Year: 1874

Henry Delarre is we'll known in this
city. This recital will make him better
known. He was and is rs nuch gem
tleman of means and leisure as anything
else though when he is busted with any
occupation it is that of real estate. His
circle of intimate acquaintances is not
very extensive. He has few firm, warm
friends but were he once moro to drop
out of life rs suddenly ana completely as
is narrated in this story he would be
hardly missed. In a fortnight he would
be forgotten for business men forget as
water runs-smoothly and swiftly.


Delarre is young and handsome
Likewise he is in love. Combine in n
man lucro, love and loveliness, and he
becomes irresistible. These very attri-
butes nearly brought him to death. At
the same time they unquestionably saved
his life. Keeping these prelimnarics in
mind the reader can understand his ad-
venture.


In tho West Division, near the corner
of Madison and Hastead was located
six months ago the millinery establish
ment of Mrs. Albert Larkin. Among
the employees was Miss Bessie Shannon,
a quiet, black-haired and black-eyed girl,
twenty-five or three years of age, tall,
stately and remarkably good-looking. If
she had not possessed these attractions
possibly Delarre, in his passing the store,
in his meeting her occasionally morning
and night as he went from his home to
business, might have felt no desire to
make her acquaintance and finally to fall
in love with her and she might have
become the wife of commonplace Jones,
Smith or Brown without being the hero
inc she now is. As ii happily transpred,
Delarre did become enamored of her and
she Of him, to their mutual joy and sor-
row. Their love-pocm ran its rhythmic
al lines for four months, or until the first
day of May. Each was happy according
to their temperamcnts. The man made
n business of his affection and thought
nothing too good for hor. The woman
set him up in her heart rs an idol and
worshiped the lively, wholo-soulod and
generous man.


Ga the first day of May Henry Delarre
disappeared as completely and mysteri-
ously as if he had fallen into Il fiery fur
mace and been consumed The last per-
son who saw him, SO far as known, was
Miss Bessie Shannon, whom he left mt
the threshold of her own home on Friday
evening, May lst. She said "good- )"
fingered at the door until she saw him
turn the corner, and then with n light
heart turned away from hor departing
lover and the fate toward which he was
moving. Mr.. Delarre did not appear at
J home that night , nor WINS be l. bo nun,'
at his place Of business or elsewhere the
following day. His room was in its usual
orderly array. His Office showed no owl
dence of flight. His bank account had
no heavy drafts against it, and his busi-
ness was prosperous. All these facts
were discovered within two hours on the
morning Of Saturday, justtwo weeks ago.
While alarm was felt for his safety by his
friends, their apprchensions were kept
from Miss Shannon and from the world.
1t was thought for time that he might
have been unexpectedly called into the
country on business but dispatches sent
to the various points where he was most
likely to go failed to discover any clew to
his whereabouts. And when, in the
course Of a casual conversation with his
betrothed, it was found when and where
she saw him last, his friends feared the
worst. Advertisements were Immediate
ly placed in the Sunday morning papers,
and large reward was offered to both
the city and private police, TO incite them
to every effort to ascertain his fate. In
justice to the police it should be said that
they worked nobly, for Mr.. Delarrc was
well and favorably known by many on
the force. But every effort was in vain.
| Not a trace could be obtained Of the un-
fortunate man. The river was dragged
as last resort, without other effect than
20 disturb the body Of an unfortunate
suicide reposing in its Shiny bed.


The wild agony Of Miss Shannon, when
she learned, Sunday night, Of the disap-
pearance Of her lover, was indescribable.
For few minutes she sat like n statue
and then burst into lamentations which
were in themselves an aflliction for those
compelled to remain at her side. The
whole night long she paced her room
sleepess, fearless and tireless. Then, il
very weakness, she sank to sleep. From
that slumber she awoke n changed wo
man, stern look on her face and in hei
eyes.


CT will find him, dead or alive" she
said to those at her side. "It is my task
my hope, my purpose in life. My only
obstacle will be the shortness Of my
days"


"The police are trying to find him,
said Mr.. Delarre. the father.


"The police are stupid" she cried
" Henry has not dropped into the earth
If he has been murdered his body can b,
found" And in this belief she begaI
her labors.


Tuesday morning a detective came t.
Mr.. Delarre.


81 think-and it's but a suspicion, sir
mind you that your sons body is n
a" The man faltered at the whitening
face before him and stopped.


Proceed !" commanded Mr. Delarre
"Tell the worst ~


"It's hard thing to say, Mr.. Delarre.


"Say it," was the fathers reply, as h
clutched his chair with an involuntar