Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-25

uuo VI Cuo udllOW CiiduhCio vi eho
Straits, and Major and his friends
managed to elude their captors and
swim to the vessel They were hearth
ly welcomed on board, and, strong
breeze setting in, the vessel aoated
off and continued her voyage. On
reaching the alkland Isles they found
an English vessel and took passage in
her for Bristol.
"On reaching England, Major went
to London, but, in spite of the most
diligent search, failed to find any trace
Of his wife and child. He determined
to return to Montevideo, and, on
reaching there, began to speculate in
hides. lie was successful and grew
rich, and believing that his wife must
be dead, married again. One child
the youth mentioned already-was the
issue of this marriage. After living
happily together for fifteen years, his
wife sickened and died, and he resolv :
ed to return to England,
"'Now,' said the old man at this
point, 4 am going to tell you just what
happened to me, and it proves, l think,
that truth is stranger than fiction.
"'NNhen reached London with my
son l took rooms in Lambeth, over
looking the river. One day my son
went to the grocery to order some
triaes, and directed them to be sent to
Mr.. Major, at our address. The grocer
remarked that it was an uncommon
name, and said he only remembered
having met with it once before. My
son asked where that was, and the
grocer replied that widow named
Major and her little boy boarded for
some time with his mother, and that
she afterward married the curate of
the neighboring church and left the
neighborhood.
"Naturally enough, when my son
returned home said the old gentle
man, he told me what had happened.
My son knew nothing of my former
marriage, and so, saying nothing to
him, l went to see the grocer. l found
that the Mrs. Major he knew had lost
her husband at sea. and that her first
name was Antoinette Agnes, the name
of my wife. l inquired from several
clergymen, and finally ascertained that
the curate, whose name was Naylor,
had been appointed to a living at
Withersea, in Yorkshire. / came to
Hull and made further inquiries, and
soon felt satisfied that my former wife
and my son were indeed living. l in
trusted Robert here, my younger son,
with the story, and dispatched him to
communicate with his brother. lie
did so successfully without arousing
suspicion, and in consequence beheld
my dear boy once more
"Well, thought |, this may be very
pretty story, but it is very certain that
it has nothing to do with Margaret
and had better look in another direc-
ton. had encouraged the idea that
John had certainly gone off with Mar
garet, and had her in hiding some
where but now it vanished, and l re.
solved to be off. returned to Abing-
don and began afresh. l thought the
the matter over thoroughly-what a
fool | am! 1t was clear now as day
light. The young fellow Simms was
lover in disguise, and he and Marga-
ret had eloped. made circuit to
find the direction taken by the young
couple. / could learn nothing Of them.
A young fellow somewhat answering
the description of Simms had been
seen on the evening of September 10th
going toward Withersea, but no one
was with him. | spent two days
trudging through the country-I was
young fellow then-but all in vain.
Then l hurried my steps once more
toward Abingdon. There was a frown
ON the farmers face when l met him.
"'You're a pretty fellow he said, "a
nice one to be detective. You'll do
for London, perhaps, but you're no
good for the country where tho peo-
pie are smart. Look at that
"IIe held out letter. laid hold
Of it and read it. | shall never forget
what was in it as long as live. 1t
ran thus:
"'No. 81 John St., Hull, Sept. "a.
"DEAREsT FATHER: | am married
to John Major and we are very happy.
We are coming to see you tomorrow
about three o'clock.
"'Your loving daughter,
MARGARET MAJOR
GLOW did | feel? Can't you guess
Why, Of course, I'd been done-regu.
drly done. | was there when the
'ouple arrived and the old man re-.
eeived his daughter with open arms,
nd shook. John heartily by the hand.
"Wc are coming to live with You,
athcr,' Margaret sai., and John is
'o.ng to manlge the farm for you, and
are going to have that nice young