Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-03
AFTER MANY YEARS.


James Baxter left Stone county, Mich,
with his wife, intending to emigrate to
Louisiana. Some place along the border.
says the Free Press, Inc fell in with a
man who gave him his name ns aac
Young, and who obtained permission to
join tho Baxters, as he claimed 10 be
travelling in tho same direction they
were going. Young was about thirty,
very plausible, and quickly ingrAtiated
himself in the good graces of Baxter and
his wife. he conhded 10 his eompan-
ions everything regarding his financial
resources and future plans, and Baxter,
in return, made similar revelation.
Among other things he informed the
young man that he had sold his farm
for $4,000, and that he clrried the
money, in $50 gold pieces, in q belt
strapped around his waist. Some time
after this the emigrants campcd onenight
at n point between Dykes Mill, La.
and Magnolia, Ark. The spot selected
for a camp was at the head Of lonely
glen, which was shaded on either side
by tall pines, and thicl;ly carpeted with
luxuriant grass. A spring OF clear, cold
water gushed from ledge Of rocks
halfway down the glen, and 4 number
of pine logs furnished ample material
for fuel. When simple rcpast was
prepared and eaten, Baxter Ut his pipe
and saying he would return soon strollcd
down tho glen. Young and Mrs. Bax-
ter remained scat 10y the blazing fire
talking about the incidents Of the days
travel An hour passed. B4xter did
not return. His wifo grew uneasy, and
Young, 10 quie: her fears. as he ex.
pressed It. started down che glen, saving
he would bring him back. The woman
waited impatiently. One, tive, three
hours went by, We. neither appeared.
Mrs. Baxter was now thoroughly fright
ened. She called loudly for hor hus.
band, but received no response. Only
the echo Of her own voice came back 10
her, borne on tho nigh. .sind. which
swept down the valley and through tho
tops Of tho sway!ng trees. She ven.
turcd down the glen, trembling, calling,
listening; but she neither heard nor
saw anything.
Both her husband and his companion
had disappeared as completely az If the
earth had suddenly opened and gwal.
lowed them up. Almost distracted, she
returned TO the camp. where she paced
to and fro until morning came; then,
mounting one Of the horses, she hast
ened 70 the nearest house. and soon had
body OF men securing the country n
search OF thc missing men. The search
YVES continued nearly a week without
finding so mnch as = trace Of either
Young or Baxter, when it was aban
doned. The men engaged in it told
Mrs. Baxter bluntly that the affair was
precOncerted between the two men. and
that her husband had heartlessly dc.
serted her. The wife so strangely bereit
would not accept this theory. She in
sisted that her husband had been
murdered by Isaac Young. aud that time
would shos that she was not mistaken.
Acting on this superstition she re.
turned to her former home, and gather
ing all her available means, instituted
a thorough search. She advertised, en-.
ployed detectives, scattered handbills
with accurate descriptions of her hus-
band and Young; but all to no purpose.
Nothing came Of 1t, and the affair
seemed q mystery which no human
skill could unravol. Years went by,
and still she remained in her mountain
home, hoping and praying for iidings OF
her missing husband--or even > clew
that would point 10 his fate. The sus-
pcnse in all these years had been try
ing. Since that memorable night she
had become an old woman. By the sale
Of nearly all the effects which remained
TO her after her husbands disappear
ance, she had been enabled TO buy G
little cabin and few acres OF ground
and have enough money remaining to
keep her, with close economy, from
actual want And alone in that little
hut che waited for t.dings Of the man
to whom she had linked her fate.
A short time ago startling nows
reached that solitary woman In her
mountain retreat. II came in the shape
Of letter written only last June and
dated at Melbourne. Australia. The
writer said that he had that day assisted
to bury a man Of the name of Saunders;
but whose papers, which the writer had
been charged to examine, showed he
vas Isaac Young, an American, and