The National tribune., 1882-04-01
A Hereditary Witness,
IA DISAPPEARANCE.

Henry Eden disappeared on the 27th day
of March, 1911. Fortesque Elden, his uncle,
who lived al Boroughton, IN Blanzshire, was
an elderly bachelor who had passed the
early part ef his life in India, where be had
amasseG n large fortune It the expense Of
his liver, aDdEad rsiurned to England, many
years prior 10 the happening Of the events
herein to be chrcnic}ed, 10 spend the remain
der Of his days in the scenes Of his child
hood. The old gort!oman's only brother
Henry, had likewise gone to India, whittier
his regiment had been ordered, and had
there contracted Z romantic marriage, the
only fruit of the union being Henry, whose
disappearance has Just been recorded.
Both Of young HeDry's parents fell vic
tins to the epidemic which devastated the
country round about Calcutta a few years
after his birth, so old Fortesque took the
boy, and brought him to England with him.
On arriving in England Mr.. Eden proceeded
to establish himself lTupOn his ancestral acres,
which had been left hitherto in charge of his
steward. His only sister. Mrs. Rawton, had
married man beneath her station, who was
killed subsequently in a drunken brawl,
leaving an only child, Aaron, who with his
mother greeted the old gentleman on his
return to Eden Hall. The death Of Mrs
Rawton few years later left Mr.. Eden and
his two nephews the sole survivors of the
race The old gentleman kept bachelors
hall, and brought up both of the boys as his
own sons, passing the afternoon of his life in
undisturbed happiness until the date at
which this narrative begins.
The boys themselves, though the best of
friends, were as different in appearance and
character as two people could well be.
Henry, the senior of his cousin by two
years, was fine-looking fellow, with dark
complexion and strong physique, with
dashing Off-hand manner, and passed his
time chiefly in sowing his wild oats with
no stinted hand, thanks to the hberality of
his kind-bearted old uncle, who, when called
upon to foot the bills, did as all kind-heart-
ed elderly relatives do-raved about extrav-
agance, stamped on the floor, grew red in
the face, threatened to cut Henry off with a
shilling, and ended by paying the account
and becoming reconciled to the young scape-
grace, as he called hi-l.
Aaron Rawton, on the other hand, was
blonde, with a strangely pallid face, and
features almost effeminately regular. Of
thoughtful demeanor and studious habits,
he gained many friends by his uniform
courtesy and consideration for others. He
submitted with patience to HaTry's good
natured though often rough pranks, and on
the whole the boys were as good friends as
two such uncongenial natures could be
It was commonly rumored that old Mr..
Eden had by his will made Harry heir to
the bulk of his property, with, however, a
liberal provision for Aaron. Included in the
the estate was Eden Hall, the ancestral
nansion-a substantial old structure stu
ated in the midst of large, well-wooded
demesne about five miles from the village of
Boroughton The habits of the two boys
were as unlike as their appearance, and
while Aaron spent most of his time by him
self in solitary rides or botanizing excur-
sions, or perhaps with rod and reel follow
ing up some brook, Harry knew every bar
maid in Boroughton, and was continually
engaged in some mad prank in the village.
Thus things were upon the day above men,
toned. Nothing was thought of it when
Harry did not return home On the night in
question, as he was frequently absent for a
day or so on some Of his escapades; but
when nothing was seen or heard Of him for
three days, the old gentleman, his uncle,
grew anxious, and took his hat and stick to
90 in search of his favorite nephew. In
uuiry instituted in the village developed
the fact that he was last seen TO enter a
small tavern or tap-house in the outskirts
of the village, on the road to Eden Hall, OF
the evening of his disappearance. The inn
bore fair reputation, and was kept by a
man who went by the name of Bauer, and
was supposed to be an Austrian or Hun
garian, or Of some such nationality but for
that matter, his nationality, as well as the
genuineness Of his name, was mere matter
of conjecture, as nothing was known of him
or his antecedents excepting that he came to
the village some ten years before, bought the
tavern Of old Mr. Elden, and had been liv-
ing sort Of band-tO-mOuth lie on the prof
It's of the sale Of cheap liquors to the work
ing people, and had, as was supposed, made
enough 10 pay the interest on the mortgage
on his place, and provide scant living for
himself He had, some months prior 10 the
time Of Henrys disappearance, married the
laughter Of one Stubbs, shoemaker il the
aci.bbgrh0od whom, rumoT said, he treat
ad badly It times. but on the whole nothing
% -utcalar was known against him or his
,sca re facts that he was short thick
~ man. with black bIistiing hair and beard
x Iatner III appearance, and that nothing
eras known Of his former life were in reality
.a. oily circumstances which could direct
.a-rlr,Cn toward him. When examined be-
s.a .sa magistrate, Bauer calmly denied all
-ug.ledge of the whereabouts OF the mis-
ing man, and the only other person in the
uss al the time Of the occurrence. was his
wife who was then too i'll 10 be examined,
and indeed died soon after, leaving son a
lew days old Bauer told a very straight
story; adInittei that young Eden had
,t9pped at his inn on the evening in ques-
don, called for mug of ale, and started i'm
nediately for home to escape the rain,