South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-08-11
An Enoch Arden Case in Missouri.

THE assertion that "truth is stranger
than fiction" is certainly illustrated in
the following sketch, and we are indebted
to j. G. Ryan, the agreeable first clerk of
the steamer st. Luke, for the principal
items:
During the first year of the war J, II.
Waldrup left his pleasant home in Central
Missouri and shouldered his musket to
fight for what he considered right, and to
spill his blood, if necessary, in defense of
the Confederate cause. At home he left a
young wife and one child, and from that
time till last Sunday theynever overheard
from him.
Mr.. Waldrup passed through the strug-
gle safely, and was paroled in st. Louis in
1866. So soon as he could earn money
enough he started to find his wife and
child; he visited his old home, and called
on his neighbors. But his search wal I'M
successful. The only information he re-
ceived was that his wife had taken the
child and gone to live with some re-
lstives in Galloway County.
Visiting Galloway County, he obtained
work on a farm, and settled down to pom
der owe the Whereabouts of his wife and
child, and to earn money enough to con-
unue the search.
In the meantime Mrs. Waldrup had
heard that her husband was dead, and had
gone to live with some relation near Cedar
City, opposite Jefferson City, Missouri.
Here she became acquainted with a we'll
TODD blacksmith, whose name We have
not learned. In due time they were mar
ried, and last week were living in their
comfortable home at Cedar City, and Mrs.
Waldrup had blessed the blacksmith with
three fine children, the eldest five years
old.
Last Saturday MI. Waldrup rode
leisurely into Cedar City, and, hating at
the blacksmith shop, requested that worthy
to shoe his horse. While ~conversing on
the heat of the weather, crops, etc, 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 over
to the house with him. The recognition
was mutual, and the wife tainted in her
first husbands arms. After the first agita-
ton, Nj. Waldrup went back to the black
smith shop, and the men talked the mat
ter over sensibly and 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 child
rem. By some process of reasoning, mex
plicable to us, he decided to give up his
wife and children, and Mr.. and Mrs. Wald-
rup decided to come to st. Louis.
Yesterday the st. Luke stopped at the
landing, and Mr.. w. came on board and
engaged passage for himself and three
children, and the blacksmith assisted his
wife on board, and then brought on the
children. Then came an affecting scene,
that brought tears to the eyes of the cap.
tain, clerks and passengers. The deserted
husband first took one child and then the
other in his arms and kissed them passion.
ately, while the tears rolled down his
cheeks. Then he babe goodbye to his
wife, who seemed deeply affected, and
lastly to MI. Waldrup. The two men
gazed into each others faces, shook hands
long and earnestly, aud then the black.
smith, by a strong effort of will, released
the hand of Mr.. Waldrup, and walked
quietly ashore, never turning his face to-
ward the boat, which soon passed out o.
sight. We can only imagine the loneli
ness in that poor mans heart and home a.
he reached the room where he had sc
often sat with his wife and children.-St
Louis Dispatch.