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THE BUTLER HERALD. \V. N. BENNS. Editor and Pullttlier. 8obhoiiipxion Pbiob $1.00. Pkb Annum. TUESDAY JULY 22 hd 1 PVtt. Divorced I The little farm began to look j heal thief i as the slimmer wore on ft!n<H ! R straighten^ Up; the weeSMisappeared; the torn grew marvetwwly; the brittfs and elders were rooted up tVotn the fiblds and fence rowe; the ariitoals looked fat ter, sleeker and hrtppief; the cot tage looked neater. Time wore oti, and the great change wae the more strongly marked each day. Harry’s cred'- ‘He’ll go to the dogs, now.’ ‘Of course he will.’ . - ‘By all means. Only see how he! ,nrs called and told him they Won acted when his wife lived with not be hard on him, seeing * ,at : Ms cheek, and d him! No* that she's left him, and'^ was doing his best,- and he Th" lonely man he was not reading noi He had self-reproachful Way, ‘I might allowed it to dron wi.hj its P»t«« have borne with yo „ loD g er .. looking mutely to the celling—and] ^ t. 1^.1 his face was supported ' ' " " th him/ all restraint is removed, he’ll go the rest of the downward way iu do time. Poor Nettie! I wonder she stood it so long!’ •I’ll give him just a yehr to be buried * ‘Pshaw! Hall that time will fin ish him.* ‘Well, 1 pity him, too, but I pity her move. He brought mise ry on both.* 0. Such was the gossip of halt a dozen village!s, who stood in front, of the principle store, one summer evening, while the subject of their remarks went staggering along on the opposite side of the street. It was evident that he was try ing to walk straight, and not ap- p?ar intoxicated, but such endeav ors always seem to make such a drunken man walk more crooked. Well, It proved one thing; that he '.van irot yet inn. io nil* Pelise of 4 shame—that he utill retained a little pride, and a lingering aver sion of being ridiculed and despis ed. But Harry Rogers had carried on at a learfnl rate for a year or two pai*t. lie had just one vice— drink—hut that was euough. He had become an actual diunkard by degrees, and was every day grow ing more abandoned. He had mar ried a worthy farmer's daughter, Nettie Ray, only a few years pre viously, and such had been his conduct during more than a year past that she, seeing no hope of liis reform, had been obliged to cast him loose, to pursue his profi- gate course atom ; and a legal sep aration had just then been effected. It was sud, indeed, hut no other course seemed to be left her. Harry’s home was on a little farm a mile from town. He own ed it, but then it was heavily mortgaged, aud in another year foreclosure was certaiu. It was not likely his creditors would spare __ hiift, when he rurde no effort to meet his obligations, aud spent hit* time in riotou3 and disgraceful conduct. A week passed after that sum mer evening on which all had agreed in predicting his early ruiu —two weeks—three week?—a month or two. What stran u mystery is here? To the utter be wilderment of the prophesying sa ges, Harry discontinued visiting the tavern, and was rarely ever seen in the village. When he did come to the store, he speedily trans acted his business and went home —sober. But wonders nev-r cea j i?, when they get a start. He was next re ported as actually at work on h.s tarra. Had but one man seen this and told it iu the village he would have been marked as a man lack ing veracity; hut a number of neighbors saw it and told it,, aud their combined testimony was worthy of all cred' uoe. might have, liis own time about paying off his debts and clearing bis farm of the mortgage. The fall came and the farm yielded an abuudance of golden corn and fruit; such crops, indeed, as it had never produced before, and Harry fountl himself begin ning to drift along with tide of prosperity. And Nettie Ray had begnn to live her young girlhoo^ver again, as it were, un^^^r father’s roof; hut. somehow, it was not like the happy joyous girlhood of memory. It Was sober and quiet now, and Nettie fell into trains of musing and every now and then parsed through her mind a certain sad thought—she was ueither maid nor wife. Slv 4 nvoided the vicinity of her late home, dor had she once seen Hairy since the FepaWlVnrn; "but she had heard of him occasionally, and knew that he was a changed man. Still, but the knowledge brought, her hut. a melancholy atisfactlon. The reform had come too late—to late! There was wide gulf between them now. But. one evening, in the golden October, Nettie found herself rath er obliged to pnss Harry’s farm. It lay between her father’s house and the village, but she had here tofore taken a round about road in going and returning from the vil lage. On the evening in question, however, she had been detained in the village, unconsciously, till it was nearly dark, aud she determin ed to hazard the nearest road home. It would be fully dark wheo she would passhis house, and the chan ces were that he would not see her. She wouldn’t have him see her for the world! When she arrived opposite the house, she perceived that there was a light in the little sitting room. Her first impulse was to hurry by, but some more powerful influence prompted her to stop. She did so, and stood timidly at the farther side of the road, gazing longingly at the house that had been a home for her—first of hap piness. then of misery. By and by she felt an irresistible yearn ing to look at the room once more, He was evidently within, and there was no danger