Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-12-25
CORA'S ELUPEMEET.
An Interesting Christmas Eve Ad-
venture

venture.
''Come back as soon as possible, "
were the words Of the dispatch that
reached Mr.. Sanford in his counting
room at 2:30 o'clock On the afternoon
of December 24th 18-.
What could be the matter2 1t
seemed impossible for the merchant
TO leave his business at that time; and
he was on the point of asking Wat had
happened-but the massage b~re the
signature OF his wife, who would not
have summoned HIM unless for some
very urgent purpose.
Informing his head clerk Of his
necessary absen ce, Mr. Saford hur-
ried on his hat and coat, hailed pass
ing cab. and ten minutes later was at
the door of his own residence.
"On, husband y exclaimed Mrs. San
ford, meeting him in a transport OF
excitement and grief. Our dear
child has left us-been gone two
hoursl At first we thought nothing
of It; but on looking into her room 1
have discovered that the best of her
clothes are gone, also her jewel
casket."
Can it be possibIel" exclaimed Mr..
Sanford, scarcely less agitated than
his wife, That she has taken her
bonds from the safe deposit, and has
them also with herr"
Gould she get them without your
knowledge2'
Certainly, if SO disposed. The
little fortune that she received from
her grandfather amounting TO eight
Thousand dollars, was placed, as you
know, under her control on her
eighteenth birthday, SIX months ago
She has always been so true and faith
full, and not disposed to conceal any
thing from us, that / thought it per-
fectly safe to let her have control of
her money. Do you think it possible,
my dear" he added, after a snort,
troubled pause, that that man Bllv-
ems, whose attentions we have dis
couraged until we thought he had
given her up, is at the bottom of this
shameful AFFAIR." However, / will soon
find out if it is So" and catching up
his hat, he hastily left the house.
Fifteen minutes after his departurc
the postman's ring was heard, and a
letter was handed 10 the almost fran
tic mother, which confirmed her worst
apprehensons. 1t read:
"MY DEAR PARENTS (whom | shall
never cease to love-, When this
reaches you 1t will be too late TO look
for lie, or prevent me from marrying
the man whom | believe to be the best
friend i have III the world. ! am
simply awaiting myself of my natural
right To marry one whom / lOYe, ard
without yonr consent, which | have
tried in vain to secure. You will see
me no more uutil | receive from you
an invitation to return and bring
with me my husband, to be treated in
every respect as if he enjoyed, as he
will deserve, your fullest confidence.
| shall have with me lady friend,
whom you have seen on one occasion,
but did not think best TO invite to the
Inequalities of our house. | believe
her to be a good, true woman, and
have the most perfect confidence IN
her Within week you wall learn
at what point | can be reached by
letter. ! do not suppose you viii be-
lieve me when say 1 am as ever,
"Yaur atfectionate daughter,
Cora
The letter dropped from the moth
er's hand, and her head sank upon
the table beside her, while sad heart
breaking moan escaped her lips.
Sic was still sitting thus, not hay
ing moved or scarcely stirred, when
Mr.. Sanford returned, after an alb
sence of three hours. After reading
the letter which his wife silently
handed him, he said:
II have good deal more than this
To- tell you, but nothing that looks
any more hopeful or encouraging.
Cora drew her bonds from the safe
deposit yesterday. That scoundrel
Blivens, as we feared, has gone with
her, or AT least has left the city, also
the Daggctt woman, who is undoubt.
eddy actingI as his accomplish. Our
poor, deludcd child was seen 10 leave
home at half past twelve o'clock to
day, having nothing with her except
small sachol. Her travelling valiss
must have been passed out of the
house last night IN some way"
mo doubt the work of that base
woman, whom she has taken into her
confidence, said Mrs. Sanford. But
have you no information as to the di-
recuon they have taken9'
II have simply learned, continued
her husband, that Cora, on leaving
the house, walked TO the third corner
above. and there stepped into an
empty carriage and was driven rapid
ly away. The paggett woman left her
lodging place about the same time,
taking an uptown car. Mr.. Blivens
n 49, ~
sorts since about noon to day. These
are all the facts | have been able to
gather up TO this time, III regard 10
the manner Of her departure.
Il hope this disgraceful affair will
not get into the papers said the
mother, with a heavy sigh.
No. unless by my direction. But
if nothing should DO heard of our
child by tomorrow night, il may be
best TO get the newspapers to help us
find her, if possible. have no doubt
that the william and the woman who
is helping him will both leave her
Immediately after they have got hold
of her bonds and Jewels"
1T is quite possible" said Mrs. San
ford, that they may attempt by some
device 10 get hold of her money and
valuableS before she is married. If
they should, that might open her
eyes. Oh! if only she could escape
from those wretched creatures, and
return 10 us with no worse misfortune
than the loss of her money and jew
els, what a blessing it would be. Are
you going out AGAIN. she added
anxiously. Can you accomplish
anything by dong SOL"
Nothing. l shall not leave you
again this evening, unless in answer
10 call from police headquarters.
kilograms have been sent out in
every direction, and if any facts of
importance are learned, they wiz be
Immediately reported to me-"
"A cold dismal night. and ten
o'clock" Mrs. Sanford exclaimed,
some hours later, IS she drew aside
the curtains and opened the shutters
To look out upon dreary prospect "
And our dear child, whom we would
give our lives to save, is out some-
where, with no one to counsel or
direct her, a thousand times worse
off than she would be if alone in the
wilderness, surrounded by wild
beasts. Oh! that some way might be