The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-04

had heard of the mysterious disappearance of
General Plumtree. He was supposed to have
been drugged and robbed and put out Of the
way" as they say in Boston. Here he was, alive
and In most substantial flesh.
Now and again, as walked along with Arthur
to his lodgings. the company dscreetly leaving US
together, encountered familiar face Or Ar
thur, pausing in his walk. and covertly pointing
his thumb at distant figure, would say "See
that mana You read all about his case three
years ago. His disconsolate widow buried what
she thought were his mortal remains. found dis
figured and floating in the tide off Staten Island.
Not bit of it. A case of mistaken identify.
That's Mortimer. Short in his accounts, they
said At the time, remember. That a lie
Old Mort is as honest the day is long. Be-
sides, he had no accounts with anybody but him
SELF
seemed to be walking In the midst Of COM
pany of Rpecters. Eg y person ] met was as
good dead to the rest of the world. It was
if had suddenly opened door into those pale
realms of which the poets tell us. except that
these men, women and children were not ghosts.
And now / came to noticeit, they were unusual
ly wholesome and hearty looking people. Evil
IDENTIFY. mysterious disappearance was healthy
business in East Tennessee.
But, even if the rest of the community were
ghosts, this. my son who was dead, was alive
again, was lost and was found. And, as
gioated on his handsome and sun Drowned face,
l said to myself that all the rest might be
dream. Nothing could take from me the happy
heart
We had very pretty and appetizing supper
set for US in one of the alcoves of the recreation
house. which, for the want of better name was
called the Kursaal The only drawback to my
enjoyment of the repast was Arthur's frequent
jumping up and running off for fresh dishes and
changes When Iventured to demonstrate with
him this undlgnifed conduct, he airly replied:
''Oh, we all do that We youngsters have to
wait on the oldsters, you see. It's every man
his own waiter here, you better believe, Uncle
Bob"
What" exclaimed aghast, "have you no
servants2"
Certainly not, Uncle Bob. Servants. as a
rule, guess. do not mysteriously disappear. At
least. if they do, they do not come here. In this
Arcadia we all take hold and lend hand in the
general labor of the colony. Every man, woman
and child who can work, does work. In this
dining hall, if you look around, you will see that
the young folks wait on the elders. In the cook
room, which is in the rear, you will find the
ladies at work. They take turns at cooking,
washing dishes and the like Then the
take hold in the kitchen whenever there is call
for volunteers. But the women don't like the
men to be about; they mess up things 80, they
say2"
'Men as cooks Gentlemen, did you sayln
Certainly, uncle. Why not2 l have
you toss up an omeette; and I must confess
that am SLOUGH at broiling steak: and they
do say that | can make as good coffee as the
best of em."
But my dear boy" cried. ''you do not pre-
tend to tell me that you have gone into cooking
as business to any great extent! am sure l
sympathze with the women in their aversion to
having a man fussing around in Kitchen"
mo, no, Uncle Bob" ne replied, II only take
hack at cooking once in a while, when there is
a crisis, as it were. My regular business is
gardening / am the boss gardener Look at
my hands. Oh, you may smile, but nobody
knows what his talent is until he has been
brought out in community like this When
person comes here, he is allowed to loaf around
for while until he tackles something that he is
fit for. Then when he has drifted into the
vocation that he is best qualified to follow they
let him follow it. That's all there is about it.
That's the way became a gardener And very
good fun it is too"
These women Arthur" and here dropped
my voice to whisper and glanced cautiously
around. rs it possible that any of them are la
dies2
"They are all ladies. cried the lad, warmly
SWELL we'll said. hastily, You needn't be so
loud with your talk We might be overheard"
Then, suddenly remem bering the young per-
son with whom had seen my nephew sauntering
across the lawn. asked why she had run away
from home. Why had she mysteriously disap-
peared?
"Oh,p said Arthur, with a slight blush mant-
ling his cheek 'sshe was born here. She's the
daughter of the chief elder of the village"
Born here!" | cried How long has this
thing been in operations Are there living here
womenP
"Certsinly,' said Arthur, coolly. 1.-THE COM
munitv was founded years and years ago. The
population has been increasing from natural
causes and by i'm migration more rapidly during
the past ten years, they say, than ever before:
but the settlement was started in 1897 just after
the panic of that year. Sometime, when you have
told me all the things about New York that /
want to know, will take day off and tell you
all about this village But there's old Crosby,
he can tell you more than | can; he's been here
longer And some of the elders will take great
pleasure in giving you the information you han
ker after"
It was Just as Arthur had supposed Crosby
had become tired of living in perpetual wrangle
at home. His wife had nagged and nagged until
he in sheer despair. 1t was all DARK. II
know it cowardly," pleaded my old friend,
"but always was coward"
who conducted you hereF | asked.
Grossly looked at Arthur with a significant
smile and replied, 'sManningr
'.And who brought YOU Arthur / have had
scarcely time to ask"
The young man threw back his head and
laughed gaily as he answered, "Manningw
"Manning2 And what is Manning9 guide?"
Something like that, | suppose you would
call him." returned Crosby. lies mission
airy. When he across man who is on
the brink, as was before came here, he gently
guides him hither, having first taken the precau-
ton, of course, to ascertain if he would be
desirable acquisition to our community. It's
missionary work, isn't it, Better than suicide,
is it not2'
These revelations set me to thinking / had
been guided, but how gently and unconsciously!
Yes. it was better than suicide this coming into
a colony OF mysterious disappearance.
81 should like morning paper, Arthur"
said. as sauntered out into the early sunlight
next day.
"A morning paper! A daily paper!7 And the
graceless youngster laughed loud and cheerily
I'VE have no newspapers. except when an occa-
sional bundle may be brought in by some of our
agents returning from the out-world. We soon
lose all relish for them You will.n
What No newspapers! No magazines No
reviews!"
mot any, nunky. No mails, no newspapers,
no magazines, no kilograms
Hail, Arcadia. happy landp' said with sol
emnity.s
'And while am about it, Uncle Bob, let me
say that We have no wines and no spirits of the