The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-29
A Mysterious
Disappearance
BY MARJORIE CLOUGH

| She had not returned to supper, and
her mother was very much worried
about her. Mrs. Maryweather tele-
phoned TO various friends OF Susie's,
asking II she was with them, and re-
ceived negative replies.
The next day an investigation was
made as TO where the girl had been
during the previous afternoon. She
had been to the library, where she had
taken out a book. the name or when
! the librarian did not remember. She
had not been Mt any store. The police
were notified of the disappearance; In.
quiries were made at police stations in
neighboring towns. but without elicit
/ ing any information.
! Wellington where the Maryweathers
/ lived, was ON the bank OF river. On
the third day after Susie's disappear
ance. at point on the river four miles
above the town, where a boat was
kept for ferriage, book was found on
the shore bearing the stamp Of the Mel
/ lington library. 1t was returned to
the library by boy, who told how he
! had happened to find 1t and where.
The librarian reported the matter to
Mr.. Maryweather. giving 1t as bis opin'
ion that 1t was the book his daughter
had taken out of the library.
Beyond tracing Susie to this point on
the river the find availed nothing, for
there was no other clew by which she
could be traced further.
Meanwhile every person who heard
OF the disappearance formed theory
concerning It. The greatest number
believed that Susie had been kidnapped.
but when a week had passed and no
application for ransom had been re-
ceived many doubted this explanation
Those who adhered to 1t were Of oph
ION that the kidnapers had found 1t ne
essary to their safety TO kill their vic
tim. Another theory was that Susie
had drowned herself under an attack
OF temporary insanity. No such men
tai ailing had appeared in the Mary.
weather family. and Susie had always
been considered healthy In every re
spect. The only symptom that had
been noticed was an apparent preoccu
patton.
Ten days passed and no clew TO the
disappearance, other than the book,
was found. Then man fishing In a
boat near the middle of the river ten
miles below Wellington caught his hook
In something that he pulled to the
surface and found 1t to be a plaid
dress The body OF woman was
taken out OF the water that bad EVIL.
IDENTIFY been there long while. II was
very much swollen, and the features
were unacceptable The hair-the
only feature unchanged-was OF the
most ordinary color.
A portion OF the dress was sent to
Mrs. Maryweather, who at once iden-
tifed il as one belonging to her daugh'
ter or had belonged 10 her. The moth
er was positive that Susie had not worn
II the day she left home nor for a long
while previous. she oyerhauled her
daughters old clothes. but did not hnd
the dress Indicated
The police formed a theory that Su-
san Maryweather had gone away for
some reason not known 10 her parents;
had previous 20 her departure sent or
taken certain clothing. by wearing
which her identity could the better
be concealed. While wearing the plaid
dress she had committed suicide by
drowning This was a reasonable the
DRY and disposed Of the case. 50 that
the police would not need TO trouble
themselves further about H.
Mr. Maryweather believed that the
body found was that Of his daughter
but. not wishing TO destroy all hope In
his wife. he did not press his opinion
upon her. She took the ground that
the theory Of the police was absurd.
but she was unable 20 account for the
dress Of the same pattern as one her
daughter had owned being on the body
found IN the river. The only hope she
had was that some other woman had
worn a dress made Of material OF
similar pattern.
No claimant for the body appearing,
Mr. Marywenther disposed Of u with.
out revealing what be had done with
e. II was not treated az the body OF
bis daughter-that Is no funeral was
held since there was no certainty a.
20 It's identity.
The day after q had been put away
carriage drove pp before the Mary
weather home. and who should step
out but Susiel She ran into the house.
flung herself into the arms ~ Der par
euts and announced that she had been
Married Her husband WIS without
awaiting the result 81 her confession.
Neither be nor she knew that she vas
SUPPOSED 20 b. dead.
Susie's anair had been terf secret
because her lovers parents opp0sed his
marriage The day ~ her disappear
rnee he had met Der sud persuaded
hcf % 70 away uith I'm md DE- mar
RED They hnd crossed fha ferry. and
Susie had accidentally drurNed fhP
t,auk there a. seHn 81 their marriarf
fHd been cttfssseti 30 the Eruum's
rrrrrfs and tse1 had D., 20 FORGIVEN
thsv returned o. surie's home
n furur1 uuf INST SUSIE hnd inue
itefqrr efran nunf fha faaid drrss. End
n had fonnI be- uHy fo town sDuie
rnuns or fte rirrr srd fnfHn infn the
hands ofa cIfI eho hnd ettrnriiffg1 st.
etas The Is,fr haH faatp1 dusrn w.ift
60. -.