Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-17
ROMANCE OF BANKRUPTCY.


Under the above caption tho ST
Louis Republican tells rather sensa
tionaf story, which we condense al
follows:
Who is IL that does not remember
the financial crash OF 1867 z Many Of
our most enterprising merchants had
to succonnb TO the pressure of the time
Among them was a merchant whom
wcshall call "Smith." His real name
and some Of the circumstances we are
about 10 relate, will, doubtless, be
rccollscted by many in St. Louis, even
today. He kept an extensive mer.
cantiie establishment on--street
and by his enterprise and promptitude
',sDis she confidence ofatho best houses
in the East and West
Ho had young wife and three it,
tie children. They lived in neat
little villa in fashionable portion OF
the city, and the neighbors said u
happier family did not exist in the
State Of Missouri.
The crash came his debtors were
unable TO meet his calls, and as con-
sequence he was unable to meet the
demands of his creditors. His first
resolve was TO make over the villa TO
his wife and family and secure an an
nuity Of 5000 a year for tho support
Of herself and children, and leave the
city secretly. Proclamations and re-
wards were of no avail, and the uni
versal verdict was-mysterious disap-
pearance.
Mrs. Smith mourned her husband
as dead tor two years, till she wisely
concluded II was useless to mourn any
more, so she decided TO receive the
long protfercd attentions of William
Bradford, an old bachelor, a companion
Of her late husband.
But her happiness was not destined
TO be perpetual, for William Bradford
was afflicted with consumption, and
died during the last spring, leaving
his wife for the second time a widow.
To her and his children, fell bis busi-
ness, which she converted into cash,
realizing sum that placed herself,
and her children in easy circumstances.
During all these years what became
of Smith He made his way 10 Mon
tnna, 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
he caught the infection, from which
he recovered, but 50 pitted that his
mother would not know him.
Last spring he struck rich vein,
and beheld in the bags of gold dust
around him enough to liquidate all
the claims against him, and place him
self and his family--if they still we're
in existence-in luxury for the rest
Of ttsir days He sold out. packed
up, and reached ST. Louis about the
first Of January.
Preserving anincognito, he inquired
for Mrs. Smith. Nobody knew her
or knew of her.
AT length he met a person who was
acquainted with the circumstances of
Mrs. Smiths second marriage, and
when Mrs Bradford was pointed out
TO him he recognized the form and
features Of his long lost wife after
some difficulty he obtained an intro
duction TO her, and concealing his
name and the knowledge of his i'm
mense wealth, he wooed and won her.
She gave her consent to be bis. on the
promise that the children of the two
previous marriages should be well
treated by him.
On last Thursday evening, 10 the
Old villa, clergyman was summoned
to tie the nuptial knot, when the real
name of the new suitor, and his for
mer relationship were disclosed. Al
though the bride tainted, il was a
happy reunion He was happy to
see his children wellgrown in body,
soul and intelligence in the intervening
eleven years
The facis, which we have learned
from the clergyman who performed
the ceremony. are romance that
beats Enoch Arden.