Year: 1870

Among the potentates of Wall street,
few held a higher position in the estima
ton of all than Messrs. Archbold and
Horton, and great was the sympathy uni
versaly expressed when the former. man
of middle age only, died suddenly at his
residence, in the vicinity of Fifth avenue.
For years previously to this occurrence
Mr.. Horton had dwelt with his partner
and his family, and Mrs Archbold, on her
husbands demise. could look to no firner
friend than he: so, after the accounts of
the firm had been settled. and she knew
the amount OF the income she would be
entitled to enjoy, she begged him still to
remain at her house on the same footing
as of yore. This arrangement would be
all the more pleasing to her, inasmuch as
she was the mother of three daughters,
who were just ripening into womanhood,
and would feel the benefit of a male
friend, almost old enough to be their father,
and who had so long been associated with
them by terms of the closest intimacy.
Mr.. Horton was a man of about forty-tive
years. who had long been separated from


his wife by mutual agreement, but did not
| suffer i'll the esteem OF his neighbors ON
this account as it was generally conceded
that the fault lay entirely with the lady,
and he invariably himself deplored the
misunderstanding that had arisen. In a
word, Mrs. Horton was jealous, and yet
was unable to assign any cause for being
so. During the few years in which she
and her husband lived as man and wife,
| she was continually accusing him of in
fidelites, of which she could produce no
proofs, and their lives had been rendered
so miserable by this continual pickering
that they had decided to live apart for the
future. As they We're separated by no jul
dicial decree. it was not legally incum-
bent on her husband to provide for his
wiie's maintenance, still he did so, al
| though the lady described the sum paid
her as being totally inadequate TO her con-
dition, and was ever striving to collect
evidence of Mr. Horizons alleged irregu-
| larities, that she might be enabled to pro-
cure Il divorce and compel him by law to
contribute more bounteously to her sup
| port. This evidence, however. was not
forthcoming, and Mr.. Horton was accoun-
ted IA man of excellent moral character
and behavior by the society in which he
moved, and was blamed by none, but
| pitied by all. Personally he was hand
some, of tall stature and good presence,
and possessed of a most winning tongue.
which not only was of the greatest service
to him in his business. but made him a
universal tavorite p-ith the fair sex.


When Mrs. Archbold represented her
forlorn condition to him, he at once en-
tered fully into her plans. Anything that
he could do, ''he averred," to serve the
widow and orphans of his lamented friend
would afford him heartfelt joy, and as he
was unblessed with children of his own,
in consequence OF the unhappy relations
existing between his wife and himself, he
would. to the best Of his powers, save
Mrs. Archbold every unnecessary trouble,
and stand, as far as possible, in the place
of father to the three girls. Matters
were thus amicably arranged, and Mr..
Horton in time came to be recognized as
master of the house and whispers were
! circulated abroad, that were it not for
the obstacle in the shape of his wife. he
would have actually become so by contrac-
ling marriage with the relict of his de-
ceased partner.


daughter, Mary Archbold, it is needless
to introduce her sisters, or their uncle,
who likewise formed one OF the household.
Mary was charming girl of twenty,
who had been completing her education
an OdNi, ut liiS tiibt VI iiNi dCullI,
and had only recently returned. As it
was known that she would inherit con-
siderable sum on her marriage, she was
much sought after, and no dance or re-
ception was thoroughly succe sstul unless
she was present. More than one gentle
man was pointed at by runIor as likely
TO win the prize, and the home circle We're
ever urging hert to make her choice quickly.
That her heart was engaged in some quar-
ter or other was the universal belief, as
her manner was strangely altered since
her arrival from the Continent. She grew
thoughtful, and not untrequently was dis
covered in tears, but ever refused to give
any clew to the why or the wherefore,
attributing her sadness to her not feeling
quite we'll, or some other equally trivial
excuse. Thinking that it would be best to
allow matters to take their own course,
and totally unsuspicious of any impending
evil, her mother ceased to speak with her
on the subject, and endevored to dissi-
pate her melancholy by providing all
kinds of amusements to divert her. All
was in vain, and one day the house was
thrown into NE greatest grief and alarm
by her disappearance. She had gone out,
as she said, to post a letter, and nothing
unusual was noted in her manner, but
from that errand she did not return, and
her distracted mother was almost heart
broken.


No one felt the blow more than Mr..


Horton After she had been absent some
hours, he had been sent for from his office,


and his pale looks. and evident agitation,


proved that he feared the worst. But he
did not at all waste time. The evil was
done. and the remedy was to be found.
"lt may be-" he said, "only girlish
freak She may have run away TO some
of her friends. Let us Immediately COM
municate with all to whom she is in the
least likely to 60" He assured Mrs. Arch
bold that all would yet be well, and as
serted that it was preposterous to think of
any great harm happening to one brought
up with so much care. You must scold
her finely, when she comes back, for Civ
ing us such n fright"


All he could say orr do, however. led to
no good result, and he was at last unwill-
ingly compelled by the constant entreaties
OF the mother to call in the aid of the
police. Against this step he had protested
most emphatically he was afraid of the