Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-03-08

L
..Time flies with silent wings" A
twelve-month passes swiftly. Another
year elapsed without making any Pc
culiar change in the relations of the
parties about whom we have written.
The city where our narration dates
was located upon the river, and upon
its front street were situated the
stores occupied by Mr.. Corlis. Nearly
three years had passed since haywood
had been installed there, when a
steamer came down, on its way to New
Orleans.
A rival boat was in sight, close be-
hind, and it was the custom for these
craft to halt en- route at the landing
in front of Mr.. Corlis's warehouses, to
take or leave passengers. AS the fcre-
most boat rounded up at the levee,
her engineer neglected to "blow off,
her surplusage of steam, desiring to
retain it for dash with his competi-
tor when he left this halting-place.
The result of this neglect was the ex-
plosion of one of the large cylinders,
by which accident dozen persons on
the deck were fearfully scalded.
| The sound of the crash Immediate
ly drew crowd upon the levee, and
shortly afterwards the shrieking suf-
ferers were brought on shore.
Mr.. Corlis and haywood were among
the first who reached the rivers edge.
Body after body-maimedand scathed
the rivers edge. Body after body
manned and scathed and blackened-
was borne from the boat, and May
wood and his employer were actively
busy in their offices of kindness to
the unfortunate, when the figure of
plainly dressed man was brought out,
writhing in his last agonies. and fear
fully mutilated. Mr.. Corlis approached
him as he came forward in the hands
of the the crew who were removing
him, and haywood followed closely
upon the steps of his employer. The
fatally injured and dying man opened
his eyes as the clerk came up, gazed
fearfully at him, and shrieking the
broken syllable, "May-l" expired !!
haywood started back, horror
struck! For an instant he was para
lyzed That face and voice-that
last glance! The clerk was bewild-
cred, and motionless as q statue-and
the body was taken to the levee.
haywood in the confusion fed.
Subsequent search for him proved
futile. He'disappeared instanter, and
all efforts to find him, or to learn of
his whereabouts or his fate, were
alike in vain. After weeks of una
vailing inquiry, the belief of his EN-.
ployer settled into no very satisfac-
tory channel Though he feared that
haywood had either fallen from the
boat, amid the terrible confusion, or
that he must have committed suie ide,)
and his place was filleQ in the count
ing-house, while the business of the
establishment went ON rs before.
What disposal the bookkeeper had
made of his surplus earnings, from
time to time, if he had any, or wheth-
er he had saved any portion of his
pay, 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,
hn rnn ,f thA nj ID
home. They were shown into the
drawing-room, and the cards of "Mr.
and Mrs. Ervine" were sent up. The
name was,not familiar, either to Mr..
Corlis or his daughter.
"Ervine?" said the father, "Er-
vineg do not recognize the name,
daughter.
Mr.. Corlis soon after entered the
apartment. followed by his daughter,
and the strangers rose to pay their re-
spects.
"Mr. Ervine," said the merchant,
II am happy to meet you. But.
really, do not recollect-"
"No," said the stranger, 81 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.
'She says you will probably recollect
her."
The lady advanced, offered her hand
to Mr.. Corlis and his daughter. and
said; "Surely. Mr.. Corlis. you have
not forgotten me?"
Haywood" !" exclaimed father and
daughter together.
"You are right" said tho lady,
calmly.
'But how is this?" asked the mer-
chant. "when did this change oe-
cur? A womanl"
''Sit down, my dear SIR" said the
lady, calmly. "and will at once un-
ravel what must have seemed u most
mysterious proceeding, in your esti-
nation but which. andor the cireum-
stances. could not be otherwise.
"Nearly twenty years ago married
u man of whom | knew toa little, aud
who proved himself utterly unworthy
of the confidence aud love Of her whom
he grossly deceived. before aud after
our aa.on. Ills habits wore dissoiatu
he soon became confirmed inebriate
our prospeetiyely happy home shortly
became scene of continuously riotous
dissipation; his little property. with
my own. was squandered. and, before
i've years hal pas.eu. No were home.
less, penniiess, frieadiess