Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-01
A Romance OF Bankruptcy-EnO
Arden OutdOmc.


The St. Louis Republican of the 18th ultimo
vOuches for the truth of the following:
Who is it that does not remember the fnan
cial crash of 1857? 1t spread over the coun-
trv, m even to st. Louis Many of our most en-
terprising and seemingly most prosperous mer-
chants had to suecumb to the pressure of the
time. Among them was merchant whom we
shall call Smith" His real name and some
Of the circumstances we are about to relate
will doubtless be recollected by many in st.
Louis even to-day. He kept an extensive mer
camille establishment on - street, and by his
enterprise and promptitude won the confidence
Of the best supply houses In the East and West.
His business was good, his credit was good,
and everybody thought he would survive the
troubles of that long-to aforementioned winter
of'57. But he, too, had many smaller mer
chants largely indebted to him for goods he
furnished them.
He had young, beautiful, and highly ac-
cOmplished wife and three smiling, innocent
babes--enough to inspire an atfeetlonate ia
Tiers ambition and energies for their malnte-
nance and education. They lived in neat
villa of their own In a fashionable portion of
family did not exist In the State of Missouri.
The crash came; his debtors were unable to
meet his calls and as consequence ne was
unable to meet the demands OF his creditors.
He suddenly became moody and fretful, even
in the bosom of his lovely family. What was
he to DO? He had not much time lett for
ruminating on his position, and something
should be done quickly. His first resolve was
TO make over the villa to his wife and family,
and secure an annuity Of 5000 year on his
wife for the support of herself and children,
and leave the city secretly-he knew, he cared,
not whittier Little time elapsed between the
resolution and the carrying it into effect. So
one night, after kissing his wife and little ones,
but without bidding them good bye, he sailed
forth, determined to rebuild his fallen fortunes
or perish in the attempt His remaining stock
was soon gobbled up by his creditOrs-but how
as to himself? What became OF him? Did
he make away himself in fit OF temporary ln-
sanity, or was he made away with, as scores
are from year to year that fall into the hands
Of ''roughs,' who would murder man and
stow his body away for ten dollars. These
we're queries that agitated the minds OF the
desolate and disconSolate family, the public
and the press, of St. Louis at the time. No
account of the missing man could be ferreted
out Proclamations and rewards were of no
avail and the universal verdict was "mysterl-
Gus disappearance.
Mrs. Smith 'mourned her husband as dead
for the weeks and the months of two long
years, till her fair features began to grow sal
low and turrowed by the efusion of the scald-
ing tears She wisely concluded it was useless
to mourn any more, so taking practical and
interested view of matters, she decided to re-
eeiye the long proffered attentions OF William
Bradford, an old bachelor, companion merch-
sntof her late husband. He was doing proh-
table business Oh street, having weathered
the financial storm already alluded to.
In very few weeks after this resolution,
she was hailed as Mrs. Bradiord-the bloom
again adorned her cheek and placid smile sat
on her brow and lips--she was again happy
In her new alliance she was blessed with two
more beautiful Children added to her household
and bearing the name OF Bradford.
But her happiness was not destined to be
perpetual, for William Bradford was affected
with consumption, and gradually sinking 4n-
derlt, died during the last spring, leaving ms
wife for the second time widow. 10 her and
bis children fell his business, which, as she
could not conveniently attend, she converted
into cash, realizing sum that placed herself
and her children in easy circumstances.
During all these long years what became OF
Smith?" He made his way to Montana, and
worked in the mines, where his intelligence
aud natural enterprise soon put him on the
road to wealth. Some years after he went
there, the smallp broke out among the
miners, and he caught the Infection from
which he recovered, but so pitted that his
mother would not know him. Day and night
he labored and figured and prospected on the
realization OF the object of his ambihon-lnde-
pendence, which is synonymous to wealth.
Last spring his good star favored hlm-he
struck rich vein, and beheld in the bags OF
gold dust around him enough to hquidate all
claims against him and place himself and fam
IY il they still were in existence, IN luxury Tor
The rest of their days. He sold out, packed
up, and reached st. Louis about the lst OF
June. II ~ t
Preserving an incognito, he inquired for
MIS- Smith" Nobody knew her or knew OF
her. His heart sunk within him. Did his
ialr wife and beautiful children sink into sor-
INsful graves while he toiled to make. them
happy? The thought was depressing IN the
extreme
AT length he met person who was acQualnt-
Wwlth the circumstances of Mrs, Smith Sc
cOod marriage, and when Mrs. Bradford was
pointed out to him he recognized the form and
FEATURES of his long-ost wife. After some dlffl-
euity he obtained an Introduction to her, aud
@ncealing his name and the knowledge OF his
immense wealth. he wooed and won her. one
gave her consent to be his on the promise that
me children of the two previous marriages
'nS1ld be we'll treated by him. -
:, On last Thursday evening to the old villa
Sereyman was summoned to tie the nuptla
snSt, when the real name of the new sultolI
saa s9 his former relationship were disclosed, and
ssNaough the bride tainted, it was happy re
auOn He was happy to see his children vel
s'Own in body and intelligence in the interven
pg eleven years Words cannot picture the
aaapplness Of the twice married couple, anC
%T %SsT family, and notwithstanding the traces O
~ smallpox she loves her husband better
~aS "a, ever May their happiness continue
ihe facts we have learned from the clergy
m maa who performed the ceremony are ro