The national Republican., 1868-11-26
The Romance OF ofBankruptcy-Euo
Arden OutdOne.

Under the above caption the St. Louis Re.
publican tells tho following rather sensational
story
Who is 1t that does not remember the hnan.
cial crash Of 1856? Many Of our most enter
prsing merchants had to suseumb to the pres
sure Of tho timo. Among them was merchant
whom we shall call Smith, His real name,
nd some Of the circumstances We arc about
to relate, will doubtless bs recolleoted by
many in St. Louis, even to-day. He kept an
extensive mercantile establishment on -
street, and by his enterprise and promptness
won the confidence Of tho best houses In the
East and West.
Ho had young wife and three little chill
dren. They lived In q neat little villa 10 q
fashionable portion Of the city, and the neigh
bors said happier family did not exist in the
State Of Missouri.
Tho crash came; his debtors were unable
to meet his calls, and as consequence he
was unable to meet the demands Of his cred.
itors. His first resolve was to make over the
villa to his wife and family and secure an
annuity Of $500 year for the support Of
herself and children, and leave tho city So
cretly So one night he sailed forth, deter.
mined to rebuild his fallen fortunes or Jerish
In the attompt Proclamations and rewards
were of no avail, and the universal verdict
was mysterious disappearance.
Mrs Smith mourned her husband as dead
for two years, till she wisely concluded II was
useless to mourn any more, so she decided to
receive the long proferod attentions Of VIM
Bradford, an old bachelor, q companion Of her
late husband.
But her happiness was not destined to be
perpetual, for William Bradford was affected
with consumption, and died during the last
spring, leaving his wife for the second time q
widow. To her and his children fell his bust.
ness, which she converted into cash, realizing
q sum that placed herself and her children In
easy circumstances.
During all these years what became Of
Smith, lie made his way to Montana, and
worked in the mines, where his iuteliig igence
and enterprise soon put him on the road to
wealth. Some years after he went there the
smallpox broke out among the miners. and
ho caught the infection, from which he recoy.
cred, but so pitted that his mother would not
know him.
Last spring he struck q rich vein, and be-.
held in tho bags Of gold dust around him
enough to iiquidato all claims against him,
and place himself and his family-if they still
were In existence luxury for the rest Of
their days. He sold out, packed up, and
reached 81. Louis about tho Grst Of June.
Preserving an incognito, he inquired for
Mrs. Smith" Melody knew her or knew of
her.
At length he met person who was acquaint.
ed with the circumstances Of Mrs Smith 8
second marriage, and when Mrs. Bradford was
pointed cut to him he recognized the form and
features Of his long lost wife After some dili-
Guilty he obtained an introduction to her, and
cOncoaling 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 tho two previous marriages
should be we'll treated by him.
On last Thursday evening, In the old villa, a
clergyman was summoned to tic the nuptial
knot, when tho real name of the new suitor
and his former relationship were disclosed,
and although the bride tainted II was happy
reunion. lie was happy to see his children
we'll grown in body, soul and intelligence in
the intervening eleven years.
The facts, which We have learned from the
clergyman who performed the ceremony, are
a romance that beats Enoch Arden to pieces.