The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-02-14
A singular Story OF Life's vioiss,tudes.

singular story in regard to an acquaintance
of his. who waa formerly res:aon. of this
city, the facts of which bear with them q
melancholy interest such as attaches to few
life histories We were permitted to give it
publicity on agreeing to withhold the names
of the parties concerned.
Something more than eight years ago
there was an Englishman living on Market
street, with his wife and two children, and
part of the building in which he resided he
used as grocery store, and for a time pros
pered, but, like very many other men, could
not bear success, and venturing too much
in variety of speoulations, he lost money
and soon fell deeply in debt There was
no bankrupt law then, and debt was per-
haps not so much the fashion rs it has be.
come in these later days. Indeed, so
involved did he become, that nothing short
of downright dishonesty could save his
little store from the auctioneer's hammer.
He was very sensitive man as we'll as very
honest, and to him debt was a disgrace
hardly to be endured. On consultation with
one of his friends, he made up his mind to
leave Louisville forever, or at least until he
could do something toward mending his
fallen fortunes. With this idea foremost in
his mind, he bade farewell to his wife and
children, and committing them to the care
of his friend, until he could find for them a
new home. he started North. Casting about
him, he finally brought up in Philadelphia
and started in business there on a small
p scale He wrote his wife, speaking cheer
fully of his prospects, but the letter from
the husband and father never reached the
waiting, anxious ones at home. Receiving
no answer, he wrote again. No reply came,
and again and again he wrote, but with the
same result He then wrote to his friend,
and shortly after received letter in answer,
with the terrible news that his wife and
children had suddenly left Louisville soon
after his departure, and that vague stories
were afoat not very complimentary to her
whom he had hitherto believed the purest
and best of all her sex, and loved only as
confding husband could love. Heartsick
and cursing his existence, he believed all,
and attempted to take his own life but
through the intervention of some person
who occupied the same room with him, he
was saved, and at last recovered his spirits
sufficiently to attend to business, which,
from that time, he closely adhered to and
strove to forget the past. AT the end of
five years he married a very estimable lady
whose acquaintance he had casually made, |
and, two years later, had succeeded SO we'll
in his business as to be able to pay off all
the debts which had driven him from his
home seven years before. He lived very
happily with his second wife, by whom he
had one child, and he never permitted him
self to think of the home he had left in
kentucky.
Thus matters stood, until few months
ago, when he one day received by mail
copy of one of the Louisville papers, and in
running his eye over the local page, he
chanced to discover q name which at once
drew his whole attention. It was under the
head OF Died, and he started as he read
the three little lines. The name was that
of his first wife, and she had died in Louis
VILE Gould it be possible that she had
never left her home, but had waited so many
long years for his return? And was the
cruel story that had reached him q mere
fabrication? Full of the strangest emotions
he had ever experienced, he revolved in his
mind these questions, and OF last determined
to satisfy himself by visit to Louisville
and the grave of her whom he had once
loved. He made known his determination
to his wife, who agreed to accompany him,
and, with her and his little boy, he set out
for this city. Arriving here, he at once in
stituted inquiries, and was astonished on
learning from former acquaintance that
his first wife was still alive and well, and
furthermore, that since he had left her, she
had never once been out Of the city. The
f'friend" who had written him the story of
her departure could not be found, and he
forthwith sought out the wropged wife and
his two children.
The Joy of the poor woman on once more
seeing the husband she had loved dearer
than her own lie, was as great as her grief
had been at the fatal leave taking. She
reported to him the story of her trials; of
how she had toiled for the support of her
sell and children, through all the dreary
years, never for one moment doubling him,
or that he would some day return and be
happy with her once more. She further re-
lated, that the friend in whose care he had
lett her, had betrayed the trust, and had not
only DETAINED the absent husband, but had
sought her hand in marriage and being
refused, had left the city, swearing ven.