The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-12-30
Enoch Arden Outdone.

Under the above caption, the St. Louis
Republican tells rather sensational story,
which we condense as follows.
..Who is it that does not remember the
financial crash of 1882 Many of our most
-nterprisng merchants had to succumb to
the pressure of the time Among them was
I, merchant whom we shall call Smith
His real name and some of the circumstan
ces we are about to relate, will, doubtless,
be recollectctl by many in st. Louis, even
to day. He kept an extensive mercantile
establishment on - street, and by his en-
terprise and promptitude won the confidence
Of the best houses in the East md West.
ale had young wife and three little
children. They lived in neat little villa
in fashionable portion of the city, and the
neighbors said happier family did not ex-
list in the State of Missouri.
I'"The crash came; his debtors were unable
to meet his calls, and as consequence he
was unable to meet the demands of his cred
ifors. His first resolve was to make over
the villa to his wife and family and secure
An annuity of 5000 year for the support OF
herself and his children, and leave the city
secretly So one night he sailed forth, de-
termined to rebuild his fallen fortunes or
perish in the attempt Proclamations and
rewards were of no avail. and the universal
verdict was, mysterious disappearance
Mrs. Smith inourncd her husband as
dead for two years, till she wisely conclu-
lied it was useless to mourn any more, so
she decided to receive the long proffered at
tention of William Bradford an old batche-
Ior, companion of her late husband
s" But her happiness was not destined to
he perpetual, for William Bradford was al
tlicted with consumption and died during
the last spring. leaving his wife for the
second time widow. To her and his chill
dren fell his business, which she converted
into cash, realizing sum that placed her
self and Der children in easy circumstances.
l"During all these years what became OF
Smith He made his way to Montana. and
worked in the Mines where his intelligence
and enterprise soon put him on the road to
wealth. Some years after he went there the
small pox broke out among the miners, and
lie caught the infection, from which he Ie-
covered. but so pitted that his mother would
not know him.
last spring he struck a rich vein, and
beheld in the bags of gold dust around him
enough to liquidatc all claims against him,
and place himself and his tamily-if they
still were in existence-in luxury foi the rest
their days. He sold out, packed up, and
reached St, Louis about the LIST of June.
Preserving an incognito, he inquired for
Mrs. "Smith." Nobody knew her or knew
If her.
"At length he met person who was ac-
quainted with the circumstances of Mrs.
Smiths second marriage, and when Mrs.
Bradfort was pointed out to him he rccog-
nized the form and features of his long lost
wife; after some difficulty lie obtained an
introduction to. her, and concealing his
name and the knowledge of his immense
wealth, he wooed and won her. She gave
her consent to he his, on the pronis that
the children of the two previous marriages
should be well treated by him. i
ION last Thursday evening, in the old
villa, "a clergyman was summoned to tie the
nuptial knot, when the real Rame of the new
suitor, and his former relationship were dis
cl sed, and, although the bride tainted, it
was happy reunion. He was happy to
see his children well grown IN body, soul
and intelligence in the intervening eleven
years. .,-,.- -, -s....
1.-THE facts. which we have learned from
the clergyman who performed the ceremony,
are a romance that beats Enoch Arden to
pieces" B.,.. -..