Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-08-19
ENOCH ARDEN DOUBLE DIS
COUNTED.
Wanderings of Kentucky Ar
gOnant of '49-His Return At
ter % Years Absence
What Happened While
He was Away.

y
1914, were married Miss Kate Til
lett and w. Warren. For five years
! the married relations of Mr.. and Mrs.
Warren were of the ordinary charac-
ter, one child, a daughter, blessing the
union. In the year 1349 matters
changed. The California fever
ragged in Kentucky as fiercely as else
where, and Mr.. Warren babe farewell
to his family, and set out upon his
journey to the gold mines. From this
dates singular history. For seven
long years his wife waited patiently
but hardly hopeful for his return, for
rumOr had reached her that in COM
bat with the Indians in California he
had been killed. BY the laws of Ken
lucky at that time five years absence
without co municaIiOn with the nus
Uand or wife restored, that one re-
manning at home to all his or her rights
as an unmarried person.
In the meantime MIR. George G. Brv-
ant had met, cOurted and married Miss
Laura ID. Tillett, VINO, after bearing
him two children, was taken away
from him by the hand of death. Hav-
ing been raised mainly by her sister,
Mrs. Warren, it was her especial re-
quest that upon her Mrs. Bryant's)
death that the latter hOuld have espec-
ial care of her children.
In due time after the death of Mrs.
Bryant, and seven years after the de
parture of Mr.. Warren from Kentucky
Mr.. George &. Bryant and Mrs. Kate
Warren formerly Miss Tillett, were
united in marriage. Very soon there
after they came TO Independence. Mis-
souri,, where they have ever since re-
sided, and where Miss Mary Warren
the daughter of Mrs. Bryant by her
first husband grew into womauhood
and married Mr.. w. G.. Christopher,
now of Pleasant Hill. To Mr.. and
Mrs. Bryant who have been married
now about seventeen years, have
been born two children. Now comes
the straugest part of the story. Some
time since it was rumUred that Mr..
Warren, who had not been heard OF for
twenty-four years, was not dead, bat
living in Trinidad, California. He
had written to a friend in Kentucky,
inquiring about his wife ami children
He had learned something of the case
and in another letter indicated that he
should visit them.
In pursuance of his determination,
the long lost William Warren. now
about sixty years old, gray and feeble
from sickness and trouble, almost
weary of life, but DESTROYS of looking
once more upon the wife and child OF
his youth before he died, arrived ct In
dependence. He was kindly received
by the family OF Mr. Bryant, to whom,
in short, he tells the sad story of his
twenty-four years wanderings, first i'll
the gold mines, where lured by the
deceptive gatherings of the precious
metal, he dug from year to year, ever
hoping, always disappointed, he finally
yielded to i'll luck, aud became tired of
life. Poor and disheartened, he made
the faIal mistake in not returning to
his long waiting family. Not unlike
thousands of other men, noble, good
men, under similar circumstances, he
yielded 10 the temptation of the in
toXicating cup, and for years dissipa
ted away the life which had been CIV
en- him for noblcr purposes. But
manhOd, once strong in him, again re-
sumed its sway, ana with ii came dis
ease. Paralysis had seized upon him,
and he was Frustrated 10y its death like
the desire for home and
the friends of his youth grew upon
him, and the determination to see
them once more, if permitted by Prov
idence, became fixed in his mind
When he left California few weeks
ago, he doubted whether he should
ever be able To reach independence
alive. Happily, however, his health
improved on the way, and h arrived
here safely He is "a kindly-dIsrooed
old gentleman, ana tuIiy recosn,zes
all The rights Oh other parties. acquired
by what he frankly acknowledges To
be his own fault He is frank to con-
TESS that he has forfeited all his rights
as husband and father; and that the
frail old man is filled with gratitude
ana an overwhelmed heart by the
kindness and consideration which he
has met at the hands of Mr. and Mrs. |
Bryant and his daughter, Mrs. Chris |
tOpher. At the home of the latter it |
is probable he will END the remainder /
Of his life at once so full of incident, |
disappointment, sickness and |
sorrow. He knows Of but one living |
relative, and aunt in Louisville, Ky
ne has gone 20 visit her rs !
one risen from the dead.