The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-22
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
A STORY OF MANY BROKEN HEARTS.
How = Young Girl Forsook Her Home aud
Friends to Lead - Life OF Shame
The Story of n Grief-Stricken
Father.

1t is no doubt true that in real life there
are daily occurrences more replete with
romance than the fertile brain of the au-
thor OF fiction has yet been able 10 in
vent Ofttimes some OF the more trivial
scandals, involving persons of 10th high
and low estate, find their way into the
newspapers and are talked of for day,
and less frequently the names of those
high in the social world are dragged down
so low as to become the subject of street
badinsge. but all the time, and especia II
in large cities, the grand man.
humble cottage of the tradesman alike
are the guardians OF Criefs hard TO bear,
and of secrets of which the world at large
is not aware, and thus cannot profane.
Not long ago-some two weeks-the
editor of one of the large newspapers of
the country received an anonymous letter
bearing an Indianapolis postmark. The
letter was exceedingly graphic in its de-
scription and showed the writer to be
some one of education. 1t stated that DR..
was one of the wealthiest physi-
clans of this city and resided on one
of the most aristocrstic streets;
that he had one son who had
but recently graduated from a prominent
medical institution with the highest hon.
ors, and three beautiful and accomplished
daughters, the youngest and most beeuti-
full OF whom had graduated from four col
leges, was a versatile lnguist, finished
musician and an artist with bright posi-
bilities before her. This daughter, the let
ter went on 10 state, had, some three
months prior to the date on which the
letter was written, suddenly left her
hoo r,tifY1l hntYtn with ffc
roundings and her whereabouts were still
profound mystery. The author of the
letter, however, as is common with most
authors of anonymous communications,
had very plausible explanation for the
young girls disappearance from home
and friends. 1t was that young man oc-
cupying an equally high social position
had left the city at about the same time
and the anxious inquiries Of his friends
as to his whereabouts had in each case
proven futile.
The newspaper to which the letter was
addressed did not print it, but instead
mailed it TO its accredited CORE
spondent in this city with the sim-
pie inquiry attached What does it
mean?" The correspondent, who
is acquainted either by associa-
ton or reputation with almost every
prominent man in the city. failed to recog-
nIze in the name OF the person referred to
in the letter any physician OF wealth or
prominence, but with the epistle in his
possession and the newspaper instinct
guiding him he started out to look for a
clew. The city directory did not contain
in very tangible form what is to de-
tective his indispensable stock-in-trade.
Clews were few and far between AID the
correspondent hid merged himself
into the detective. In the epit-
ONE of the citys population he found
doctors whose surnames correspondent
to the one mentioned in the letter, but in
each case the given name was different.
This was not very encouraging, but select
ing one from the number, which, from q
cursory examination, seemed most likely
to prove the one, the correspondent de-
termined TO prosecute his investigation.
The street on which the gentleman lived
was remote from the one named IN the
letter and inhabited by people in less pre-
tentious circum- tances. but the CORE
tiously he inquired among the
gentleman's house if there was
anything wanting in his domestic
happiness, but he did not cali at the ply
sician's house, having arrived at the con-
clusion that the anonymous letter-wrter
had simply related a mythical story.
However, that evening, after having
thought the matter over, and being un-
able to free his mind of a sort of intuitive
feeling that he had struck the right
trail" he addressed a letter to the pbysi-
clan. In it he apprised him of the con-
tents OF the anonymous letter, but the
communication was worded SO that it
could not possibly give ofense.
The fol owing morning at 9 o'clock the
correspondent was busily engaged in his
Office when visitor was ushered in. He
introduced himself as DR.. -, and said
he had but lew minutes before received
the letter written by the correspondent.
He had a fine looking intellectual face,
but in his hair was sprinkle of gray, and
bis whole appearance suggested anxiety
and deep-seated grief The correspondent,
satisfied now that the man before him
could have no connection with the anony-
nous letter that had been forwarded to
him by his paper, was profuse in his
apologies; he had merely endeavo-ed to
secure a clue il possible.
Almost the first question his visitor
asked was to see the anonymous letter. 1t
was handed to him Immediately, and after
quick, searching glance over its pages
he exclaimed:
81 thought so; that letter was written
by my youngest daughter" The cores
pondent was astounded but said nothing.
After short pause the old gentleman
continued! ut is true that l have one
son and three daughters, the youngest of
whom-the one who wrote that letters
rather good looking but not beautiful. Ny
son. far from graduating from a medical
institution, has gone to school but little.
My youngest daughter has a fairly
good education, but she knows nothing
about music and painting. 1t is hard for
a man who has endeavored to rear his
children into becoming honest men and
women to say it, but l must confess that
from her very infancy my youngest daugh-
ter was liar. 1t seemed to be a mania
with her: she would lie about the most
trivial things. Thus she grew into woman
hood constant menace to the happiness
OF her parents. Two months ago she left
home and was gone for months. By pure
accident one day met her. face to face, on
the street, and asked her where she was
going. She refused to tell me, but by
threatening to call apolice officer who was
standing near by compelled her to lead
me to her home. May God prevent that
any other man shall receive such shock
as was in store for me. l found that my
daughter had been leading life of shame
for many months and / was upbraided by
a woman at the house for having driven