The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1907-04-24
Jennie Shemeld's
Secret.
lOriginal ]

Ot very UC> pOAOtAl cOAACtHAAs a.
preying on her mind, but the closest
cross eXamina ton Of her father failed
10 bring out what was troubling her.
She went about as one in a dream
Nothing interested her. She might
have been couFted by young people Of
her own set, for she was pretty, intel
ligent and generally attractive, but
she declined 10 have anything 10 do
with any Of them.
Under advice OF physician Mr.
Sheffield made preparations ~ give
Jennie a change Of scene. He deter
mined TO take his family abroad, to b
gone two years. From the moment the
"Trip was announced Jennie's despOnd
ency increased. She declared that she
would not 60. A family council, tie
doctor included, was held, and IL was
decided TO treat her as an invalid.
even as a demented person, and force
her TO the proposed sojOurn in foreign
lands. with the expectation that change
Of scene would soon do away with her
aversion 10 being away from home ana
result in her ultimate recovery.
Passage had been secured and all
was ready for the departure when sud
denly Jennie disappeared. IL was
supposed that in order to escape a
tour which for some mysterious reason
she dreaded she had gone away to
some relative or friend. All possible
refugees were looked into, but the girl
Thnn
feared that her trouble was insanity
and that she had committed suicide.
At this point clew 10 her strange
depression was unearthed by CORE
spondence with her former school
mates Her roommate revealed the
ence with Henry Emerson, who during
Jennie's last year at school had been
member OF the senior class at
neighboring college. But, II hers was
case Of unrequited love, why she
would not give 1t as reason for her
dependency no one could understand.
That she was a very sensitive girl and
extremely conscientious her parents
were aware. but sensitiveness would
not account for her morbid condition.
especially for her disappearance.
Emerson was investigated. He al
mitted his acquaintance with and love
for Jennie Sheffield, but nothing more.
Nevertheless be seemed very much
troubled. While he was being pressed
for information he, too. suddenly dis
appeared. Then Jennie's parents as
sumed, with good reason, that he was
the cause Of her trouble her strange
acts and especially her disappearance.
The very day Emerson was missed Il
man fishing In a lake not far from
where the Sheffield family lived caught
his hook In a cloth garment and pulled
up a woman's body. Mr.. Sheffield soon
heard Of the find and went immediate
~ to see It. dreading lest 1t might be
his daughter When he arrived, he
found the features swollen beyond rec
ignition. The height. color of hair
and the teeth correspondent with those
Of Jennie. He took piece Of the
dress home. and Mrs. Sheffield ldenti-
fed 1t as one Jennie had worn. though
not for long time. This was cOnclu-
sive. Jennie was dead Had she COM
mitted suicide or had Emerson murder
ed herr
The search for Emerson was pushed
vigorously, but he had contrived 10
hide himself where he could not be
found Now that the evidence was SO
strong against him there was no trou-
BILE in accommodating proof that his
character was very bad. People who
only shook their heads before the dis
covery Of the body now volunteered to
come forward in case the criminal was
arrested and tried to testify against
him. Nevertheless the police failed to
elicit any information bearing on the
case directly, except the evidence Of a
love affair given by Jennie's room
mate The funeral was announced for
| 3 o'clock In the afternoon. At 10 the
Sheffield went to the door himself TO
receive the mail. Letters Of condo
lence were coming in, and his wife in
sisted on reading them, only to make
her more frantic with grief. There
was but one letter handed In, and as
Mr.. Sheffield received It he started. Ii
vas addressed to him In his daughters
| handwriting. For moment he looked
at it dazed, then tore of the envelope
and read, Dearest father and moth
er" In an instant his eyes went down
to the signature, Your loving daugh-
ter, Jennie"
Not daring to take the letter to bis
wife till be had read it, he did SO bur
riedly.
| have been very silly and may have
worried you some by going away. / Will
| now confess. While at the normal school
/ met Henry Emerson. He made love to
me, and / refused him. Then when
| went home l was sorry and acted like a
! hinDy. You proposed 70 take me abroad.
| and l didn't want to go, hoping that Hen
! ~ would ask me again. or course
| couldn't tell you this. for / didn't know
| that he would. and II he didn't II would
have been very notifying, you know
| 50 ! went 10 NJ. and boarded with q
| farmers family. l wrote Henry that I'd
| run away from you TO escape COINS
abroad. He came right UP and told me-
! all the terrible things for which l am
| responsible. The most important thing
! have 10 tell you Is that he has asked me
| again. II ne hadn't been SO silly, all this
wouldn't have happened. We're married
| and will be home tomorrow evening not
! long after you get this. Can't you have
| a little wedding supper for Us?
The couple when they arrived were
much surprised at the situation. There
was a wedding supper instead OF g
| funeral. though the neighbOrs declared
| that the bride should have been whip
ped instead Of Toasted Jennie ex-
| plained that she had given the dress
In which the body was found TO poor