Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1869-01-16
NUMBER 9.
Enoch Arden Outdone.

Who is it that does not remember the fnaro;.,
crash OF 1891! t-spread over the country even
into st. Louis. Many of our most enternris;na
and seeming most prosperous merchants had to
succumb to the pressure of the time AMONG
them was a merchant whom we shall call Smith
His real name and some of the circumstances we
are about to relate will doubtless be recollected
by many in st. Lonis, even to-day. He kept an
extensive mercantile establishment on -
! street, and by his enterprise and prompttude,
won the confidence of the best supply houses in
the East and West. His business was good, his
credit was good, and everybody thought he
would survive the u2nhles of thst long to-be-
many smaller merchants largely indebted to him
for goods he furnished them.
He had young, beautiful and highly accom-
plished wife and three smiling, innocent babies,
enough to inspire loving fathers ambition and
energies for their maintenance and education.
They lived in a neat little villa of their own in
fashionable part of the city, and the neighbors
said happier family did not exist in the State
of Missouri.
The crash came :; his debtors were unable to
meet his calls, and a consequence he was I'M
able to meet the demands of his creditors He
suddenly became moody and fretful, even in the
bosom of his lovely family. What was he to do?
He had not much time left for Illuminating on his
position, and something should be done quickly.
His first resolve was to make over the villa to
his wife and family, and secure annuity of
5000 year on his wife for the support of her.
self and children, and leave the city secretly
he knew, he cared not whittier Little time
elapsed between the resolution and the carrying
it into effect So one night, after kissing his
wife and little ones, but without bidding them
goodbye he sailed FORTH determined TO rebuild
his fallen fortunes perish in the attempt. His
remaining stock was soon gobbled up by his cred
itors-but, how as to HIMSELF What became of
him? Did he make away with himself in fit
of temporary insanity, or was he made away
with, scores from year to year that fall
into the hands of q roughs, who would murder
a man and stow his body away for SO? These
were queries that agiated the minds of the DESC
late and dsconsolate family, the public and press
of St. Louis at the time. No account of the
missing could be ferreted out. Proclama-
tons and rewards were of avail and the
universal verdict was, q mysterious disappear
ance.''
Mrs " Smith mourned her husband as dead
for the weeks and months of two long years, till
her fair features began tie grow sallow and fur
rowed by the effusion of scalding tears. She
wisely concluded it was useless to mourn any
more, so taking practical ard interested view
of matters, she decided to receive the attentions
of William Bradford, an old bachelor companion
merchant of her late husband HI doing
profitable business on - street, having wealth
cred the financial storm already alluded to.
In very few weeks after this resolution she
was hailed Mrs. Bradord-the bloom again
adorned her check and placid smile sat on her
brow and lips-she WAS again happy. In her
alliance she blessed with beautiful
children added to her household, and bearing
the name of Bradford.
But her happiness not destined to be per-
petual. for William Bradford was afflicted with
consumption and gradually sinking under it.,
died during the last spring, leaving his wife for
the second time IL widow. To her and his chill
dren fell his business, which, rs she could not
conveniently attend, she converted into cash,
realizing sum that placed herself and her chill
dren in easy circumstances.
During all these long years what became of
" Smith ~ He made his way to Montana, and
worked in the mines, where his Intelligence and
natural 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 so ptted that his mother would not know
him. Day and night he labored and figured and
prospected the realization of the object of his
ambition-indcpcndcnce, which is synonymous
with wealth.
struck a rich vein and beheld in the bags of
gold dust around him enough to liquidate all
claims against him, and place himself and his
famiy-il they still were in exstence-in lux
ury for the rest of their days. lie sold out,
packed up, reached St. Louis about the lst of
June.
Preserving an ncognito, he inquired for Mrs.
% Smith Nobody knew her or knew of her
His heart sunk within him. Did his fair wife
and beautiful children sink into sorrowful graves
while he toied to make them happy? The
thought depressing in the extreme.
At length he met person who was acquainted
with the circumstances of Mrs i Smith 81 sec
oad marriage, and when Mrs. Bradford was
pointed out to him he recognized the form and
features of his long lost wife. After some diff
Guilty he obtained Introduction to her. and
concealing his name and the knowledge of his
immense wealth. lie wooed and won her. She
gave consent to be his on the promise that the
children of the two previous marriages should
be well treated by him.
On last Thursday evening, TO the old villa,
clergyman summoned to tie the nuptial
knot, when the real name of the new sutton, and
his former relationship, were disclosed, and, al
though the bride tainted, it happy reunion.
He was happy to see his children we'll grown in
body, soul and intelligence in the intervening
eleven years Words cannot picture the happi-
ness of the twice married couple and their fam
! lily, and notwithstanding the traces of the small
! pox, she loves her husband better than ever
| May their happiness continue.
| The facts, which we have learned from the
clergyman who performed the ceremony, are a
romance that beats Enoch Arden to pieces.-S.
Louis Republican.