Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-01-19
A Female EnOch Arden-She Returns
to Claim Her Husband after an Alb
Sence of Forty Years. asa

Ia From the Providence Press, December 81.
A case has recently transpired in
Newport which has given rise to no lit
tie gossip in circles where it has be-
come known, being the return of the
lawfully welded wife of a man, after an
absence of forty years, to assert her
marital rights. The story as related is
in substance as follows: Some forty
years ago (report says forty two) a
young man aud a maiden in that city
were united to each other in the bonds
OF wedlock. However smoothly
the course of true love may
have been before the act matri-
monial, it appears to have be-
come strangely ruff1ed quite soon after;
9 brief period, report says two or three
days, the blooming bride, the echo Of
her marriage VOWS having scarce died
away, In clandestine manner and for
no known cause, left him whom she had
vowed to love and cherish, and fled to
parts unknown. For two years nothing
Was heard from or of her, when all Ut
once she presented herself to the aston.
ished gaze of her deserted husband.
The latter, it may readily be supposed,
was not overjoyed to see her after such
unaccountable behavior on her part.
He gave her TO understand that he was
not in readiness to resume marital
relations with her, when she
retorted that be need give him
self no uneasiness ON that score, as
she had obtained divorce. The hus-
band replied that he was rel DICED to
learn that, as it had saved him the
trouble and expense Of taking measures
to procure divorce on his own ac-
count, as he intended doing. The pair
then drifted apart, she disappearing
again from this region, while he re-
sumed the even tenor Of hiswa Feel
ing that he was freed from the bonds
of matrimony, and not favoring life
OF 'single blessedness' he sought out
fair townswoman of his, wooed and
won her, and for second time became
q married man. The second
matrimonial alliance was attended
with better results than the
first. Children were born to them as
the years rolled on, and being indus
trious and frugal, the pair accumulated
q snug little property, and few years
ago, being in infirm health, the hus.
band gave up active employment, and
has since been deriving as much COM
fort as usually falls to the lot of man
under such circumstances. He never
heard from the woman he had formerly
called his wife since their last inter-
view, and believing himself entirely
free from her, gave himself no further
uneasiness concerning her. Forty
years had elapsed since that time.
What was his astonishment when one
day short time since woman
rang at his door-beil, and on be-
ing admit ed into the house, introduced
herself to the household as the wife of
its head. Here was scene. Wife No.
2 was aware of his previous marriage,
but believed it to have been abrogated
by decree of divorce. The husband,
too, withstood her claim, adducing in
support her own story of divorce re-
lated forty years ago. She admitted
having thus informed him, but claimed
that it was all sham, that she was still
his lawful wife, and was here to claim
her rights and privileges under that
head. This is the status of matters in
this particular household at the pres
ent writing. Where she has kept her
self all these years does not readily
appear, but it is quite too apparent to
the parties concerned that she is here
now, and with a purpose.