Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-17
An Incident of Married Life.
A Husband Retluns after Tccnty sic Years
AJscncc-He Finds.hts TJ?jts. Married, )
Claims and Receires. Her at the Age
of tSiriy ctqht.

Thursday morning the subjects of this
sketch passed through this city on their way
from Putnam county, Indiann, to tl,eir home,
in Lincoln county, Kentucky, and from a
gentleman who talked with them We have
obtained the following romantic story:
In 1912 John Elliot left his home and his
wife, who had borne him eleven children, in
Putnam county, this State, suddenly aud in
passion at some slight misunderstanding that
had occurred between them. He gave his
family no intimation Of his departure previous
to leaving, and then never heard of him again
until after the lapse of twenty-six years
The wife believed her husband 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 Glover
dale, ever since until last week. 1t was then
that the first tidings of supposed. husband
were received by her.
twas in this wise that these tidings reached
her. A letter came to her through the hand
of a person who was a 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 a
certain time. The letter impressed her
strangely, and she concluded to visit the town
named, ut 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 rotwithstaud-
ing 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 foun-
tain CT. her affections that had been so long
sealed up. She threw her arms about his
neck, kissed his wrinkled cheek, aud wept
like girl the tears of joy.
The husbands heart was also melted into
tenderness, and he embraced his aged hut
lonE-descrted wife with all the fervor Of
young and ardent lover. The past was talked
over, the sudden disappearance, the long
absence and continued 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 tlat had happened, ard told hirI that she
icit it her duty 10 go with the first husband,
from whom she had been so long separated.
The second husband, Ballou, was 10th to
consent, but the woman was interchangeable IL
her determination, and he was compelled to
acquiesce. Their worldly effects were divided,
and on Monday last the old lady left Ulovcr,
dale TO rejO;n her husband in the little village
where the meeting took place, and Thursday
they passed through this city on their way TO
kentucky.
When the husband left home he wandered
OF 10 Kentucky, where he remaiued until the
California gold discoveries created such an
excitement in 1910. lie was seized with the
gold fever, ard left for the rich placers on the
Pacific coast. There he worked and saved
his earnings until lie accumulated some forty
thousand dollars. With this he returned to
Kentucky, purchased and stocked farm in
Lincoln county. and has been living upon it
ever since 1859 Having accumulated con-
siderable wealth, lie is now prepared to COM
fortably care for her whom he So cruelty
deserted twenty six years ago, and to give ga
good start in the world to thc children she
bore hirn. four Of whom are yet living. and
have fanii;cs.-Ne10 A'jaay Commercial.