The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-12-02
LOuiSYille's EnOch Arden.

There are probably a few persons in
Louisville, says the COUricr-JOUTWdi,
who remember William Parkhurst,
whose sudden and mysterious disappear
ance created a sensation in this city and
other portions of the State about thirty
five years ago.
One morning, thirty-live years ago, he
left home with a wagon load of produce
for the Louisville market. From that
morning he was never seen again by his
family, and further than that he sold his
marketing in Louisville not a word has
ever been heard of him. On the day Of
his mysterious disappearance he was
seen on the streets of Louisville, but
what became of him has remained n
mystery for almost two score years. For
several years the wife, still faithful, look
ed anXiously for his return, and then
when hope had almost worn out with
time she became recOnciled to the sad
conviction that her husband was dead.
But in what land he had died she could
not even conjecture. The worse suS-
picions, of course, filled her mind, and
she, with every one acquainted with the
strange occurrence, gave the solution OF
the mystery most natural in such cases,
that Parkhurst, after selling his pro-
duce, was murdered for his money.
Sometimes the vision of a lonely man
wandering in some far-distant and saw
age land, like the vision of poor Enoch
Arden before the eyes of his wretched
Annie, would steal upon the dreams OF
the wretched wife; but alas, time rolled
so many years between her and the
memory of her husband, that she remem-
bered him only as one among the dead.
Singularly, though. it seems of late years
she has been heard occasionally to re-
mark, that ait would be very strange if
he should RETURN" though she never
expressed any positive idea or PRESENT.
ment that such thing would ever oc-
cur.
On Wednesday last, while Mr.. Ken
drick was standing behind his counter,
an old man, bent with the weight OF
many years, with long white hair and
beard-the picture of Enoch Arden
clad in shabby garments, appeared at
the door of his jewelry store, and ap-
preached him with faltering footsteps.
Addressing Mr.. Kendrick in a. hesitat-
ING manner, us if dreading the answer
to his question, he inquired;
Do yOu know of any body in this
country by the name of Parkhurst?"
Yes, sir" replied Mr.. kendrick, 81
know an old lady by that name living
some distance in the country, and fused
to know her husband, David Parkhurst,
many years ago"
And where is he nOw?n inquired the
man, with evident emotion.
cit is supposed he is dead. He mys-
teriously disappeared thirty-five years
ago, and has not since been seen or
heard from
"Billy, don't you know me?" cried
the old man as he quickly raised his
eyes, which sparkled with excitement,
and, rushing forward, took Mr.. Ken
drick by both hands.
Eyes" said Mr.. Kendrick, @ do.
You are David Parkhurst.
And, sure enough, it was the long-lost
wanderer, who, after so long an absence,
had come back, white with age and clad
in the rags of poverty, seeking the COM
panion of his youth and the wife Of his
Young manhood. He went away in the
prime of life, and returned eighty years
old
When told that his wife was still upon
the earth, he manifested no very strong
symptoms either of surprise or delight,
but appeared very much gratiied.
Without giving any reason for leav-
ing home, or for refusing to give in
formation of his whereabouts, Mr..
Parkhurst stated that he went from
Kentucky to Mexico, where he lived a
number of years, and was soldier in
the Mexican war, under the United
States. After the war he went to Cali
fornia, and thence to Nevada, where he
spent several years in the mines. From
Nevada he wandered in several States
and Territories, and few years ago
went to Wisconsin, where he has lived
until within the past few weeks, when
he resolved to return to Kentucky, and
see if his people were still living.
1t would be an interesting part of the
story could we follow the old man
through the country to the gate and to
the threshold of the home where dwells
his aged wife. But here the curtain
must fall, and leave the reader to I'M
agine the scene that followed their meet
ING.