The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-24
a BOARDING-HOUSE TALE
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A
TRUNK MONDAY NIGHT.
Explained Later by EIOpement and
Marriage of Miss TOwnIey
and Mr.. Haven.

Monday evening, just after twilight,
man might have been seen standing in the
shadow of a tree near the boarding house
kept by Mrs. Brown, at 100 East New York
street. Presently the man moved toward
the house. His movements were stealthy,
and a policeman would have viewed him
with suspicion. AS the man approached the
door of the house. 1t noiseessly opened to
him and he was admitted New York street
was deserted. In five minutes the man re-
turned. If he was burglar he was playing
for big game for he carried a huge some
thing on his back. Hurriedly he walked to
Alabama street. never stopping to rest un-
til he had turned the corner. Then he set
his load down and the electric light shining
upon 1t showed that it was trunk 1t was
carried by the man as far as the house at
l36 North Alabama street. He disappeared
with it inside and the darkness and still
ness of the night prevailed.
One of the boarders at Mrs. Browns
house was Miss Nellie M TownIey, ply
stefan with a speciality for nervous diseases.
She was thirty years DID, and, though not
beautiful was considered by the other
boarders to be an attractive lady, as much
on account of her pleasant manners as her
face and form. She is still boarding at the
house, but her name is no longer Miss
Townley.
Another boarder is De Witt F.. Haven. He
is thirty-seyen and is engaged in the col
lection business in connection with the Ma
uonal Collection Agency of this CITY, He
came here from Chicago about a year ago
and took a room at 1856 North Alabama
street and his meals at Mrs. Browns A
warm friendship soon sprang up between
tNrnf 0n
many pleasantly on the part or the other
Doarders. Their regard for each other be-
came SO apparent that the question was
frequently asked as to when the event was
to occur
But the pair decided to fool their fellow
ooarders and surprise their friends. They
were DOth their own masters and had no
troublesome parents to object nor guardians
to appease. There was no need of an elope-
to elope, and elope they did Tuesday morn
ing Miss Townley arose as usual and took
breakfast with the other boarders and her
af1anced. Her trunk had gone to the BRIDE
grooms apartments the night before They
left the house separately and met at the
Union Station and took train to Danville.
A letter had preceded them, warning a
cousin of Mr.. Haven of their approach,
and they expected him to be on hand to
make the necessary affidavit to secure the
license. The letter miscarried however, and
there was some delay in the affair. A mes
senger was dispatched four miles in the
country for the relative, and in the after
noon he presented himself. The license was
obtained and the party repaired to the rel
atves home, where Rev Mr. SWitzer
united Mr.. Haven and Miss Townley in
marriage.
The couple spent the night at the rela-
tives home and returned here last even
ing. They are now occupying Mr.. Ravens
apartments. Mr.. Haven last night said he
was highly pleased with himself II have
had $40 worth of sport out of it, he said
and there is more to come when we go to
breakfast" Mr. Haven laughed immoder-
ately as he thought of the surprise he had
in store for the meddlesome fellow-board-
ers at Mrs. Browns.