Wichita eagle., 1888-01-05
A TRIP TO EUROPE.
Eow Boston Man Got a Vacation a
"A Good Rest.

Eow Boston Man Got Vacation and
Good Rest.
heard in a down town Office a tale which
recalls Hawthorne's story of the man who
went out for walk one evening, after say
ing goodby to his wife, and did not return
for twenty years, which Eeespent in q house
on the adjoining street. Il seems that citi-
zen OF Boston. whose name, if | should give
ii, would be recognized i.5 once by many Of
my readers. found himself last spring III n
very worn and nervous condition. 1t seemed
10 be absolutely necessary that he should 90
somewhere where il would be impossible for
letters OF kilograms OF business 20 ennoy him
The family physician Suggested a trip to
Europe, and his wife protesting her willing
ness to stay at home aud look after the large
family Of children, the merchant, Tor such tie
was, apparently acquiesced. He stipulated
that no one should see him off, and that no
letters should be expected from him, but, in
stead, he promised TO send "cablegram'
twice week TO his yyife. The fact was that
he had q horror Of the sea voyage, and had Sc
cretly resolved to crafty homeSicll desire
OF revisiting alone-Whch he would never
have been allowed to do under ordinary cir
cunstances-thev village IN northern New
England region where his childhood was
spent. However, he engaged passage IN a
White Star steamer, and, after an affection
ate farewell 10 both his wife and children,
started for New York. He stayed in that
city Just long enough to make sure that his
name was on fho passenger list of the steam
ship and TO arrange for q series OF Aalf-weeEly
"cablegrams" from Liverpool, London, Paris,
Lucerne, etc, to lis wife, and departed for
the country.
The trick was certainly a cruel one, but the
mans mental condition was so morbid and
perverted that think he must be held partly
excuSable. Some admiration is also excited
by the neatness with which the plan was car
Ied out. Prayers were duly offered IN IA
Episcopal church for "a person gone 20 sea :"
his friends noted with satisfaction the quick
arrival of the steamer in which he was sup
posed to have sailed, and the telegrams that
his wife received every few days announcing
his continued Improvement i'll health were q
great satisfaction to her. In fact, however,
her husband was rusticating under an as
sumed name at little tavern il his native
village. He bought horse, rode about the
country revivinS old recollections, and
breathing in rest and strength from the pure
mountain air.
The denouement was, of course, the most
difficult part OF the affair. He had intended
at first TO keep up the delusicn to the very
end, and oStensibly return from the foreign
tour laden with European presents, pur-
chased in New York But as bis nerves re
covered their wonted tore and his thoughts
began to be less engrossed with himself the
instinct of honesty reasSerted itself, and ho
determned-to make full confession. He
had kept informed by some means Of the
whereabouts and condition of his wife and
children, and accordingly be was able TO sur
prise them one day last week by riding
calmly into the seaside village where they
were staying, and dismOunting, bronzod and
healthy, in the bosom Of his family y good
deal of explanation was necessary, and there
was some shame on ore side and some
wounded feelings on the other; but, upon the
principle that "all's we'll that ends well" the
affair was amicably sattled.-Boston Post.