The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-09-24
Mysterious Disappearance.

The umber Of people who go out
= sight and never return, leaving
their families and friouds in anguish
and dismay, increases every year. It
is angmerting, like the suicide
mania.
such an occurrence was extremely
rare IN ante-bellum times. but oocs-
sionally it happened.
Before the war q splendid New
York lady was sojourniug in our
house FOR several months. She was
in red"csa circumstances and came
South to teach. She was an elegant,
cultured wonan-a perfect lady.
She told me Of the shadow that lay
on her own life, caused by one Of these
mysterious disappearances.
She said:
"Onr childhood's home was in
Philadelphia. Our family consisted
of father, mother, one hrc.he. aud
three girls. Our parents decided to
move to New York city, if suitable
location could be found for our faith
er's business, and father prepared to
buy. Father ocncluded to take broth
er, boy of IL years with him, and as
railroad fare was high in those days,
they were to stay week and let the
boy see the sights.
'Never was there q more enjoyable
plan proposed for the dear boy, and
we bade them goodbye without
thought of any trouble, unless it
might possibly come as railroad acoi-
dent. Our father told US Of the little
hotel near the river where they would
stop and we kissed them farewell with
smiles and no tears.
"They reached New York one morn.
ing, took room, as proposed, at the
hotel and by night the little boy was
tired Of tramping and sightseeing.
''Father woke him when he arose
the next morning, and said: "Sou,
you are go tired, waot you to sleep
longer. I will dress anu walk around
until breakfast time, and you can get
up then. If you are dressed before I
get back, come down stairs to. the Of.
foe aad wait for me, and we will 90
to breakfast together
"Oh, Mrs. Feltonr' cried TIC dear
woman; "Father walked out Of our
life that morning forevermore. We
never heard Of him again. He was
seen to 60 outside the hotel door, and
if the earth had opened and swallowed
him up, he could not have disappeared
more certainly. It was an awful time.
The poor little boy never got over the
shock and strain; we girls, with poor
mother, had to take up the hard life Of
orphanage and widowhood unaided.
We always supposed father was knock
ed down, robbed and thrown in the
river, as he had considerable money,
and that was, Of course, gone forever.
"Poor mother! She never gave up
looking for father to return. Not o
day passed that We did not see her
look fora letter orslisten as Footsteps
came up the walk and generally as
twilight approached she would watch
at the door looking up and down the
oareet. Nobply knows what such
anxiety means until they have it. We
could not prove his death, so it inter
rupted all settlements in business.
And our whole lives have been shad-
Owed BY the dark cloud Of uncertain
ty, It cost great deal to prosecute g
search, aud We had the river dragged.
''My my II how pitiful was the
homecoming Of poo. little brother
The child had been 80 tortured by
grief and anxiety that he did not look
like himself. He sat in that hotel Of
fee On that dreadful day until near
dinner time, looking and waiting,
afraid to go outside, lest father might
come 10 and think he was lost. And
ours was one Of the happiest es fami-
lies. Mother always said she never
had an hours trouble in her married
life before. We girls lived with
mother until she passed away, and
then we had to scatter for earning q
living. My home is anywhere I can
get employment now
These mysterious disappearances
are things against which no solution
may ever be expected or conclusion
arrived at. They must remain ever
SO until eternity and the hidden things
then stand revealed.
Ever ainoe witnessed the heart
.e