Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-13
AFTER MANY YEARS.


his wife, intending to emigrate to
Louisiana. Someplace along the bor-
der he fell in with man who gave
his name. as Isaac Young, and who
obtained permission to join the Bax-
tiers, Us he claimed to be travelling in
the same direction they were going.
Young was about 30, very plausible,
and quickly ingratiated himselfin the
good graces OF Baxter and his wife.
He confided to his companions every
thing regarding his financial resour-
ces and future plans, and Baxter in
return. made q similar revelation.
Among other things he informed
the young man that he had sold his
farm for $4,000. and that he had car
ried the money in 500 gold pieces, in
belt strapped around his waist.
Some time after this the emigrants
camped one night at point between
Dykes Mill, La, and Magnolia, Ark.
The spot selected for camp was at
tfe head OF "a lonely glen, which was
shaded on either side by tall pines,
and thickly carpeted with luxuriant
grass. A spring of clear cold water
gushed from q ledge of rocks halfway
down the glen and a number Of fallen
pine logs furnished ample material
for fuel. When a simple repast was
prepared and eaten, Baxter lit his
pipe, and saying he would returnsoon
strolled down the glen.
Young and Mrs. Baxter remained
seated by the blazing fire talking about
the incident of the days travel. An
hour passed. Baxter did not return.
His wife grew uneasy and Young, to
quiet her fears, as he expressed it,
started down the glen, saying he
would bring him back. The woman
waited impatiently. One, two, three
hours went by, yet neither appeared.
Mrs. Baxter was now thoroughly
frightened. She called loudly for
her husband, butreceived no response.
Only the echo of her own voice came
back to her, borne on the night wind, !
which swept down the valley and
through the tops of the swaying trees.
She ventured down the glen, trem-
bling, calling, listening; but she
neither heard or saw anything. Both
her husband and his companion had |
disappeared as completely as if the
earth had suddenly opened and swal- |
lowed them up.
Almost distracted, She returned to |
the camp, where she paced to and
fro until the morning came; then |
mounting one of the horses, abe hast
ened to the nearest house; and soon
had body of men securing the coun-
try in search of the missing men.
The search was continued nearly q |
week without finding 80 much as a
trace OF either Young or Baxter, when |
it was abandoned. The men engaged
in 1t told Mrs. Baxter bluntly that the
affair was preconcerted between the
two men, and that her husband had
heartlessly deserted her. The wife
so strangely bereft would not accept
this theory. She insisted that her
husband had been murdered by Isaac
Young, and that time would show
that she was not mistaken.
Acting on this supposition she re-
turned to her former home, and gath
cred all her available means, insti-
tuted a thorough search. She adver-
tised, employed detectives, scattered
handbills with accurate descriptions
of her husband and Young; but all
to no purpose. Nothing came of it,
and the affair seemed a mystery
which no human skill could unravel.
Years went by, and still She remained
in her mountain home, hoping andI
praying for tidings of her missing
even q clue that would
point to his fate. The suspense in
Ill these years has been trying.
Since that memorable night she
had become an old woman. BY the
sale OF nearly all the effects which j