The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-10-19

ssTruth Stranger than Fiction

| The assertion that truth is stranger tina,
fiction" is certainly illustrated in the follow
ing sketch, and we are indebted to J.. G Ry
an, the agreeable frst clerk of the steamer
St. Luke for the principal items:
During the first year of the war, j. NJ
Waldrur left his pleasant home in Contra
Missouri and shouldered his muskct to fight
for what he considered right, and to spill his
blood, if necessary, in defence of the Con-
Tolerate cause. At home he left a young
wife and one child, and from that time till
last Sunday they never even heard from him
MIR. Waldrup passed through the struggle
safely, and was paroled in St. Louis in 1865
So soon as he could earn money enough he
started to End his wife and child. He visit
ed his old home, and called on his neighbors
| But his search was unsuccessful. The only
| information he received WAS that his wife had
| taken the child and gone to live with some
| relatives in Galloway county.
Visiting Galloway county, he obtained work
on farm, and settled down to ponder over
| the whereabouts of his wife and child and to
earn money enough to continue the search.
In the meantime Mrs. Waldrup had heard
| that her husband was dead, and had gone to
live with some relation rear Cedar City, op-
posite Jefferson City, Missouri. Here she
became acquainted with a wel-to-do black
smith, whose name we have not learned. In
due time they were married, and last week
were living in their comfortable home at &C.
dar City, and Mrs Waldrup had blessed the
blacksmith with three fne children, the ED
est five years old.
Last Saturday Mr.. Waldrup rode leisurcly
into Cedar City, and hating at the black
smith shop, requested that worthy to shoe his
horse. While conversing on the heat of the
weather, crops, &C.. the blacksmith learned
Waldrup's story, and having heard his wife
tell about her lost husband, surmised the
truth, and in his blunt honesty invited Mr.
Waldrup to go over to the house with him.
The recognition was mutual, and the wife
tainted in her first husbands arms. After
the first agitation, Mr.. Waldrup went back to
the blacksmith shop, and the men talked the
matter over sensibly aud coolly, and agreed
to allow the woman to decide as to which man
she would cling.
After bordering the matter over in her own
mind the doubly-mated lady decided to go
with her first husband on condition that the
second allow her to take the childrn. BY
some process Of reasoning, inexplcable to us,
he decided to give up wife and children, and
MIR. and Mrs. Waldrup decided to come to
st. Louis.
Yesterday the St Luke stopped at the land
ing and Mr.. W. came on board aud engaged
passage for himself and three children, and
Che blacksmith assisted his wife on board, and
then brought on the children. Then came
an affecting scene that brought tears to the
eyes Of captain, clerks, aud passengers. The
deserted husband took first one child and
then the other in his arms aud kissed them pas
sionately, while the tears rolled down his
cheeks. Then he babe goodbye to his wife.
who seemed deeply affected, and lastly to Mr.
Waldrup. The two men gazed into each 9TH
er's faces, shook hands long and earnestly,
and then the blacksmith, by strong effort Of
will, released the hand Of MIR. Waldrup and
walked quickly ashore, never turning his
face toward the boat-.S. Louis Dispatch.