Daily Republican., 1880-03-10
Yesterdays SRws.
ENOCH ARDEN In REALITY.

A Romantic Domestic story, Mach
After TennysOn's Romance. Ex.
cepiing q ReversiOn of the sexes
William p. MilIer's Life and
Death. and the Interesting Tale II
Contained.
The sudden death of William P. Mil
ler, Wilmington cabinet maker, at hii
home in this city, No. 6l5 French
street, has revealed to the world one o
the strangest romancas Of real life, tina,
ever remained shrouded in secrecy il
our midst. Miller died in the early
morning of last Wednesday, Of hear
disease, as announced in these columns
On Friday he was buried, with the
honors of the Brotherhood of the Union,
of which he was a member. The day
Of the funeral there came to the house
and took last view of the remains q
woman, in whose gentle men one could
notice a true lady;in whose melancholy y
features, a person whose life had known
much sadness. She looked moment
at the corpse, and without a word stoo
aside and let the funetal proceed to the
cemetery.
The story of the strange lady is in
teresting. Here it is In 1851, then
living in Philadelphia, and working as
a cabinet maker, William P. Miller
married young lady whom he appa-
rently loved with great devotion. She
was true to him, loved her husband
deeply, and was an admirable wife in
every respect. Miller was something
more than mere mechanic, was looked
upon as complete master Of his trade,
and received high grade of work. He
did well for season and became pos
sessed of considerable means. For ff-
teen years the couple lived together
happily, and during that time two
children were born to them. But at
last trouble invaded the happy home
circle. Another woman, much younger
than the wife at that time, began to
smile upon the husband and to use all
her powers in persuading him to leave
his wife. This was not at first success
full, but after season the serious efforts
were crowned with victory.
Miller gradually became less atten-
tive to his business, he drank a little,
and sometimes would absent himself
from his work for whole days at time.
About this time he was seized with
small pox in its most violent form.
Friends and acquaintance deserted him
and never came near in his hour of
trouble; but the wife with remarkable
devotion remained at his side through
the whole course Of the terrible malady
and only ceased her care when he was
we'll.
Soon after this the serpent again
crept into the household, and one
night, about fourteen years ago, the
husband took his departure with the
girl who had won his heart from the
true and loving wife. He left the city
and with one exception the wife never
saw him again. Then it was that the
youngest son died. He came home, at
tended the funeral and went away
again.
The wife left alone, found that she
had hard task before her to provide
for her little family, as the husband
had left her hut little means. She
took up the business which he had
abandoned and carried it on a short
time, but found 1t too hard and gave it
up, taking up some other means of
livelihood. She managed TO keep the
wolf from the door and to fairly educate
the remaining sor. He is now a sales.
man at John Wanamaker's.
Lately the wife has been living near |
Philadelphia. She knew that her hus-
band was living with his paramour in
but did not come and
claim her rights as a wife On account
Of the disgrace it would have brought
Upon her son. The son occasionally
came to visit his father; He, likewise,
lid not care to make the matter public,
though of course his visits to his father
lid not constitute an approval of his
ather's course.
A paper containing an account of Mr..
hiller's death was sent to the wife, and
he came on to attend the funeral. She
low proposes to establish her rights as
/ wife. 1t is not known whether Miller
'Wned any estate or not. The wife is
Till in this citv, and friends are inter
,sting themselves in her behalf. An
of the affair was published in
IN afternoon paper yesterday. 1t is in
nearly all its details incorrect, and cal
,ulated to do Mrs. Miller great inius-
ice.
Among other things it says that she
deserted him when he had the small
1ox, and that the assumed wife nursed
/ i'm, which was the cause of his change
VI his affections. The wifes unwaver.
ng devotion to her husband at that
dangerous period of his life can be
proved by DR.. Kamerly of Philadelphia,
whose Office is near Fifth and Carpen-
er streets. The repor. also says that
he has left the city, when she has not.
The bogus wife is Baltimore woman
md much younger than Mr.. Miller.
After the funeral she hurried home
and spent the whole night in packing
Up the goods about the house tor fear
he true wife would ella i'm them. Part
If these she sent to Baltimore and part
o Philadelphia.