Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-06-23

A Man Deserts his Wife
in st. Joseph, Mo-, and
Dies Wealthy in
California.
From the 50. Joseph (M0.l Herald.


Fifteen years ago there resided
In this city q man named Preston.
THAT is not the name, but it will
serve as well, for we are telling a
true story,) who, with the small
business he was in, became dissat-
listed. He was married to an es-
timable lady, who bore him one
child, a daughter, and of his wife
and child he seemed to be always
fond, which fact adds to the mys-
terry of his subsequent conduct.
One fine day, without warning to
his loved ones, he disappeared
Wondering where he had gone,
and what caused the delay of his
return, the deserted wife waited
through weary years for bis re-
turn. The fair child of their we'd
ded love grew in beauty and intel
ligence, and the hopeful mother,
with that pride and secret joy that
only a mother can know, longed
for the return of the father, that
he might see the beauty and grace
of their first born. But he never
came, and after the lapse Of eight
years, Mrs. Preston married again,
thinking her husband dead in fact,
as be was to her in law. She lived
happily with her new mate, who
was and is always kind and father
ly to her little daughter. Her
first husband was well nigh forgot
ten, or remembered only as the
dead are, She was, therefore, lit
tie prepared for the intelligence
that reached her q short time since.
About six weeks ago, man
who was, many years now past, a
resident of st. Joseph, returned
here from California. He knew
Preston here before the latter left.
his family so mysteriously, and
soon after his arrival, called on
Mrs. to inform her that her
old husband was now really dead,
having shaken off this mortal coil
about one year ago in San Fran
cisco, of which place be had long
been a resident He communica-
ted also the strange information
that Preston soon after going to-
California, had married a squaw
of the Digger tribe of Indians ;;
that he went into business in San
Francisco, where he prospered be-
yond all his calculations, and
got rich. Indeed, his success was.
almost fabulous for when he
died his estate was valued at $751;
600, the larger part Of which was.
in money. By this Indian wife
he left five children, to whom and
their mother he bequeathed eve
ry dollar of his property.
This, of course, was a strange
revelation to Mrs. -, who,,
when the surprise and confusion,
produced by the story had subsid-
ed, was strongly agitated by the
thought, that her own beloved
daughter, Preston's forgotten
child, was the rightful heir to the
property Of which her father had
died seized. Burdened with this
impression, she sought the advice
of legal firm in this city, who.
took the case In hand. The busi--
ness of the lawyers was to learn,
whether or not the will contained
any provision for the child here.
which they learned a few days.
since by reading the document, a,
certified copy of which they re-
oeived from San francisco. The.
next business will be the securing
Of testimony identifying the de-
ceased Preston in San Francisco.
with the Preston who was the,
first husband of the lady institut-
ng the suit here as his widow
Another point will come up as to-
he legitimacy of Preston's mar
'iage to the squaw, he knowing
hat his wife was living when he
married a second time. The suit
will be an interesting one. If
he second marriage can be inyali-
lated, the whole estate will 60 to.
he little girl here.