The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-11-24

Thursday morning the subjects of this sketci
passed through this city on their way from Put
nam county, Indiana, to their home in Lincolr
| county, Kentucky, and from gentleman wht
talked with them we have obtained the follow
ing romantic story: - zzs3 gI-' .iFlia1sa
In 1912 John Elliot left his home and his
| wife, who had borne him eleven children, in
! Putnam county, this State, suddenly and in pas
sion at some slight misunderstanding that had
occurred between them. He gave his family nc
| intimation of his departure previous to leaving
| aud they never heard of him again until after
| the lapse OF twenty-six years. - ~
The wife believed her husband was dead and
| after two years waiting she gave him up as lost
| to her forever and married respectable citizen
| of the country named Ballou, and has resided
| happily enough with him, near Cloverdale ever
since, until last week. 1t was then that the
first tidings Of her supposed deceased husband
were received by her. r
1t was in this wise that these tidings reached
her A letter came to her through the hand of
a person who was stranger. This letter set
forth that if she would visit little town several
miles distant from Cloverdale she would meet an
| old and very dear friend, and urged her not to
omit making the visit at certain time The
letter impressed her strangely, and she concluded
to visit the town named, at the designated time
and did so.
What was her surprise on entering the house
where the meeting was appointed, to meet her
first husband. Twenty-six years had passed
and time had left its impress upon the man, yet
she recognized him at once, and threw herself
into his arms; for Notwithstanding she is now
| sixty-eight years of age the sight Of her first
choice warmed the loving pulses of her heart,
| and broke open the fountain of her affections
hat hail ha,n la1 Gha tbr hoy
arms about his neck, kissed his wrinkled cheek
and wcpt like girl the tears of joy.
The husband heart was also melted into ten
derness, and he embraced his aged but long
deserted wife, with all the fervor of a. young and
| ardent lover. The past was talked over, the
sudden disappearance, the long absence and con.
tnued silence of the husband explained, and
then and there it was agreed that they would
spend the remnant of their lives together
The woman returned to her home in Clover
dale She explained to her second husband all
that happened, and told him that she felt it her
duty to 60 with the first husband from whom she
had so long been separated The second hus-
band, Ballou, was 10th to consent, but the wo-
man was interchangeable in her determinations and
he was compelled to acquiesce. Their wo:ldly
effects We're divided, and on Monday last the old
lady left Cloyerdale to rejon her husband in the
littIe village WHere tne meeting TOOK place, ana
Thursday they passed through the city on their
way to Kentucky.
When the husband left home he wandered off
to Kentucky, where he remained until the Cali
forna gold discoveries created such an excite
nent in 1S49. He was seized with tie gold
fever, and left for the rich places on the Pacific
coast There he worked and saved his earnings
until he accumulated some forty thousand dollars
With this he returned to Kentucky, purchased
and stacked farm in Lincoln county, and has
been living upon it ever since 1859. Having
accumulated considerable wealth. he is now pre-
pared to comfortably care for her whom he so
cruelty deserted twenty-six years ago. and to give
"a good start in the world to the children she
bore him, four of whom arc yet living, and have
families. s.-Nev Albany Commercial