The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-04-23
A Mysterious
Disappearance
By MARJORIE doUcH

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 IL 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 Of which
the librarian did not remember. She
had not been ut any store. The police
were notified Of the disappearance; In
quiries were made ut police stations In
neighboring towns. but without elicit
ing any information.
Wellington. where the M~aryweathers.
lived, was on the bank of a river. On
the third day after Susie's disappear
ance. ut q point on the river four miles
above the town. where a boat was
kept for ferriage. a book was found on
the shore bearing the stamp Of the Mel
lington library. It was returned, to
the library by a boy. who told how he
had happened to find it and where.
The librarian reported the matter to
Mr.. Maryweather, giving it as his opin-
ion that it 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. a 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 it were Of opin-
ion that the %kidnapers had found it nee
essary to their safety to kill their vic
tim. Another theory vas 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 aud no clew to the
disappearance, other than the book,
was found. Then a 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 It to be a plaid
dress. The body of a woman was
taken out Of the water that had evi
IDENTIFY been there a long while. It 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-
titled it as. one belonging to her daugh-
ter OF had belonged to her. The moth
er was positive that Susie had moi worn
it the day she left home nor for a long
while previous. She overhauled her
daughters old clothes. but did not find
the dress indicated.
The police formed a theory that Su-
san Maryweather had gone away for
some reason not known to her parents:
had previous to 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 Thisfwas a reasonable the.
DRY and disposed Of the case. 10 that
the police would not need to trouble
themselves further about it.
Mi. Maryweathef believed that the
body found wassthat Of his daughter:
but, not wishing to destroy all hope in
his wife. be did not press bis opinion
upon her. She took the ground that
the theory Of the police was absurd.
but she was unable ~ account for the
dress Of the same pattern ~ 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 q
similar pattern.
No claimant for the body appearing.
Mr.. Maryweather. disposed Of 1t with.
out revealing what be had done with
It It was not treated as the body Of
his daughter-that is. no funeral wal
held since there was no. certainty AZ
to its identity.
The day after 1t had been put away
q carriage drove up before the Mary.
weather home. aud who should step
out but Susie! She ran into the house.
flung herself into the arms Of her par
ents and announced that she had been
married. Her, husband was without.
awaiting the result Of her confession.
Neither be o she knew that she was
| supposed to he dead
Susie's affair had been kept a secret
because her lovers parents opposed his
marriage. The. day of her disappear.
ance he had met her and persuaded
her to go away with him md be mar
ried. They had crossed the ferry. and
Susie had accidentally dropped the
book there. AS soon as their marriage
had been confessed to the groom's
parents, and they had been forgiven
they returned to SnSie'a home.
II turned out that Susie had long
before given away the plaid dress. and
It had found its way to q town some