The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-25
ia MISSING LINK.


had been guest OF the Belmont Hotel
at o., Ind, n little town on tIs
Evansville and Terra Haute railroad
He was perhaps thi,ty-iived yet hli
tfolsh,ful and qaiet manner was thai
OF a man at least sixty. Where MI
Campbell had come from. and what mad
been his former occupation. were the
conteHts.of closed book TO the people
Of O.. At present he was u gentle
man OF leisure and few words. Long
ago he had Been discussed and re-
discussed, and had passed from among
the topics OF town talk.
It was near the end OF December. Mr..
Campbell never failed TO pay his board
oil few days before the end Of each
month, and always by check on the
P S. Bank, OF Chicago. This
morning he came down as usual. With
the check already filled out and handed
1t to the clerk.
There. IL guess theS Will pay It,.
They have always done so. believe
ne added, after moments hesitation.
THANK YOU" said the clerk; and,
oy the way, mere Is Il Letter FOR you.
The announcement almost took away
air. Campbelrs breath: for, during the
whole OF the two years he had remain
ed a; the Belmont, he had not received
a. single letter OF communication OF any
kind from any one. :,
The clerk handed to him n small
cream envelope. bearing his name and
address IN u neat round hand. Ner-
yously and hastily he broke the seal,
and drew out the folded sheet. Then
ne read:
mo. 90 .I.ake Park Avenue.
Chicago. H.. Dec.'?2 1897.
'slr. Richard r. Campbell,
Belmont Hotel, O.. Ind.
"My Dear Husband:-A; last. through
the courtesy of your bankers here, l
have learned your address. and am de-
termined TO come to Eou. no matter
what mag be the consequences. You
cannot know through how many
wretched hours OF grief and anxiety |
have passed. I could never imagine
why you left me so soon after our mar
riage: but know that all will be clear
to nle, now that l have found you.
Surely you will not refuse to receive
me, for the sake OF our little boy.
though you have never seen him. I will
follow this letter Immediately, and
write only In order TO apprise YOU OF
my coming. Your loving and faithful
wife. CARRIE"
When Mr.. Campbell had finished read
ing the letter he stood for several mo-
ments staring at the neatly written
sheet. At length the tension OF his
muscles was relaxed, aud he suddenly
hQndeG II to the clerk. who had been
watching his movements with interest.
Read that 10 met" he said.
The accommodating clerk read 1t
aloud.
Read II again." almost commanded
the boarder. whose eyes were brigh;
with peculiar excitement.
The clerk complied; then NJ. Camp
bell siowls. shook his head.
There Is q grievous mistake some
where. IL was never married IN MP
he. And the b5y-there Is a boy, to8?''
ut seems So"
Again Mr.. Campbell shook his head.
"Imposslble. Why IL. us you have
no doubt observed. am u very bashtul
man" s.,
Yes, sir" sympatnizingly asseated
the clerk,
My dear husband" repeated Mr..
Campbell, agaiG glancing ut che letter,
that makes the hair rise, at least 10 4
man like me. For the sake OF our little
boy Ugh! say. what do you suggest
as the best thing Cor me to do under
the circumstances? j..
Should She come, why IL, that IS.
she--it would be very embarrassing
when she found on, her mistake"
Perhaps when she sees you she will
at once become aware OF her mistake,
and relieve you by making no further
advances"
Perhaps so"
At this moment carriage stopped
n front OF the hotel. and the clerk
hurried 10 the sidewalk. Mr.. Campbell
vas leaning against the counter, still
revolving the contents OF the strange
letter In his mind. lie heard the sound
OF footsteps on the pavement. and 1t
suddenly occurred TO him That the new
arrival might possibly be the-the wife
who was In search OF q lost husband
and, despite his resolution 10 m.et the
lady boldly, Mr.. Campbelrs knees be-
gan to grow q little weak. And when
he glanced toward the street, and saw
The clerk RETURNING, followed by u tall
young woman with 4 child In her arms,
ne was on the point OF turning abou;
and beating q prtci2it1us retreat, bu;
at this instant they entered; and Mr..
Campbell stood rigid In his tracks. de-
termined TO allow the lady 10 see a,
once that she had made Il mistake: for
ne did no, doubt tina: she was the oue
ne had Reason. TO expect. ..
she was tall, graceful blonde. With
large, soft eyes. from which CLEANED a
light Of recognition the moment she
caught glimpse o: Mr.. Cumpbclrs
FACE. but IL was not reelpr9cated: and
nc. began to back away when she ap-
preached him with Il joyful cry:
On, Richard, Richard. I have Found
you at last" and with her free nrr1
ortstretched the woulL-be Mrs. C3na.
on! ran forward as II to embrace him
He threw UP his hands to preyeo. her
AZ me Same time sasping out IN brokeu
sentences:
Il beg your pardon. I'm sure !,
cannot be. Indeed. YOU are lsb0rirc
uhuer very great mistake. Why
tnadam, IL assure you, | was never
mar.ic1,in mF life"
On Richard! what IS the meaning 0,
.his' What have done? l, is twt
'onS years Tomorrow since you le.t m.
without Il word OF farewell or mn inii,
NATION as 10 where You were going
anu on; Richard. We had been mar.
RED put iwo short mouths, and !
thought We were 50 happy"
me woman began 10 weep. ana Mr.
IamlDcl! turned red and pale by iurns
fortunately FOR his tEnldlty, the onI,
witness |" the sc-ne was the clerk. win
nad m3dcstly bowed his head ana .;urn,
ed away. ''. ,'"' IL
on. Richard" pleaded the woroan
Tor the cake OF our IIt;le boy" SH,
husEea tHe lAs!e bundle H!ii closer I,
Indeed