that he would see her. So she walked hurridly across the road, opened the gale softly, and stepped into the lawn. An other moment, and she was at the window,looking in. What singu lar behavior! hut she could not help it-. The li tie room was aR n°at as when she hersf-lfhad watched over it. A cheerful fire was burning in the grate, although it was not very cold, and a lighted lamp stood on the table. It was there that Harry was sitting. How her heart hounded as she caught sight of him He held iu his right hand a book, his scanty library coaled in the left h resting on the tal asleep, or was buri erie? Nett** tho\? later was was tom * ‘I W88 1 she said But a momflfl^ftter Jjer heart Was mote than touched, when she was sure she saw a tear roll down bis cheek, and drop upoBj the book was not asleep; he was crying. She could not help it All that was womanly in her heart was aroused, and she waR at * the door in a moment. No ceretnony*—she burs* into the sitting tyoni and was at h.s side. ‘Oh, Harry!’ Her voice quivered with emotion. ‘Why, Nettiel’ he ^reclaimed, trying to hide his tearaP-inen are ashamed of them—‘Is—tiJ; you?’ ‘Yes, Harry!’ hiding her face in her hands, ‘I passing—looked in—I paw you here so lonely, and could not help coming in. I thought of the time when we were happy here, and— ’ Then her womanly teitrs could he repressed no longer, There was no use trying to hid** them. Be sides, her voice broke down aud she could say no more just. then. ‘Nettie!' lie arose and took both 'if her bauds from her fscdhind held them in liis own. ‘I thejught had blotted me out of ymV memo- —W* ‘No, no, Harry 1’ she sobbed, ‘1 could not do that. I could not help leaving you; but I left you loving yon more than ever. Oh! I have been unhappy since!’ ‘Nettie, you have heard that I—' ‘Yes, I have heard that you are changed—that you no longer drink any more—that you are again man ly and industrious as you used to he; hut how lotn-ly you must lr here?’ and the bars gushed forth anew, us her heart what her lips spoke. Yes. I'm lonely, Nettie—mor*- so than you may think; but I dc- this puuifhment for th« way I have acted. I had no disencour- agemonts, I had nothing to make me do so. It was only a passion for drink, that it seemed impossi ble for me to overcome. You were all a wife should be or Qould bo. When you left me I thought I should become more recklosss than ever. Only a day or two after I knew you had left me for good, 1 was in town, drunk, aud 1 heard some of ihe village people—they did not thiuk I Could hear them across he street—passing all sorts of remaKs about me, saying that I was a doomed man for pertain, that my destruction was near. Al though intoxicated, it startled me, and tor the first time I felt the full force of separation, audrealiz- ed that ruin stared me iti^k face. I had a bottle of whisk my j pocket at the time, and^Hicn 1| got out of town I smashed it, bath halt con- I ’No, no * Nettie, it was best. It. lbows i has brought us certain happiness a* he! now. God bless you for coming ad rev-; into ray lonely houle this evening!' ^heart! arms were around her neck, and he kissed her forehead. The moon was rising and it had never looked so happy as it did while he walked home with Nettie to her father’s. S • Harry Rogers and Nettie Ray married again and there is no di vorce that could separate them now STRANGER THAN FICTION. A Strange Story of Crime—Tni Recovery of a Lost Daughter After a Search of Four teen Years. Correspondence News nnd Conner.] We read a great deal iu the newspapers about the abduction of Charley Ross, and of the hitherto fruitless efforts made to ascertain his whereabouts. The story of tlio loss nnd final recovery of a daugh ter, after fourteen yesrs of constant search, has recontly come to our know! edge, which, fnt* thrilling interest, ex ceeds anything we have read about Charley Ross. During the late war there lived at Waynesboro, the comity seat of Burke county, Gu., a Mr. and Mrs. Holland, the happy parents of two little cliildi description of Mr. rfollandV wife. That this wohfan had a young girl with her, not Naithcock’a child, whose age and general ap|>earance pointed to her as the long lost datigntef*. It was first reported that the girl shohld riln away from her mother nnd go to Georgia; but to make assurance doubly sure, Mr. Holland was advised to come himself, as he alone could identify the wothan as his former wife. He accordingly came by rail to Pee- Dee Bridge of the Wilmington, Colum bia and Augusta Railroad.Leaviug that point he walked to Mr. James P. Ha* selden’s; who lived a few miles from the station, arriving there about dark ot the 4th inst. He remained with Mr. Huse!den that night. After making known liis errand Mr, Husielden’s sym pathies were so aroused that he carried him in his buggy, the next day to where Haithcock lives. Fortunitely, perhaps, Haithcock, who is snid to he dodging from the revenue officers for retailing whisky contrary to law, was not at home. On arriving at liis cab in Mr. Holland pushed open the door, which was partly ajar, aiid there sat liis former wife, surrounded by her three Haithcock children and his own daughter. He spoke to his wife famil iarly, saying “iiowdy, Polly Ann.” In great surprise she replied, “Why, Howdy Will!” After shaking hands with her, he asked, pointing to a hand* some young girl, if that was E.uma? She said it. wus. He took the girl’s hand, nnd with tears in his eyes, told her ha was her father; that she had tlio nappy parents ot two littlecluluren, 1,01 waH lier *«' .aJkny.