The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-30
A Romance or Esanrnpscy-E noch
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our most enterprisipg and seeming most
| n.o.,orors INGREDIENTS had to sucoumb, 10
y : nrsesnre Of the time. Among them was
sne apnohont whom we shall call "smith."
n;a reaI name and some of the circum-
. ua1 we are about to relate will doubt
,ssa he recollected by many in st. Louis
even to-day. He kept an extensive mer,
camille establishment On - street, ana
by his enterprise and promptitude won the
confidence of the best supply houses IN the
East and West. His bueiness was good,
his credit was good, and everybody thought
he would survive the troubles OF that long
aforementioned winter Of 81. But ne,
toe, had many smaller merchants largely
indebted to him for goods he furnished
them. X. s.7-zlr IT /. ~,
he had Young, beautiful, and highly
ACCOMPLISHED wife and three smiling, inno-
cent babes-enough to inspire an affection
ate fathers ambition and energies for their
maintenance and education. They lived
in a neat villa of their own in fashiona-
BILE portion of the city, and the nelghoors
said happier family did not exist IN the
State of Missouri.
The crash came his debtors were vun-
able 70 meet his calls: and rs conse-s
ouence he was unable to meet the demands
Of his creditors. He suddenly became
moody and fretfu1, even in the bosom Of
his lovely family. What was he to do? lie
had not much time left for Illuminating 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 ms
wife for the support of herself and chill
dren, 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 goodbye, he sailed forth, determined
10 rebuild his fallen fortunes or perish IN
the attempt. His remaining stock was
soon pobbled up by his creditors-hut how
as to himself? What became of him Did
he make away with himself in fit of tenn
porary insanity, or was he made away with,
az scores are from year to year that fall
into the hands of "roughs," who would
| murder a man and stow his body away for
ten dollars. These we're queries that agl-
tated the minds of the desolate and discon-
solate family, the public, and the press, of
ST. Louis at the time. No account Of the
missing man could be ferreted out. Pro-
| CARNATIONS and rewards were of no avail !:
and the universal verdict was "mysterious
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 sallow and furrowed by the etfusion
of the scalding tears. She wisely con-
cluded it WAS useless to mourn any more,
80 taking practical and interested view of
matters, she decided to receive the long
proffered attentions Of William Bradford,
J enold bachelor, companion merchant of her
late husband. He was doing q profitable
business on - street, having weathered
the financial storm already alluded to.
In very few weeks after this resolution
she was hailed rs Mrs. Bradford-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 bless
ed 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 at
ficted with consumption, and gradually
sinking under it, died during the last spring,
leaving his wife for the second time widow.
To her and his children fell his business,
which. as she could not conveniently at
tend. she converted into cash, realizing a
sum that placed herself and her children in
easy circumstances.
During all these long years what became
of "Smith ?" He made his way to Mon
tana. and worked in the mines, where his
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him on the road to wealth. Some years al
ter he went there, the smallpox broke out
among the miners, and he caught the IN
lection, from which he recovered, but go
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 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., which Is
synonymous to wealth.
Last spring his good star favored him
he struck rich vein, and beheld IN the
bags of gold dust around him enough to
liouidate all claims against him and place
himself and his family, if they still were
in existence, in luxury for the rest of their
DAYS. He sold out, packed up, and reached
St. Louis about the lst of June.
Preserving an incognito, he inquired for
Mrs. "Smith." Nobody knew her or knew
of her. His heart sunk within him. Did
his fair wife and beautiful children sink
into sorrowful graves while he tolled to
make them happy? The thought was de-
pressing in the extreme.
At length he met person who was &C
ouainted with the circumstances OF Mrs.
Smiths second marriage, and when Mrs.
Bradford was pointed out to him he reccg-
nized the form and features of his long-lost
wife. After some difficulty he obtained an
introduction to her, and conceallng his
name and the knowledge of his immense
wealth, he wooed and won her. She gave
her consent to be his on the promise that
the children of the two previous marriages
should be well treated by him.
On last Thursday evening to the Old villa
a clergyman was summoned to tie the nup-
tial knot, when the real name OF the new
sutton and his former relationship were dis
closed, and although the bride tainted, 1t
was happy reunion. He was happy to see
his children well grown in body and
intelligence in the intervening eleven years.
Words cannot picture the happiness OF the
twice-married couple and their ia nlly, and
notwithstanding the traces of the smallpox
she loves her husband better than ever.
May their happiness continue.
The facts we have learned from the cler-
gyman who performed the ceremony are
romance that beats Enoch Arden to pieces.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS.
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