The Indianapolis journal., 1883-11-05


down the alley a coored boy, who lived just
across the alley from our gate met me, and my
heart came up In my mouth; was Just sure ne
would recognize me, but he didn't, and felt
Greatly relieved when 1 got away from him.
When | got to Beaumont street / crossed and
went straight down the alley to Jefferson aV-
enue. There l turned over to Morgan street and
went down on the south side of 1t for a number
of blocks, can't remember how many: FROM
Morgan street l Went south to Washington
avenue ana walked east along 1t to Fourteenth
street. Then turned south again and walked
on the west side of that park in front of the First
Presbyterian Church, and kept along that way
to the next park, on what streets can't say L
was really too much excited to remember the
streets | was on. L know that ON Twelfth
street [ passed the north end of the
Four Courts and finally reached the depot at the
north end Then | turned east to the central
entrance of the Union Depot and went into the
ladies' sitting-roOm, where remained until they
called out some train-I didn't know exactly
what-and went out and got on board. guess
1t was about the last train that left the depot.
The conductor suspected me. know he did
He said he would like TO see me in daylight so
that he might be able to tell if was the girl l
represented myself to be-"
GLOW did You come to tell the ticket agent that
you thought yOu had an aunt in Decatur?"
81 did nothing of the kind. told him that
thought had "a friend living there"
"You went tC see Modjeska this afternoon, did
eyes and I thought ought not to go. felt
that was being watched. knew all day that
something w9s going to happen"
Continuing her story, Miss Churchill said TO
the Journalreporter "On my arrival in Indian
apols went to HUNTS Hotel and spent the
night. The next morning went to an intelli-
gence office in search of employment, and was
directed to the Brunswick Hotel, and was en-
ployed as a chambermald. 1 was there two
weeks in that capacity, but did not like the
work, ana, on the advice OF friends, L went to
the Insane Hospital, where obtained employ
ment in the laundry department, and have
since remained"
REFUSED TO RETURN.
Miss Churchill consented to return to the hos
pital, and did So at once, accompanied by MIR.
Gallagher and Mrs. Talbot. She expressed
great reluctance at having her discovery made
the subject of sensational newspa per sketch,
and accordingly read the dispatch sent by the
Globe-Democrat's representative and insisted
upon the elimin alton of one or two features, her
request being acceded to- Colonel Churchill
was Immediately made acquainted with the fact
tnat the lost had been found, and ali day yester-
day the young lady was anXiously awaiting the
arrival of her father She called DR.. Fletcher
ana insisted that she would never return to her
home for permanent residence although she ex-
pressed desire to see her parents and
baby brother again. She spent the
day with DR.. Fletcher's family. About O'Clock
yesterday afternoon DIR. Robert Van ValZah,
of Terre Hante, cousin OF the young lady,
arrived at the asylum, having been requested
by telegraph by Colonel Churchill to proceed to
this city without delay. He ushered into
the presence of the young lady who gave vent
to her emotions in tears. To her cousin she con-
versed freely, but vOuchsafed no explanation of
her departure from home. She was entreated
herself as anxious to see her parents and
family, positively declined to return to st. Louis.
1t agreed between them as the result of the
conference that she should return with her
cousin to his residence In Terre Haute and
meet her father there to-day, and accordingly
telegram was sent asking the father 10 pro-
ceed to that city without delay. Miss Church
i'll consented to accompany her uncle to the
city provided Mrs Talbot would accompany
them, and the party left the hospital IN a car
riage, repairing TO the Grand Hotel
COLONEL CHURCHtLL's ARRIVAL.
Scarcely had the party leftthe asylum grounds
than another carriage entered, the occupant
proving TO be none other than Colonel Church
ill., He had come from st. Louis in the first
train which he left at the Belt railroad crossing,
proceeding directly to the asylum. He was
greatly overjoyed when DR.. Fletcher informed
him of his daughters safety. but correspond
ingly disappointed at the knowledge that he
had arrived too late to see his daughter before
her departure for the city. DR.. Fletcher
got his own team, however, and accompanied
him TO the Spencer House, whence word
con Veyed to DR.. VanValzah and to Miss Churchill
that her father was there and awaiting her
rival. A few minutes later the young lady
rived and was escorted to her fathers door, No
one. save father and daughter, were present at
the meeting, and several minutes were allowed
them before any intrusion was permitted.
In leaving the hospital, with her cousin Miss
Churchill had refused to take any of her effects,
declaring that her absence from the institution
would be of brief duration, and that she would
resume her duties within the week. When
her father asked her If she would like to get her
things and return TO her home, she calmly re-
Piled that she would not, but consented to re-
turn for a few days to visit her mother. 81 can
earn my own living. and will do sO,Y she said,
and the same sentiment has been repeatedly ut
tered by her since her arrival at the asylum.
The entire party snent the evening at the Spen-
Ger House, ana Colonel Churchill and daugh-
ter left at 1Iah o'clock for st. Louis
being accompanied by DR.. Van Valzah as far as
Terre Haute, Almost the last words uttered by
the girl as abe bade DR.; Fletcher and Mrs. Tai
l,Ntf al NyRav
my place for me at the asylnm11 VIII return
Wednesday," After reaching the sleeping-car,
however, she appeared more reconciled to the
quite probable that she Will not again venture
out upon the world.
DIR. FLEToHERs THEORY.
Of course there are many theories as to the
probable reason for Miss Churchil!'s departure
from home. Her life both before and since the
step was taken of the most exemplary char
acter and there is not the faintest reason to at
tach suspicion upon her. 1t was GER
tainly not an elopement. Her home abounded
with all the comforts and luxuries of
life, and all her surroundings, social and
otherwise, were of the most agreeable. Why,
then, should girl of sixteen, thus pleasantly sit
uated leave home in such a manner to go out
and earn her livelihood by drudgery to which
she was totally unused and by nature unadapt-
ed? Dr. Fletcher's theory Is by all means the
most plausible yet advanced. and fur
DR.. Fletchers idea is that the girls
mind, while not unsound, is peculiarly con
structed, and that she is at times imhued with
an Overwhelming desire to do, and conquer, and
that this idea becomes so firmly Impressed upon
her mind as to amount almost TO positive
mama"
"You do not regard the young lady as insane9"
inquired the reporter.
''Oh, no. Not so severe as that. But
1 think that, as l say, owing TO GER
tain physical reasons, there times when
this desire to do for herself takes possess
sion of her mind to such an extent that she can
not shake it off in fact, does not walt TO shake
it off, and has that thought always uppermost
in her mind TO do for herself and place no de-
pendence upon any one 1t at such Time
as this l think, Mary Churchill left her
home. She is naturally OF an ambitious dsposl-
ti0n, and think that once having left her home
she determined not to return, He ambition lay
partly in the direction of the stage. At one time
she came TO me and asked permission to take