The Morning herald., 1875-10-08
ENOCH ALDEN AGAIN,
A Husband Returps After 81 Years
Absence.

i
A Husband Returps After 81 Years
| II Absence.
A notable Enoch Arden case has just
come to light in New York, the hero in the
case being Mr.. Albert Hall, who, 81 years
ago, was travelling salesman for a dry
goods firm doing business in Pearl street.
Though he was a young man of but %
years Of age, he was married, and had two
infant boys, the younger of whom was but
few weeks old Suddenly the sunshine
was blotted out Of the happy home. Young
Hall went upon business trip for the firm,
and failed to return at the appointed time.
Days passed without any tidings, and the
anxiety Of his wife and friends was changed
to desperation. His accounts were correct
and his remittances had been sent in
promptly, but the man himself could not
be found. Advertisements were put in the
newspapers; rewards were offered for his
discovery, dead or alive; letters were writ
ten to every place where he had been in the
habit Of stopping; detectives were em-
ployed, and no means of ascertaining his
whereabouts was neglected. 1t was all in
vain. The firm ana the friends made up
their minds that he had been murdered, or
had died suddenly and unrecognized in
some strange locality. The wife's grief in
the meanwhile was heartrending, but like
true mother she went to work for her
babes, and reared them carefully and we'll.
The younger. Henry, died in childhood,
but the infant, who was named after his
father, grew up strong and hearty. Years
passed, and still the faithful wife watched
and waited. Her friends demonstrated
with her. and assured her that the man who
had left her so suddenly was certainly dead.
At last, even her courage gave ont, and
when ten years had passed without giving
any sign of her missing liege, she
married again. With this husband she
has lived quietly and happy ever since.
Her son Albert was also married some time
ago, and the other day, thirty-one years
after the mysterious disappearance of the
Elder Albert Hall, fine appearing and
well-dressed gentleman rang the door bell
of Albert Hall, Jr.'s, house, and asked to
see the egentleAan who resided there. Find
ing him absent, he inqnired for the gentle
mans wife, and was admitted. A brief
disclosed the fact that the
stranger was Albert Hall. MADAM, don't
you know me?" he asked. "I cannot say
that l do" was the reply. "Did you never
hear of Albert Hall?" "You mean old
Albert Hall" "The very same" "Yes,
knew him; he died long ago." "I am
Albert Hail." was the quiet reply. The
lady stared with amazement at the stran-
ger. A few questions and answers about
he people and events of thirty-one years
before made conviction certainty. The
husband had called upon her
husband to learn the whereabouts of his
amily. He had heard that his wife was
and was frank enough to express
lis belief that she had found in her second
'cnture a be ter husband than he had ever
'ecn. His son he was anxious to meet.
COR the rest he cared but little. His 10,
pparently had become that of an Ishmac-
lte in broadcloth. When questioned about
lis wanderings, Mr.. Hall failed TO civ.
satisfactory replies. lie had grown weary
f the humdrrm life of home, he said, and
honght that his wife would be better off
'ithout him. Lie had been in business of
ne kind and another, travelling over every
ortion of the United States, but never
1uching New York. The husband and
life met but there was no outward sign of
ny nearer recognition than that of old ac-
ualntances who had so long been strangers
hat former familiarity had lapsed out of
1emory. If any of the old love survived
gave no outward sign of its existence.
he twain who had been one generation
etore met and parted with only the ordi.
AIRY salutations Of the day. !,