Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-06
A ReMrNiscENcE BY A DETECTIVE.
Be.utifuI Adventures q Forser. N
Then N yirtuous and Noble Wife.

sse.utifuI Adventures q Forger. and
Then a y~irtuous and Noble Wife.
From the AHantie Constitution.
II is said.that evil invariably works
ont lis reward. But it is not always 80,
as some one will readily perceive IN
tracing the adventures OF one OF the
most remarkable women / have e
met. ,a
She grew from childhood in an inland
town Of Virginia, under the shadow OF
the great Blue Ridge. There are persons
i'm the city who remember her then as a
beautiful child, wild and Maynard as
the wind, a laughing black eyeu
creature, whom everybody owed. Ihere
was music in her voiee-a charm none
could resist in the spOilt, impulslve
beauty, that seemed to carry perpetual
sunshine with her. But the darkness
of great sorrow came upon her. She
was then lust seventeen. Her very
virtues had become her enimies, and
deserted by those who should nave been
her protectors, she left her home, IL
before q year was past, her memory was
scarcely recalled by those to whom she
had been a creature OF love, II Joy,
and beauty.
"a friend of mine," said Mr.. F.,
chad often seen her there-indeed, a
known her well-and as We talked OF
many things, so We talked of her. one
day Mr.. | and myself were sent for bya
merchant ofthis city to investigated a
case involving a heavy forgery: 1t
seemed that a check of his had been
presented and casked at one OF our
banks for a large sum. To us he con-
tided the fact that the criminal was a
woman. He said she had asked him
for a a small amount, and not having
il he had signed the check and told her
to fill it up for whatever sum she re-
quired.
of dollars-fOr all, indeed, he had on
deposit-and Immediately fled the
country. He gave us a picture oil the
criminal, but was careful to inform us
that he only wishedtO ecoverh his proper
ty, not to punish the offender. ,
1t was 4 singular face the artist had
painted; a strange, weired face; heavy
masses of bronze hair shaded a
broad, white forehead that seemed to
shadow a dark, fathomless eyes,
instinct with fireand intelligence. Even
the picture grew strangely attractive
as you looked upon it. The beautiful
mouth was sunny with the smile n a
nestled on the lips, while the flush that
seemed to fever on the cheek hau the
tint of the rOSe. 1t was such a face as
man would want to love and CHERISH,
or die that it might know no sorrow.
/ could not believe that this strangely
beautiful woman had committed such
q crime, and as l sat in my Office
| spent hours in looking upon it. Indeed,
| / had begun to think of but little else,
| and one night my friend came III While
| was looking at it.
handed it to him with the remark
as she not beautiful.
"My God! it is Laura Ellison"'
"Who?!"
"The Young lady of whom you have
often heard me speak,
"Not she who so suddenly disappear
ed"
"Yes, but when did you get this"
And | told him all | knew oftlre case.
s'Eou will never get her." he said, rs
the picture was handed back to me.
"Whya"
"She is far too smart"
"Why she looks rs innocent as an
angel"
"You will find her subtleenough.I
And so the conversation ended. |
adopted every possible means to find
her in vain. From the moment she
| disappeared from the city all trace OF
her was lost.
After months of useless search we
surrendered the case, and took no more
| interest in it.
1t was several years afterward that
met my friend on his return from
Washington. There was a strange,
humorous smile on his face as he asked
me if | had ever heard of my fair friend,
whose picture | had once taken such an
interest in.
"NOt a word"
"Wil you use any information L may
give YOU about her."
"No; the case is now out OF my
hands"
"And you will receive in confidence
what / now tell yOu":,'
"Ees,"
Her Wedding%:
"HeS."
with whom"
zone of the most distinguished
persons in the country.
impossible"
"Truc! She went from here home
and by her family was sent to some
relatives in Maryland. Here she formed
tine acquaintance of her present nus
land, and being introduced into
fashionable society, has reigncd the
acknowledge belle in the gayest city IL
the Union.
al met her in the street, and wa
recognized by her. She communicated
freely all her past history, and asked i
| had heard of her career i'll New
Orleans. I replied in the affirmative
and told her all knew, and especially
of the interest you took in her picture
"She said that picture had come neal
working her ruin, for it was sent u
Washington, and would have procured
her arrest, but that she was able to buy
off the detective. | congratulated he
on her success, and expressed the hope
that her adventures were done.
Yes she said, Il will make a gooC
wife if | cam"
She has kept her promise, and no ont
now who sees the elegant lady of ont
of the first gentlemen in the land would
ever imagine it possible for her to have
been an adventures. Loving ant
beloved, the atmosphere of her home i
bright with the sunshine of lOve-chil
dren have grown up around her, anC
the promise o finer girlhood is realized
in age. The roses of her life received
blight in their young spring time, but
the withered petals yet retain the odel
| of their bloom.
Shrewdness and Ability.