The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-11-27
THE LATEST EN0CH ARDEN.

From the Indianapolis Sentinel
The story of Enoch Arden has always
attracted attention. A Sentinel repor-
ter in his rounds yesterday heard of
case that in many respects is similar to
that of the shipwrecked sailor.
About sixteen years ago Miss Matte
Motfitt, daughter of DR.. John Mottitt,
of this city, met a farmer boy named
| Huntington Matte became friendly
with him, and in few short months the
friendship ripened into love, which en-
ded in marriage. The mother of the
young woman, not wanting her daughter
to live the life of farmers wife, coaxed
the young couple to come to the city and
live. This they did, but not without
many misgivings, for Huntington knew
but little of the ways of the world, and,
having always lived on a farm, felt that
it would be impossible for him to support
his young wife in the city. After a
years sojourn here, his small amount of
money ran out, and he could not find
employment This gave him great
trouble, and he at last moved back to
the country, but against the wish of his
mother-in- law. After year spent on
the farm, and while he was doing well,
and his wife was about to be confined,
Mrs. Moffitt appeared at their humble
home, and persuaded her daughter to
return to the city, where she gave birth
| to child After the birth Of the child
the mother was quite i'll, and Mrs. Moffitt,
it is alleged, set on foot plan whereby
the couple might be separated.
During the illnesas of Mrs. Hunning
ton Mr.. Huntington called to often see
her, but always met with a cold recep-
ton from the old lady. After his wife
had been sick some two months he called
at the house of his ather-in-law and was
told that his wife did not want to see
him again, and did not intend to live
with him any more. This was sad news
to Huntington, who loved his wife dearly,
but thinking the message true he went
back home, and soon afterwards packed
up what few worldly goods he had and
left the country.
When Mrs Huntington recovered
she was told that her husband had died
during her illness, and was persuaded by
her mother to sign petition for d.
vorce. The nearly heart broken woman
hardly knowing what she was doing,
signed the paper, and the divorce was
II LE IL ne w iO SuPpOcCd uCI
self v dow with a fatherless boy, put
On widows weeds and wore them some
three years and half
Four or five years after the supposed
death of her husband, Mrs. Huntington
became acquainted with Robert Wilburn,
who often visited her, and finally they
were married. They lived together for
about six years, during which time it is
said Wilburn treated her shamefully.
This treatment she stood as long as pos
sible, and about a year and a half ago
applied fer and obtained a divorce from
her husband on the ground Of cruel
treatment.
After this the poor woman had hard
time of it. Wilburn had done but little
for her, and she was left to support her
self and boy the best way she could.
Her health was impaired, and the future
held out but little promise of happiness
for her. She was brave, however, and
handy with the needle, and with the as
sistance of friends she managed to make
living, though often deprived of the
comforts of life.
Some six months ago the bereaved
woman accidentally learned that her first
husband, Huntington, was not dead as
she had supposed, but had gone from
this city to San Francisco, and she
wrote to him telling of her belief re-
garding his death. The letter reached
its destination, but Huntington was not
there, having gone to the Black Hills.
1t was forwarded to him at Deadwood
City, and he at once wrote to his long
lost wife, telling her that he would return
- ba ha1
seen. This news was almost too much
for the wretched woman to stand. The
thought of once more seeing him for
whom she had mourned for so many
long years as dead, overpowered her, and
she was quite i'll for several days. She
rallied, however, and made preparations
for Hunnington's coming, which was to
have been some five weeks ago. The
appointed time came and passed, but he
did not arrive; day after day passed land
still no tidings of him. The delay
again overcame the weak constitution of
the woman, and she became seriously
i'll.
On Wednesday morning last, after
she had given up all hopes of seeing her
husband, she came into the front part of
the house where she lived, which is oc
cupied by friend, and said to her, 81
had strange dream last night; dream
ed of the dead" This, her friend told
her, was a sure sign that she would see
the living. About half an hour later
the two wemen were standing in the rear
part of the yard, when they saw a
stranger, with carpet-bag in hand, pass
by. The friend observed that it might
be Mr.. Huntington, and ran to the gate
and called. He turned and entered the
ward. When his wife saw this she ran
into the house and tainted dead away.
Huntington said to her friend, 81 don't
think remember YOU" The lady told
him that she did not know him, but there
was person In the house that did. He
stepped to the door and raped. The
door was opened by his former wife.
Neither knew the other. The man
tipped his hat, saying, sit seems to me
that / know YOU. As soon as she heard
his voice she knew him, and said,
ssGeorge, is that yo1?" At this juno
ture the lady friend disappeared, and
curtain was drawn over the meeting be-
tween the long separated man and wife:
The son, who is now thirteen years OF
age, who had often remarked that he
wished he had q father like ether boys,
is now the happiest of boys, and his ia
Their is wonderfully proud of him. When
told of the cruel treatment that his wife
had received at the hands of Wilbur
he wept like child. The young love OF
the couple seems to have loft none of its