The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1889-07-19


profess % to believe that everything viii
be satisfactorily explained, the majority
reluctantly admit that this young teach
er probably, with her irresistible witch-
cry, has cast a spell about him. Moth
ing has been heard from poor Mrs. Tow,
who was not only devoted to her husband,
but a model Of exemplariness, Ii Is
generally supposed that she dismissed
the servants and then herself left town
Immediately after receiving the first in
timation of her husbands derelietion of
duty II Ia 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 q per-
sonihed 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
whole country was agog, Each week
day morning the cry, "Lostl LostI" rang
through the city. However, it failed to
attract, for "the freak was but the va
gary of wandering brain, or the harm
less escapade Of an imheeile," The tones
of the bell seemed to grow mournful day
by day. and old residents looked pity
ingly upon the man who, when doing a
heroic deed long years before, had sud
denly lost what makes life worth living,
The trampling of horses hoof, though
q Child's life was saved, had left O be-
numbed intellect and manned body to
be cared for at the expense Of the town
No one molested him during this week
Of excitement, though a following of
small boys sometimes cried, "Lostl
Lost" In unison.
More than a week had passed, and an
other Monday morning had come, before
the denouement, After the regular morn
ing paper went to press, valiant re-
porter brought in an item so choice il
warranted an extra edition.
The old man was on his rounds again,
and in pathetic tones crying, "Lostl
LOstl" while the newshoys shouted'
More mysteriesI More mysteries"
and the people with intense eagernesa
read: 1.-THE Trow residence that was sup
posed to be closed has an occupant. A
light seen there at midnight, but no au-
swer when newspaper man rang the
| door bell, 1t is thought by some that the
abused wife may be locked into an inner
room to give the husband and the siren
who has ensnared him time to reach a
| foreign land and escape detection. 1t is
| also whispered that citizens propose to
invade the premises for the purpose of
ascertaining 1t such a crime has been
| committed"
The old man passed on till he stood be-
fore the "hitherto happy home of the
TrOws.' A crowd had gathered around
sufficiently audacious to burst open a
door and enter, he cried louder and
| shriller than before, "Los,I Losti"
The newsboys were shouting, Have
an extrap "Have an eXtraW "All the
particulars bout the 'lopement an possible
murder" when from one direction came
team and from another an unmanage-
able horse and rider, scattering the mob
right and left, but the old mans bell was
ringing and he took no heed. Lo again
| the poor skull received blow from a
horses hoof and the distorted body was
trampled on, till writhing in pain ha was
tenderly lifted from the ground,
Mr.. and Mrs. Trow, with a cousin who
lived on farm fifteen miles away, had
driven up just in time to witness the
| accident and attempt to rescue him.
Saturday evening, when somewhat to
their own surprise they accompanied the
man on his homeward drive, they i'm
agined themselves children Just out of
school, they said, and having given their
housemaid and man servant weeks va
cation, were easily persuaded to stay till
the moment when il was expected Mr.
Trow would resume his duties at the
| bank.
Fresh and vigorous after O week of
life in the woods they drove back to
civilization q on Monday morning
"a real vacation, not telegram, not Q
letter, not even a paper" said Mr.. Trow
Cousin we are indebted to you for a
new lease Of life"
The old man was mortalIy wounded,
but he lifted the bell once more and as q
gleam Of intelligence lighted the face
that had so long been vacant, with in
effable sadness, he gasped, "LostI LostlF
when apparently recognizing the face of
friends and in reply to the omnipresent
small boys Say, what's lost?r he gath
cred up his last remnant Of strength and
answered, in clarion tones. "Truthl
| truthP'
The spirit escaping from the cumber-
some flesh, that like an old garment, it's
sometimes ones Joy TO leave, took Its
flight to the country where tangled webs
are Strengthened, while school bells called
the children to their accustomed places,
where each and every teacher was found
at her post.-Ned Gwen in Manchester
| Onion.