The evening times., 1896-08-19

Il guess I'll go fishing There must he
some fish hownng for me-
This was tie REMARK made by William
ID Bane To some feliow-clerks In the A gri-
! cultural Department the 1st day OF hast
i March. Since then none OF his friends
In Washington have seen him. He did not
state where be was going 10 angle, aGd
left without any more formaIity. His
Whereabouts Is mystery to his family
and friends.
IL Is not. thought that the man is dead.
as he was seen a few weeks later about
Brownsville. Pa, where he kept "A general
merchandise store some time previous to
his coming 10 Washington
Bane, at the time OF his unexpected de-
parture, was chief or the pubiicat ton division.
or tie Agricultural Department, and was
drawing salary OF 81 800 year. None
OF his subordlnates wept because Bane did
not return, but out on Capitol Hill, at No.
$40 A street northeast, was left a little
fam!iy-a wife and three small children
who mourn the absence of husband and
father.
NO MOTIVE ASSIGNED.
On the day OF his departure 3ane left
his home, as usual Il n the morning, and went
TO his office. 1t was pay day at the depart.
ment, and he drew his envelope, with
good-sized roll OF new greenbacks. Then,
with the remark above quoted, he left the
building alone.
There had been no family troubles at
his home or other unpleasantness to cause
him to leave, and it was not ON account OF
in so strange manner.
The only thing which savors of an ex-
cuse is the fact that he mismaDaged his
office.
Bane was addicted to the flowing Fowl
Owing to his habits he had neglected some
matters pertaining to his office. and an in
yestigation showed them to Ee in bad shape
There vas nothing, however. revealed in
the inquiry which would warrant the chief
OF the division fleeing and leaving his wife
and children in want
The oldest child is but 4 school boy of
fourteen and the youngcS. a girl of six
years. Mrs. BaDe was left without n.oney
and almost destitute For days She anx-
iously awaited the return OF Ler husband
She did not think he had been foully dealt
with. but suspected that he had wi.ifully
left for parts an nknown. although shehad not
the slightest inkling OF his Intentions the
morning of his departure.
WAS SEEN AT BROWNSVILLE.
After some weeks letter was received
from a friend at the old home IN Browns
vile, stating that Bsne had been seen in
that neishborhood. Immediately letters
swere written him, impioring his return.
Some OF the communications were sent back.
while others must have been receiyed as
they were never returned.
But all without avail. Their entreaties
brought no response from the missing hus-
band. Not a word or Il cent of money
has he sent to his helpless family. More.
over. when his presence in Brownsville be-
came known. he at once shook the dust OF
that town from his feet. and his present
whereaDout is as much a m ystery as ever
In the mea utime Mrs. Bane and her three
children, who continue to live at the A
street house, would have been reduced to
desttution, but for the kindly aid OF Will
lam Z. Griffitts. a brother of Mrs Bane,
who is also employed in the Agricultural
Department.
Some time ago the circumstances of the
case were brought To the notice OF Secre.
tary Morton, who gave the wife position
in the division over which her husband had
been chief.
WILLING TO FORGIVE HIM.
By this means Mrs. Bane. who is an en-
ergetic little woman, ana of u pleasant dis
position, has managed to support the chill
| dren.
The couple were marie | In Pennsylvania
sixteen years ago, and resided here for
four years. during which time it is said
there has been no domestic strife.
This Is not the first time Bane has taken
French leave. He has even remained away
| as long as four years without giving his
| family the least knowledge of his where
abouts. Then, without warning, he W ould,
Rip.Van Winkle-like, appear as if from
the grave, beg forgiveness of his faithful
| wife and start life anew.
Eight years go Bane suddenly left his
| family in the same mysterious manner
while living at Brownsville and no one
knew where he was for four years. Then
he btaiped the position in the government
| service and returning to his wife implored
her to again live with him.
The deserted wife still believes that
her prodisnl husband will again return,
and dcherishing thishope she refuses. a gainst
stitute divorce proceedings. She expresses
her willingness to forgive her husband IL
he will return and provide for his family