Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-07
WHY HE DISAPPEARED.

window of a little house not far from CHS 5
wick. The air was fragrant with the !
scent of new mown hay, and made it seem ! |,
as if the spot was situated miles away in ,
some remote quarter of the country, in
stead of being, as it really was, but cab
drive from Charing Cross.
Nell Jackson was busying herself in the
comfortable room on the ground floor, her
skillful fingers arranging the breakfast
things and placing the tempting plate OF
watercresses and golden cubes Of butter
within handy reach of a comfortable chair;
then she produced a crusty looking loaf,
which she put upon a wooden platter, and
cazed for an instant admiringly at her
work
'There," said she, clapping her hands,
eff Mary has only done the bacon crisp, as .
papa likes it, the dear old thing may come /
down whenever he likes" And tripping
up the stairs with the lightness Of fairy
she raped at the panels of door upon
the next landing.
Thomas jackson was what is termed an
pmipently respectable man. By dint of
hard work and undertaking integrity he
had risen to a confidential post in the firm
Of Messrs. Chest & Lead tea brokers, Of
Mincing lane. Mr. jackson was awidower,
and neither Nell nor her brother Bob had
the slightest recollection Of their mother.
Bob was a clerk in the general postofiice,
and he and his sister Nell had been brought
up by an aunt on their mothers side until
their father returned to England from
some employment in which he had been
engaged abroad. when he at once took the
house at Chiswick and brought his chill
dren to live with him. lie was n hard
working, painstaking man, and after
time gave the highest satisfaction to ms
employers, who had at first been little
chary of engaging a man who coul1 give
them no references from any mercantile
firm within the sound Of Bowbells. AS
years. however, rolled by they congratu-
lated themselves in having strained point
by which they had secured the services OF
90 diligent and responsible an employe.
IL had long been habit of Mr.. jackson
To rise early and have an hours work IN
his garden before proceeding TO business,
and his daughter therefore was not much
surprised when she received no answer TO
her twice repeated summons.
papa, YOU naughty, lazy papa" cried
she. "Have you oversight yourselfY Get
up. or your breakfast will be quite cold"
No reply came, and the girl paused Tor
moment.
w here can ne Dtf Hdbh nliNf nv 49,
SOFTLY opening the door she entered th'
room on tiptoe, but to her extreme surprls'
the bedchamber was unoccupied.
"You wicked papal" exclaimed the girl
.aif YOU do not put in an appearance a
once YOU shall have no breakfast
gently, Nell" called out Bob jackson
thrusting his head through the halt opene
door of his bedroom. wv nat Is all Jhls eH
element about"
al can't find papa He isn't in the ga
den; | have just been looking out OF IL
window" replied Nell.
"Wel, | suppose ! must have loo
round myself, Miss Careless, returned h'
brother, and issuing from his room he 10
lowed Ellen down the narrow strip
massage which did duty for an entran'
hall "The governors hat has gone" r
marked Bob, but here is his umbrella
the stand. and wet or dry never kne
him to venture out without IT,.
"Oh. dear" exclaimed Nell, turning pa
and sinking into chair. Look, BOD, q
front door is not closed"
"Do YOU think he usually goes out
tho Window" said Bob, although, Rno
INC his fathers methodical habit, he was
GOOD deal startled at Mr. jackson havl
omitted to make the door secure.
without another word, Bob and n
proceeded to their laJhef OeuIOoHi' d
there found that he had put on the clotf
he usually wore at business, but, TO th
extreme surprise and uneasiness, his pu
and silver watch were on the dressl
table
THE brother and sister exchanged loo
of unmitigated surprise
'Come, do not let VS. get uneasy,
Rob "Of course he has stepped out
something. Let us 20 into the parior
wait for him; he is bound to he back
rectly."
Neil obeyed her brothers wish, and
brother and sister waited a long time
their fathers return, but Mr.. Thoi
Jackson did not come back; IN point
fact, he never appeared at the house
Chiswick again.
Week after week and month a
month passed away, and stlh the stra
mystery remained unsolved. Not 81
of paper was discovered which gave
slightest clew to the reason for Mr., j
sons sudden and unexpected disapI
ance. Everything appeared TO have
left in the most perfect order, and [
notes to the amount of 81, 500 were DIS
cred in an old mahogany desk, which
children remembered well as the recep
for receipted bills and other impoT
documents
Messrs Chest 81 Lead declared
their books were in the most perfect o
and that not a shilling had been expe
that could not be accounted for, aud l
dition they showed their sympathy I
bereayed children by lending their a
aid TO the search after the lost man.
jackson found it impossible to carry
duties at the postoifice with so tern
weight of anxiety crushing his hear
brain. SO he resigned his cierkshlp, an
rected his whole time to seeking 10
clew of the mystery, but in vain.
despair gained the mastery over him
accepting post in the Offices OF M
Chest & Lead, he settled down as q
as his perturbed spirit would allow
daily routine of work.
Not so, however, his sister The
that her father would one day come
became almost a monomania with ne
night after night she would sat up I
come the wanderer upon his return
of in the long watches of the night,
not a soul was stirring, she would
down stairs and noiselessly open the
door under the impression that she
her fathers footsteps in the street.
months glided on, the disappearance
jackson was forgotten by the neie
and only remained fresh in the he
his sorrowing children.