Year: 1869

A friend related to us yesterday a most
singular story in regard to an acquain-
tance of his, who was formerly a resident
of this city, the facts of which bear with
them melancholy interest such as at
taches to few life histories. We were
permitted to give i. publicity on agreeing
to withhold the names of thesparues con
cerned.


Something more than eight years ago
there was an Englishmau living ON Mar
ket street, with his wife and two children,
and part of the building in which he re-
sided he used as q grocery store, and for a
time prospered, but, like very many other
men, could not bear success, and ventur-
ing too much in a variety of speculations,
he lost money and soon fell deeply in
debt. There was no bankrupt law then,
and debt was perhaps not so much
the fashion as it has become in
these later days. Indeed, so involved
did he become, that nothing short
OF downright dishonesty could save
his little store from the auctioneer's
hammer. He was very sensitive man as
well as very honest, and to him debt was
disgrace not to be endured. On consult
alton with one of his friends, he made up
his mind to leave Louisville forever, or at
least until he could do something towards
mending his fallen fortunes. With this
idea foremost in his mind, he bade fare
we'll to his wife and children, and commit
ting them to the care of his friend until he
could find for them new home, he started
north. Casting about him, he finally
brought up in Philadelphia, and started in
business there on small scale. He wrote
his wife, speaking cheerfully of his pros
poets, but the letter from the husband and
father never reached the waiting, anxious
ones at home. Receiving no answer he
wrote again. No reply came, and again
and again he wrote, but with the same re.
suit. He then wrote to his friend, and
shortly after received letter in
answer with the terrible news that
his wife and children had sud
denly left Louisville soon after
his departure, and that vague stories were
anoat not very complimentary to her
| whom he had hitherto believed the purest
and best of all her sex, and loved as only
a confiding husband could love. Heart
sick and cursing his existence, he believed
all, and attempted to take his own life, but
through the intervention Of some person
who occupied the same room with him,
he was saved, and at last recovered his
spirits sufficiently to attend to business,
which, from that time, he closely adhered
to and strove to forget the past AT the
end of five years he married very esti,
mable lady whose acquaintance he had
casually made, and, two years later had
succeeded 80 well in business as to be able
| to pay off all the debts which had driven
| him from his home seven years before.
He lived very happily with his second wife,
by whom he had one child, and he never
| permitted himself to think of the home he
had left in Kentucky.


Thus matters stood until few months
ago, when he one day received by mail a
| copy of one of the Louisville papers, and
| in running his eye over the local page, he
| CHANGED to discover a name which at once
drew his whole attention. 1t was under
the head of "Died," and he started as he
read the three little lines. The name was
that of his first wife, and she had died In
Louisville. Could it be possible that she
had never left home, but had waited so
many long years for his return And was
the cruel story that had reached him
mere fabricatlOnS Full OF the strangest
emotions he had ever experienced, he re-
volYed in his mind these questions, and at
last determined to satisfy himself by a
visit to Louisville and the grave of her
whom he had once loved. He made known
his determination to his wife, who agreed
TO accompany him, and, with heI
and his little boy, he set out fol
this city. Arriving here he at once
instituted inquiries, and was astonished
on learning from a former acquaintance
that his first wife was still alive and well
and Furthermore, that since he had left
her, she had never once been out of the
city. The "friend" who had written him
| the story of her departure could not bt
found, and he forthwith sought out the
wronged wife and his two children.


The Joy of the poor woman on once
more seeing the husband she had loveC
dearer than her own life, was as great al
her grief had been at the fatal leave
taking. She reported to him the story
of her trials, of how she had toiled fo
the support of herself and childreI
through all the dreary years, never fo
one moment doubling him, or that h,
would some day return and be happy will
her once more. She further related tina
the friend in whose care he had left he
had betrayed the trust, and had not only
DETAINED the absent husband, but ha(
sought her hand in marriage, and being
refused had left the city, swearing for ven
gsance. She then asked him If he haC


been as true TO heI. What must hav'
been the feelings OF the untortunat'
husband, now for the first time real
izing how cruelty he had been do
ceived, when forced TO acknowledge hi


second marriage Dropping on hi


knees he implored forgiveness Of the in


jured woman, and it was freely giveI


when she heard his story. Not only diC


she forgive him, but besought him neyel


20 disclose the fact of her existence 10 hi


second wife, who as yet believed her dead


and go back to his home in Philadelphia


and forget the terrible past, Whether tn


advice of the noble woman was followed


we have as yet no means Of knowing


Surely she deserved better fate than 'ha


which has befallen her.


How the announcement of her deaf