The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-05-11

Is the story OF deserted mother who
waits and hopes and prayn for the re-
turn OF an crring son.
About twelve years ago there lived
In the town OF Pella. Ia, a prosperous
merchant lie was married and had
six children. two daughters and four
sons. They were all exceptionally
handsome children. particularly the
eldest son. Al that time he was yet
a young man. recently married TO a
bright and beautiful girl. and In the
employ OF a large Southern house as
a commercial traveller. lie drew n
large salary and was so trusted and
respected by the firm that In addition
70 making sales for them he often col
lected large sums OF money from the
houses with whom they did business
Several years passed and Harry Ey-
ans rose higher each year In the esti-
nation Of the firm that employed him
AZ about this time bis father met with
business reveraes. sold out his home.
and after moving TO Montezuma. Ia.
went into the hotel business. lie af-
lerward moved 10 Alton. IN the same
state. and kept the leading hotel there.
Soon afterward young Evans left
Muscatine. where he was then resld-
Ing, 20 visit the smaller towns as had
been his custom. From day 10 day he
wrote 70 his wife for whom he seemed
10 have the strongest affection. Nj Al
once his letters ceased. After a short
time u became known throughout the
state that Harry Evans had disappear
ed. Detectives were at once put on bis
track, a large reward was offered for
any Information as 20 bis where
abouts. but 10 no avail lie had
dropped out Of sight a. completely
a. II the sea had opened and closed
over him forever.
The family we're or had been very
prominent They had many innuen-
tial friends. and everything possible
vas done 10 ind a trace OF the missing
man. The governor OF the state made
a special attempt 70 hnd Evans The
whole country was excited over the
strange disappearance. The family
mourned him a. dead. They were fully
convinced that he had been murdered
Tor bis money and hls body sunk In
the Mississippi river The idea tha,
he had absconded with a paltry 5000
that being the amount he had with
him AZ the time Of bis DISAPPEARANCE
was secuted as improbable he had
often had several times a. much with
him.
His relatives we're almost Frustrated
with grief for he had been the most
promising member OF the family. A.
time passed the young wife went
bravely TO work 10 pay Oh the debts
leit unpaid By her husband and TO sup
port herself
Among the many friends Of the fam.
ny there was only one who believed
that young Evans was alive. and that
some cay be would turn up. On his
suggesting such a possibility. however.
the family took exception. and even
became highly Indignant
one day seven years after Evans
DISAPPEARANCE this friend stopped NJ
the hotel kept By young Evans pa.
rents. and vas siddened 10 see the
father prematurely aged By grief and
slowly dying
Have you never heard from Har.
ry3" askca this gentleman. who. By the
way. told me the story. and who IL one
Of San Franelsoo's mos, prominent
business men.
Heard from Harry exclaimed the
father why DO you ask such a
question: Harry is dead"
well. now. Mr.. Evans. I don't be.
lleve he is" protested the friend
shall give the story In that friends
own words:
Just then Mrs. Evans came into the
room. You're asking about Harry
again. aren't you1 she asked why
DO you constantly DO that How can
We hear from Harry lie r. dead
Why should he have lef, his wife. his
father and me an these years withou,
letting us know he was allvei There
was no reason Tor a."