inqui
ries which he thought might lead to tn,
desired result. From the United State
the search was extended to Europe, ant
dnally in a Spanish city Mr.. Law tor
caught local fever and died in a fev