Year: 1869

How n Bigamv was Perpetrated In Illinois.


The Litchfeld Ol.) Monitor tells this spicy
story


About four years ago. as near as we can learn,
there came to Litchfed from Missouri a man
about sixty years of age, calling himself Cavolt.
Here he engaged in the occupation of boarding
ing-house keeper and teamster. With him came
a woman apparently about thirty-five years old,
who presided over the domestic department of
Cavolt. She represented herself as the widowed
daughter-in-law of the man, and had two chill
dren who passed as her children and the mans
grandchildren. She was generally known in
the neighborhood as the widow Cavolt" Both
the man and the woman represented that her
husband, dying had commended her and the
children to the care of his father with the
urgent request that he would always remain
with and protect and care for them. The family
we're considered by those who knew them as
honest respectable people, and the fidelity with
which Cavolt fulfilled the trust reposed in him
by his departed son was the subject of frequent
eulogium.


As time passed on the Cavolts made many
acquaintance in the town, and some friends.
Among the latter was young man named Reu
ben Akers, an honest and thrifty young work.
ingman. Mr.. Akers became a frequent visitor
at the CavOlt house, till friendship rpened into
a kindred and tenderer sentiment. The con-
temptation of the young widows many graces
of person and domestic virtues was too many
for him. The oft-quoted advice of old Weller
to Samivel to Beware of the vidders," it ever
heard by him, was forgotten in the intoXcation
of Loves young dream" and-well, last
March he and the widow became man and wife.


At least Reuben thought So but, doubtless,
the law would take another view of the subject,
as, in fact, Reuben docs now. The ceremony
over, the first to grasp Reuben's hand and wish
him much JOY was Gavolt, the aged and pious
guardian of his deceased sons widow and chill
dren The blushing bride received the saluta-
tiOns and congratulations of her friends, and
everything was as happy assay twenty or
thrty-marriage bells.


The honeymoon passed-in fact six months
passed without any apparent diminution of the
honey or It's paling on the taste. At the end of
that time a brother of the bride, who in the
mean time had come to Litch6eld, let an i'm
mense cat out of the bag; otherwise, he revealed
the astounding fact that Cavolt was the husband
of his daughter-in-law and the father of his
grandchildren-that is to say, that he was hus-
band and father, and not at all father-in-law
and grandfather, the dead son and mis- dying
charge being light and airy creations of the
playful fancy of Mr.. and Mrs. Cavolt.


Naturally, Reuben Akers was considerably ex
cited when he heard the brothers story, and he
went Immediately to old Cavot to inquire rs to
its truth. The patriarch acknowledged the corn
frankly. He said he was old, and had but few
years more to live, and not wishing to leave
young widow destitute to struggle for a living
for herself and little ones in an unfeeling world,
he thought it would be better to have her united
to worthy and industrious young man to whose
tender care he could safely entrust her when he
should be called TO another and better home.


Instead of being overcome with emotion, or
soothed and satisfied with this explanation, Reu-
ben flew into a rage and Immediately abandoned
his half interest in the conjugal claim; where
upon, shortly after, the Cavolts, old and young,
with bag and baggage, departed for parts un-
known.


What sticks in Reuben's craw is the hand
shaking and congratulation of old Cavolt on
the wcddlng-day. why" said he, ''the old
scalawag was the first to wish me much joy"