for matrimonial ground-bait, a Notice that Whereas my wife, Lucretia Babb, has left my bed and board, I will not be responsible, etc., etc., from this date.—­Jacob Penhallow (of the late firm Wibird and Penhallow) had taken Mr. William Murray Bradshaw into partnership, and the business of the office would be carried on as usual under the title Penhallow and Bradshaw, Attorneys at Law.  Then came the standing professional card of Dr. Lemuel Hurlbut and Dr. Fordyce Hurlbut, the medical patriarch of the town and his son.  Following this, hideous quack advertisements, some of them with the certificates of Honorables, Esquires, and Clergymen.—­Then a cow, strayed or stolen from the subscriber.—­Then the advertisement referred to in our first paragraph: 

Myrtle hazard has been missing from her home in this place since Thursday morning, June 16th.  She is fifteen years old, tall and womanly for her age, has dark hair and eyes, fresh complexion, regular features, pleasant smile and voice, but shy with strangers.  Her common dress was a black and white gingham check, straw hat, trimmed with green ribbon.  It is feared she may have come to harm in some way, or be wandering at large in a state of temporary mental alienation.  Any information relating to the missing child will be gratefully received and properly rewarded by her afflicted aunt,

Miss silence withers, Residing at the Withers Homestead, otherwise known as “The Poplars,” in this village.

CHAPTER II.

GREAT EXCITEMENT

The publication of the advertisement in the paper brought the village fever of the last two days to its height.  Myrtle Hazard’s disappearance had been pretty well talked round through the immediate neighborhood, but now that forty-eight hours of search and inquiry had not found her, and the alarm was so great that the young girl’s friends were willing to advertise her in a public journal, it was clear that the gravest apprehensions were felt and justified.  The paper carried the tidings to many who had not heard it.  Some of the farmers who had been busy all the week with their fields came into the village in their wagons on Saturday, and there first learned the news, and saw the paper, and the placards which were posted up, and listened, open-mouthed, to the whole story.

Saturday was therefore a day of much agitation in Oxbow Village, and some stir in the neighboring settlements.  Of course there was a great variety of comment, its character depending very much on the sense, knowledge, and disposition of the citizens, gossips, and young people who talked over the painful and mysterious occurrence.