The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-15
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
4 story That Reads Like One of Jules
Verne's Romances.

MICHIGAN CITY. Aug. S-SpeciaL-
The Dispatch publishes the following
strange story:
Michigan City entertained an interest,"
ing character for a few hours recently.
He was a medium-sized man. premature
~ aged, wrinkled and wore fun beard.
He was destitute and wanted TO get to-
Valparaiso. where he said his family re-
sided. Whether he received assistance
or not we do not know. but certain il Is
that he reached his destination. for his
Homecoming produced the liveliest sort
Of sensation, and rounded out a
romance suitable for the pen Of Jules
Verne
Mr.. Verne was not handy at the
time 50 our young friend. +. El1enne
Small, the versatile city editor Of the
Vidette. tells the interesting story in his
beautiful language.
Tween ty-One years ago sam Ensign
was a resident of Valparaiso He was
married and had a little home which,
while IL was not rich in furnishing nor
costly I'm design, SIN was hallowed by
the associations of domestic sunshine.
So the years went along with their
loads Of veal and the little woes Incl
dental To the average existence.
Finally sam, who was an engineer,
got a position at that work on an
ocean liner. He said good-by 10 the
little woman who waited his home
coming in the cosy little cot here and
left with the boat for the regions OF
the topics.
1T was the year Of 1873. when wars
and rumors OF wars were rife in the
regions Of the ladies'. The boat on
which Ensign was engineer sailed to-
Cuba There It became involved in
trouble, through the overzealous Ameri-
eanism OF its captain with the local
authorities. The customs OF war are
modelled more upon the principles OF
policy than Of Justice, and Il was an
easy thing for the Spanish authorities OF
the Cuban port TO seize the craft and
crew, Ensign with the rest.
There began the story beside which
latter-day fiction pales.
Ensign was placed in a secret and
solitary cell of the crumbling old gov
eminent prison Of the island. He was
kept there alone closely watched and
fed on "a meagre but regular diet. So
he lived for a round dozen Of the years
during which his name and personality
were slowly fading out of the recollec-
tions Of his erstwhile friends and as
sOciates hack here. AT the end Of twelve
years Sam was liberated and given 10 an,
influential catholic priest as a body
servant or valet. So for nine moro
years his was the lot Of q slave. sun
it was not 50 unhappy one.
"A year ago the prelate whom the un-
fortunate fellow served made a trip Ia
this country. His valet accompanied
him. They landed IN New Orleans.
where the latter was given the baggage
70 carry 10 the hotel.
Meanwhile he had recognized his sur
rOundings. and the old home longing
came back over him. too strong TO be re-
sisted. During all OF the long and almost
hopeless years Of his enforced dbsenca
his memory had treasured the happy
picture Of the old home and the littls
woman who was waiting to hear words
OF life or OF death, from the absent one.
The scene came back before him.
and fealty 10 his master vanished.
Ensign put down the sachel and fed.
He succeeded in avoiding the pursuit.
of his priesuy eN-master, and worked his
way back toward Porter county. He
struck Michigan City yesterday and
came 10 the nome of his nepheWs, John
and James Prentice, the wel-kn0wn
farmers. To them he told this strangs
tale Of his absence and hardships.
Through he long years the faithful
wife waited for the news which came
not. She worked as housekeeper-did
every work that a woman could do
much Of the time for the Prentices.
Thus she waited and at last-yesterday
the message came.
1T came, brought by a man bearded
and wrinlkled OF face. bent and broken
of form. He did not look the sturdy
young specimen Of robust manhood VINO
udQ ltll lFi 80 LIB Dtitlt. DuA 4lc Me1
welcomed with the same warm affection
which had stood the hard test Of un-
happy, waiting, clouded years.
And she was happy.
1T IS a strange story-but true One-
IT could be garnished with brilliant
word-pictures and jeweled with eloquent
sentences. But in its simple homely
brevity it is best read. for even then the
fancy will supply the settings as they
present themselves 10 the reaaer-'