The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-07-21
ANOTHER ENOCH ARDEN

Mr.. Norris, of Chicago, Who Mysteriously
Disappeared Years Ago, Returns to Find
His Wife just Married.
Seventeen years ago, says the Chicago Inter
Ocean, young man named H. A. Norris, orig
inally from this city, was mustered out of the
Union army, in which he had served during
the war, near Kansas City. After short res
idence in Kansas City he determined to make
it his permanent home, and possessing fine
address. as we'll as a good education, he had
little difficulty in securing position as book
keeper In time lie met Miss Kate Howe, the
young and charming daughter of Captain
Howe, all old settler, who at that time was city
marshal. The siege on Miss Howe's affection
was ardent, and after brief courtship she
capitulated. The marriage was duly solemn
lzed. and for over year the couple lived in
peace and harmony without shadow to dsrk
ell their bright horizon, or the slightest indica-
ton of the cloud which was so soon to envelop
them. All this time Norris had kept up his
correspondence with his people in this city,
and in the fall of 1865 he wrote to his moth
or, expressing a desire to go into business on
his own account The mother wrote back that
if he would come to Chicago he might select
a stock Of goods, and she would pay for them.
DISAPPEARANCE.
Norris accordingly babe his wife fond fare
we'll and departed for this city, leaving Kansas
City Oct. 8, 1868
The next two weeks were passed in trying
suspense by the young wife, who waited
anxiously for promised letter, which came
not. Fearing that evi! had befallen him, Mrs.
Norris telegraphed to this city, and in few
days received reply from the truant husband,
stating that lie would start for home immcdi-
ately. That was the last she heard of him till
about ten days ago. The lonely wife waited in
vain for her faithless spouse; kilograms in
Vulnerable were sent both to him and his peo-
1o!n IL, hinoCrn hIofr, mo
she despairingly settled down to the belief
that he had either willful]y deserted her or
had been killed. Taking what little she had,
she returned to her fathers home. Lawyers
were employed, detectives set on the track, and
inquiries made in all directions, but to no
avail. Her husband had apparently disap-
peared from the land of The living without
leaving trace behind. Hope, as the years
grew apace, died out of the deserted ones
heart, and she ceased her fruitless search.
Last winter she became acquainted with Mr.
J. A. Schwartz, a middle-aged gentleman of
Kansas City, who proposed marriage. The sad
story was related him in all its details, and,
with his assistance, every possible endeavor
was made to discover Norris whereabouts, but
the result was the same. Finally, Mrs. Norris
yielded, and about month ago they were mar
ried at Westport. and made their homo on
cherry street in Kansas City.
REAPPEARANCE.
week ago last Sunday the newly welded
Capt Howe, who had purchased farm near
Shawnee some years since. On the way they
met buggy containing man coming toward
the city. AS they were about to pass, the
stranger, who looked closely at Mrs. Schwartz,
eignalled the other to stop, at the same time
The lady was greatly surprised, and did not
know him, till he had by various means con-
vinced her that he was indeed her long lost
husband. He wanted her to 60 with him, but
she refused stating that lis heartless deser-
ton he had forfeited all his CLAIMS on her
additional obstacle in her marriage with Mr.
Schwartz. After some further talk. Mr.
Schwartz drove on to Shawnee, and Norris
kept on his way. Mr.. and Mrs: Schwartz did
not return from Shawnee till Tuesday, and
during their absence Norris had called at their
residence on Cherry street. To other occu-
pants Of the house he vouchsafed the informa-
ton that he was Mrs. Schwartz's husband, and
that his present place of residence was III
Florida, where he had several large orange
plantations.
GOOD Ply.
| He visited the house several times during
the day, and, from his appearance and manner,
| there is possibility that his statements as to
his prosperity are true. He did not appea,
Tuesday, and on Wednesday visit was made
| to the Lindcll hotel, where lie had been stop
| ping. All that remained to show that he had
| been there was the legend on the register: H.
A. Norris, Florida" He came there Saturday,
I and left Monday night after paying his bill.
! Neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Schwartz allow the mat
ter to trouble them. Norris has, by his absence
| of sixteen years, forfeited every claim on his
wife, seven years. absence of a person with
out tidings of him being prcsumptive proof in
| law. Thus is the Enoch Arden story repeated
| with variations, it is true. The one of which
| Tennyson 80 sorrowfullv told IN verse went to
| his grave with his identity unrevealed. Norris
has not that noble spirit of self-abnegation,
| but though he came in a day, he was gone with
| the NEXT