The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

managed to elude their captors and
swim to the vessel They were hearth
ly welcomed on board, and, strong
breeze setting in, the vessel floated
off and continued her voyage. On
reaching the L 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. He 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 proves, l think,
that truth is stranger than fiction.
"'When 1 reached London with my
son took rooms in Lambeth, over
looking the river. One day my son
went to the grocery to order some
trifles, 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 a widow named
Major and her little boy boarded for
some time with his mother, and that
sue afJerwarG married the curaUe 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. ! 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. inquired from several
clergymen, and finally ascertained that
the curate, whose name was Naylor,
had been appointed to living at
Withersea, in Yorkshire. l came to
Hull and made further inquiries, and
soon felt satisfied that my former wife
and my son were indeed living. in
trusted Robert here, my younger son,
with the story, and dispat ched him to
communicate with his brother. lie
did so successfully without arousing
suspicion, and in consequence 1 beheld
my dear boy once more
"Well, thought I, 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-
tion. l had encouraged the idea that
John had rtainly 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 l am! 1t was clear now as day.
light. The young fellow Simms was
lover in disguise. and he and Marga.
ret had eloped. l made circuit tc
| 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 l6tl
going toward Withersea, but no one
was with him. l spent two days
trudging through the country-I was
a young fellow then--but all in vain
Then 1 hurried my steps once NOR,
toward Abingdon. There was frowr
on the farmers face when l met him.
"'You're pretty fellow he said, :;
nice one to be detective. You'll dt
for London, perhaps. but you're n,
good for the country where the peo
pie are smart. Look at that
"IIe held out letter. l laid holt
of it and read it. / shall never forge
what was in it as long as live. /
ran thus:
"'No 81 John St., Hull, Sept. "a.
"DEAREsT FATHER: i am marie,
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
. iarly done. / was there when tn
couple arrived, and the old man re
I ceived his daughter with open arm:
and shook John heartily by the hand.
"'We are coming to live with you
ather,' Margaret said, and John
,olng to man .go the farm for you, an
~e are going to have that nice youn