The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-02-02

Ek HUSBAND FOR HIS OWN
WIFE.
About four years ago, as near as we
can learn, there came to Litchfield from
Missouri man, about sixty years Of age,
calling himself Cuvolt. Here he enr
gagged 10 occupation Of boarding. house
keeper and teamster. With him came
woman, apparently about thirty-6ve
years old, who presided over the domes-
tic department Of Cavolt. She repre-
scntcd herself as the widowed daughter
lin law Of the man, aud had two chill
dren who passed as her children and
the mans grand children. She was
generally known in the neighborhood as
the "widow Cavolt." Both the man and
the woman represented that her husband
dying, had commanded her aud the
children to the care of his father, with
the urgent request that he would al.
ways rc'uain with and protect aid care
for them. The family were considered
by those who knew them as houcst, re.
spectacle people, and the fidelity with
which Cavolt fulfilled the trust reposcd
in him by his departed son was the
subject Of frequent eulogium.
AS time passed on the Cavolts made
many acqlaintances in the town, aud
some friends. Among rho latter was
young man named Reuben Akers, an
honest and thrifty young workingman.
Mr.. Akers became a frequent visitor at
the Cavolt house, till friendship ripencd
into kinder and tender sentiment
The contemplation Of tho young widows
many graccs Of pcrs, and dom estic vir
tues was too many for him. The oft.
quoted advice Of old Weller to Samivel
TO beware ofthe viddcrs," ifever heard
BY him, was forgotten in the intoxica-
tion Of "lovcsyoung Dream" and--woll
last March he aud the widow became
man aud wife.
at least Reuben thought so, but,
doubtless, the law would take another
view of the subject, as, in fact, Reuben
does now. The ceremony over, the first
to grasp Rcubcn's hand and wish him
much joy was Cavolt, the aged and piuns
guardian Of the dcccascd sons widow
aud children Tht bIushiny bride re-
ccivcd the salnta,ions and congratula
tions OF her friends, and everything was
happy as-say twenty or thirty-mar-
riagc bells.
The honey moon passcd-in fact, six
2Ionths passed without any apparent
diminntion of the honey or its pallng
on the taste. At the end Of that time
brother Of the bride, who in the meao-
time had como to Litchfcld, let an
immense cat out Of the bag; otherwise,
he revealed the astounding fact that
Cavolt was the husband OF his daughter
in. law and the father of his graudchil>
drcn-that is to say, that he was hus-
band and father, and not ut oil father
in-law and grandfather. the dead son
and his dying change being light and
airy creatures Of the playful fancy of
Mr.. aud Mrs. Cavolt.
Naturally, Reuben Akcrs was con-
siderab'y excited when he hca d The
brothers Story, and he went imn't lately
to old Cavolt to inquire as t" its trut .
The patriarch acknowledged the c,rl
frankly. lie said he was od, and had
but few more years to live, and not wish.
ing to leave young widow destitute 10
struggle for living for herself and
little one in an uufecling world, he
thought it would be better to have her
united to D worthy and industrious
young man. to whose tender care he
could safely intrust her whom he should
be called to another aud better home.
Instead of being overcome with emo
tion, or soothed and satisfied with this
explanation, Reuben flew into rage,
and Immediately abandoned his half
interest in the conjugal claim, where
upon, shortly after, the Cavolts, young
and old, with bag and baggago, departed
for parts unknown.
What sticks in Rcubcn's craw is the
ha"d-shaking and congratulation of old
Cavolt on the wedding day. "Why,"
said he, "thc old scalawag was tho first
to wish me much joy"