Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-08-24
LOST! LOST!

AH GAuittHt 1UOk, though lilQulSltiNc SA-
pressions predominated, and as natural
consequence there was unusual sociality.
People who previously had had little
more than bowling acquaintance fell
into easy and apparently confidential
conversation Pulpit orations that Sun
day morning, unless extempore disserta-
tons, proved wanting in inspiration"
and failed to touch the public heart.
Artist quartets, doing their most harmo-
NOUS work, felt the lack of responsive
sympathy.
Monday morning came. Evidently
1.-THE stew had simmered and bubbled
and boiled"
Suddenly the clear morning air bore
the clangor of bell and the words
LOST Lostr'
No one seemed to know what was
missing, but the masses took up the cry,
and before darkness brooded over the
city tender hearts were wrung at the
thought that "one poor little child was
lost" and the story swelled till it chad
been kidnapped by pirates who made a
business of visiting small cities and steal
ing children" A slight diversion, but
Tuesday the public generally, with the
morning paper at hand, found a "sweet
morsel," and though it was all told in
the head lines-"Mysterious Disappear
ance of Prominent Citizen"-''Fo the
Sake of Friends, Much That Might Be
Told Is Withheld"-it grew and magni-
fed till when the evening papers were
issued, the unprecedented demand took
every one while yet moist from the
press. The most enterprising published
a two column article. Such another
piece of perfection as the aforesaid citi-
zen had been during his previous thirty
five years of life it would be impossible
to find, and as smaller sheet that was
given TO moraliZing scntentiously re-
marked: Greater was the fall" After
most remarkable surmising it was ru-
mored that there 'was u woman in it.
Such man couldn't have gone astray
under other circumstances. People here
and there were interviewed. Who was
it? Some said a prominent clergyman;
others, popular lawyer, and for a few
hours people of every profession seemed
to be connected with the scandal, and it
must have been n relief to anxious and
sad eyed women, whose husbands had
been out over night sat the lodge" or
somewhere, to have it definitely stated
on Tuesday morning that Mr.. Trow, the
bank treasurer, had not been seen since
Saturday night, though the report that
he had absconded with vast deposits
taken from the bank vaults exploded
after visit to the other officials, who
denied it and positively asserted that his
own financial status was good and that
not one of them had faith in any of the
rumors.
"Mr. Trow left the bank Saturday
noon apparently in good health and
sound mind" but they had TO admit,
reluctantly" gossip had it, that when
asked, "Just where are you going, old
fellow he had answered in his jovial
way, For a bona fido vacation; you
won't hear till you see me-
The men couldn't and wouldn't be-
heve it," but each day more was learned,
and the people who had thorough
knowledge of his personal and domestic
affairs were legion and added mite after
mite ''for the public good" or because
h,Imbugs and frauds should be exposed,
till free trade, trusts, talk of war with
foreign country, even cabinet making,
sunk into utter insignificance, and every
body was qui yive with an Unsuitable
thirst for more, more.
As the demand grew the supply in
creased. On the bulletin boards the
words, "The 1row and SchoolEla am
Scandal, called attention to the phrase
that had been seemingly inexplicable.
The printing presses never did such
rapid work nor turned out one-lialf the
number of dailies as ON Wednesday,
when, at white heat, the community ex-
pectantly waited (Which teacher II
was school vacation" and what rem
dered il specially tantalizing several Of
the young ladies were out Of town. Poo
pie got names mixed. but after day or
two. as might have been expected. the
Common sense" Of the public rescued
"the innocent" from embarrassing posi-
tions. and it was understood though it
was noticeable that tie name WAS not in
print-that the one, prominently the
handsoinest and mort attractive, was the
guilty party
An unrceognizlbls facial caricature
OF the young wohlal sold hundreds Of
pape. Friday. when people had begun
"a weary ard cry antique: but Some
thing New. instead Of i reliasl,. tempted
them all to read tide following:
1T is generally understood that Ilr.
Trow and the fascinating young teacher,
who elopcd last Saturday night. who,
previous to this weeks developments
were thought TO be entire Strangers,
have been IN the habit Of meeting at
the bank at a late hour, when his de-
voted wife supposed him busily engag ID
in overwork. 1t is not yet known just
how the pretty and guilty schoolma'am
escaped the argus eyed woman in whose
house she boarded. aud who very deeply
feels the disgrace. Tie lady admits that
while she would not have entertained so
vile a creature for one hour. she did
begin to have suspicious. II il even
said in some quarter that. though quite
yorng, il Is not her first compromising
ENHANCEMENT.
''While few of Mr. Trows friends still
profess O to believe that everything win
be satisfactorily explained, the majority
reluctantly admit that this young teach
er probably, with her irresistible witch
cry. has cast spell about him. Moth
ing has been heard from poor Mrs. Trow,
who was not only devoted to her husband,
but model Of exemplariness. 1t is
generally supposed that she dismissed
the servants and then herself left town
Immediately after receiving the first In
timation of her husbands dereliction OF
duty. II is not known whether she has
gone west to the home OF her childhood
or is on the warpath. 1t IS to be hoped,
however, that she, doubtless now per-
sonified vengeance, has found some trace
of the wicked pair and is pursuing them. !"
Not only did excitement run high In
this suburban city, but metropolitan
journals took up the matter and the