-m, idLw -in iJ. —r -h»an Atslinil practicing lawyer, and a man of intel- 'y fhree years old; that ho had been ligence and standing iu the communi- searching for her for the last fourteen ty. Mrs. Holland was of a respectable years, that thank God! he had found family, and a lady of education and of her at last, and that ho had come good social standing. During the war Mr. Holland volun teered and waft a good soldier till the surrender. About the year 1864—65 a man by the name of Land Haithcock appeared in that part of Georgia. H« passed himself ofi* us a horse trudsr and a gentleman of wealth, but in reality was ahorse thief. He appeared to have plenty of money, drov e fine horses, smoked fine cigars, dressed well, aud wus received into the best society During Mr. Holland’s absence iu the war he ingratiated himself into tli good graces of Mrs. Holland. M Holland returned liomeiu April) 1865. Jn a few days after Mr. Holland's turn, anil while waiting an opportunity to take summary vengeance cock, liis wife suddenly lof*. with Haith cock, carrying with her his little daugh ter, three years old. From that time to this they have never been hut part of the State. About the time of thcii sudden depaiture a horse and buggy mysteriously disappeaied, and which is supposed to have been stolen by Haithcock, with which they made their way to Brownsville, Mulbon county,in Sotith Carolina,where Haith cook was horn and brought up. Fron that time till throe weeks ago Mr. Hol land never henrd anything of thewliere- ed my face in a little clear stream ; “bouts of his wife and child. During of water at the roadside, and si-1 the past fourteen years lie lias been lently resolved never to touch constantly engaged, whene whiohky again. I had tried it long enough to know that I could not mink and be tem perate. It was hard for mtjjf^keep my resolve tor the firs^ two; but 1 stuck to it, taste for drink disappoal nothing for it now, and wSfTl not touch it if rau in streams. Now, Nettie, if you love me as ever—and God knows that 1 love you the same—let us start anew, let us get married over again, and the bit- ter experience of the last two years will only enhance our happiness. Nettie ( dear, what do you say?’ She could not answer. Bhe was crying as though her heart would break, anil her head was pillowed on his breast. It was more elo quent* Yes’ than she could have spoken with the tongue. spare the lime from his business, in prosecuting the search for his child. He traveled over the greater part of Georgia, aud portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina, but never could obtain the slightest cluo as to where she was. Ho tiied advertising iu the newspapers offer large rewards for her take her to a comfortable home, and from the poverty and misery in which she had been raised. Ilo asked her if she was willing to go with him. She replied that she was. Upon this, the old woman and the other children set up a great lanieiitation, and said she should never go. They seized hold of her, but by some exertion Holluud, with her assistance, succeeded in re leasing tier and getting her away from the house. They went to a neighbor’s where the girl was hired out as an or dinary field hand, and got the few ar ticles Of wearing apparel which she possessed. After purchasing a pair of shoes and other articles at a store hard by, they returned that night with Mr. Ilaselden to liis house, where they were cordhilly received, and sent next morning rejoicifig on their way to the station at Fee Deo, and, we suppose, arrived at home the next day. The girl had been informed by some sym pathizing neighbor, who aud what she was, and that her father was coming fo.t her, which accounts for the readi ness with which she cousfmted to go with him. She was seventeen years' old the 3d day of April last, and is a girl of good uddress and tine appear ance. She is of course somewhat sun burnt, with rough hands and large feet, having been accustomed to labor in the fields for her daily bread. Slio is very illiterate, never having attend ed school a day in her life. Stic can neither read nor write. Her neighbors all say she is a clever, virtuous girl, which is no doubt very gratifying to her father. Her brother, two years her senior, of whom she says she has a faint recollection, is a young man of fair education, and is now engaged iu teaching school in Georgia Her father, Mr. Holland, is a practicing lawyer nitd a man ot education and refinement; nothing Came of it but heavy lulls and' J e « H Hy divorced from his . . . . rr !• n I first wife,-and is now man-fed and has grievous disappointment. Ho tiu-illy j ^ f ; *i ii| concluded to stay at home and write Sow', Mr. Brlitor, these atethe facts, to the county officials of every county '• If some ot the nnnieroit- no'VAt writers,* throughout the whole country. After { wlum) the News and Courier is eu - pursmug this plan for a long time, lie was finally informed by one of the county officials of Marlboro county that Laud Haithcock Jived in the Brownsville section of tbit count v wHh a woman who answered to the pnetronv” deiivoriiig to eucourag”, would take them up ami spin them out, a tala might lie woven which would he of thrilling interest. At any iatu the above, demonstrates the truth of the •Id adagn, that ‘‘Truth 13 stranger than’ M-a in Ay.*