Sunday, September 10, 1899
The doorbell rang loudly as an old housekeeper calmly walked to the door and opened it to reveal a slightly large man with a full beard standing outside. "Oh, Mister Wotton, come on in." invited the housekeeper as she showed the man inside.
"Thanks, I won't be long though." he said as he straightened out his business suit. "Heard anything from Adam lately?" he asked as he took off his bowler hat.
"No, I haven't heard anything from him in almost a month now. It's like he just disappeared." the housekeeper said with worry.
"His absence is sure getting worrisome, not like him to just leave without telling someone." he explained with concern. "The university wants me to tell him to come back, but as you said, no word of his whereabouts have surfaced yet."
Mr. Wotton walked straight to Adam's office to the left of the main entrance. The housekeeper flipped on the light switch to reveal an abandoned room, everything left where they were since its owner disappeared. The man just looked around, he really missed his good friend.
"I don't know what to do with his horses, or his things." the old woman explained.
"Well...if he doesn't show up for another month, how would you like to work with us again?" he offered.
"I don't know...what if he shows up?" she asked with reluctance. "What about the horses?"
"I have a cousin down in Kansas that would be willing to take care of them, he runs a horse ranch after all." assured the man. "Besides, those mares are too smart to be turned into meat or glue."
"And his things?"
"I'll take them, make sure that his legacy survives." he stated. "His papers need to be published so everyone can see that he was ahead of his time."
"Okay, but I'm waiting another month, then we'll discuss possible employment with you." stated the old housekeeper.
"Okay." he chuckled. "But you know what?"
"What?"
"I'm glad he's gone." Mr. Wotton stated bluntly.
"Why would you say such a thing?" she was confused.
"Because wherever he is now...I am sure he's at a place where he can be happy and live the life he always wanted." he smiled, he missed his friend so much, but at the same time, he was proud that his friend found a place to belong. Mr. Wotton sighed nostalgically before he turned to leave. "Well, I am off before my wife starts to worry, we'll talk more about this later."
"I'll look forward to that." nodded the housekeeper as he lead the man to the front door. "Good night Mr. Wotton."
"The same to you Mrs. Tuppence." he said before the front door closed, once again the housekeeper was alone.
She walked over to the door of the office, sadly scanning the empty room. She also missed him. "Godspeed Adam, wherever you are, Godspeed." she smiled before she turned off the lights and closed the door. The room was once again shrouded in darkness.
Outside, Mr. Wotton looked back one last time at the house and smiled. He felt a sense a pride for his missing friend. Wherever he is, he has finally found happiness and maybe someone to love. Something he always dreamed for him.
He will not be forgotten.