Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-02-16

establishment went on as before.
What disposal the bookkeeper had
made of his surplus earnings, from
time to time, ii he hadany, or wheth-
er he had saved any portion of his
pny, was unknown to his late en-
ployer. Inquiries were instituted,
and all the means at hand likely to
afford any light upon the singular and
sudden disappearance were availed of
but to no purpose. haywood was
gone!
Six years, with their round Of joys
and sorrows, pains and pleasures,
changes and fortunes, had passed
away, after the accident related, when
one evening there halted before the
door of Mr.. Corlis carriage, from
which alighted lady and gentleman,
who inquired if the merchant were at
home. They We're shown into the
drawing-room, and the cards Of "Mr,
and Mrs. IRVINE" were sent up. The
name was not familiar, either to Mr..
Corlis or his daughter,
"Eryine?" said the father, FIR.
vine? / DO not recognize the name,
daughter. y
Mr.. Corlls soon after entered the
apartment, followed by his daughter,
and the strangers rose to pay their re-
Specta
"Nlr. Erviue," said the merchant,
81 am happy to meet you. But,
really, | do not recollect--"
no." said the stranger, al never
had the pleasure Of meeting you be-
fore. This in my wife, however" he
added, presenting the modestly-at-
tired lady who accompanied him.
"Sho says you will probably recollect
her"
The lady advanced, offered her hand
to Mr.. Corlis and his daughter, and
said: "5urely, Mr.. Corlis, you have
not forgotten me?'
Haywood !" exclaimed father and
daughter together.
"Yol are righ!. said the .aGv,
calmly,
"3ut nov is .his:' as6eC the mer-
chant. "When did this change oc-
cur? ! woman
''Sit down, ray aea- sir, SAID the
lady, calmly, "anG J will at once un-
ravel what must have seemed most
mysterious proceeding, in your esti-
nation: but which, under the circum.
stances, could not be otherwise.
"Nearly wenty years ago married
II man Of whom | knew too little, and
who proved himself utterly unworthy
of the confidence and love of her whom
he grossly deceived. before and after
our union. His habits We're dissolute
he soon became confirmed inebriate I;
our prospectively happy home shortly
became a sceneof coDtinuousl y riotous
dissipation; his little property, with
my own, was squandered, and, before
five years had passed, we were home
less, penniless, friendless.
"When | could no longer bear up
under the cruel treatment to which |
w&s subjected / made :, final appeal
TO him. In his drunken wrath he
forced me violently away from him,
and in despair [ fled from the scene
Of my early miseries. | adopted my
maiden name OF haywood, procured
the letters of credence which You have
seen, and having acquired knowl-
edge of books and accounts in earlier
years assumed the habiiments Of the
ruder sex, believing that | could thus
better earn II sustenance.
81 came here, entered your service,
saved d few hundred dollars-and you
remember the terrible occurrence
which Immediately preceded my dis
appearance"
"The accident on the steamer"
eyes We were hurrying about
among the wounded, as you recollect,
when the figure CT ore Of the dying
sufferers approached y.s.
eyes, yes, [ remember.
"That nan wes my husband.
There we-e tears in the eyes o. tie
little coterie vic listened to THIS sir
gular tate cf vos.
81 recognized him, and he half pro.
nounced the name of Mary, my bap-
tismal name, as hurried about amid
the frantic crowd on that fearful oc.
caslon. Stunned with the recognition
under such circumstances, bewildered
by the trying position in which thus
suddenly found myself placed, and
fearful of the results of exposure, |
knew not what to do, or scarcely what
! did.
"He did not survive tbs accident,
however; and, two hours afterwards,
in homely female attire, 1 claimed his
unfortunate remains. None reaog-
nized me il my plain apparel, and
surely aope could suspect that the
veileG ard humble woman who fcl-
loved the oC-gse to Its last resting
place was !. fact the bockkeeoer CT
the well-known IEr CorliG
81 left iowa forthwith. Through
your kindness ana -ibelaity | had
been able TO lay by considerable
sum of money, and l departed for the
West, and, once more among total
strangers, | continued the resumption
of the habiliment9 and habits of my
son. With the means at my com
mand, | continued to live quietly and
respectfully, until some two years ago
/ met this gentleman, who offered me
his hand. | ain now Mrs. Ervine, and
this is my husband, sir -
AS may well he imagined, happy
reunion succeeded this denouement OF
the longtime mystery which had
shrordcd the sudden disappearance of
Mr.. Corlis's bookkeeper. And the
reader may be assured that Mr.. snd
Mrs. Ervine We're not only very vel
come in tie rich merchants family,