Year: 1878




A SAD STORY WITH A PLEAsANTER ENDING
THAN TENNYsoN's.


About sixteen years ago, Miss Matte Mof-
fit, daughter of Dr.. John Mofitt of this city,
met farmer boy named Huntington. Mat
tie became friendly with him, and in few
months the friendship ripened into love,
which ended 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 not without many misgivings,
for Huntington knew but little about 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 years sojourn here his small amount
of money ran out, and he could not find en-.
ployment. 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 we'll, and his wife was about to be con-
fined, Mrs. Mofitt 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. M"fhtt, it is alleged, set
on foot a plan whereby the young couple
might be separated.


During the illness of Mrs. Huntington,
Mr.. Huntington called often to see her, but
always met a cold reception from the old lady.
After his wife had been sick some two months,
he called at the house of his fatherin.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 Hun
nington, who loved his wife dearly; but,
thinking the message true, he went back
home, and soon afterwards packed up what
worldly goods he had and left the Country.


When Mrs. Huntington recovered, she was
tol d that her husband had died during her
illness, and was persuaded by her mother to
sign a petition for divorce. The nearly
heart-broken woman, hardly knowing what
she was doing, signed the paper and the di.
vorce was granted. The lady, who suppos-
ed herself q widow with 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 &C.
ouainted with Robert Wilburn, who often
visited her, and finally they were married.
They lived together for about six years, du.
ring which time it is said Wilburn treated
her shamefully. This treatment she stood as
long as possible, and about year and half
ago applied for and obtained 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 herself and boy
the best way she could. Her health was i'm.
paired, and the future held out but little prom
ise of happiness for her. She was brave, how
ever, and handy with the needle, and with
the assistance of friends she managed to make
a living. though often deprived Of the comforts
of life


Some six months ago the bereaved woman
accdently learned that her first husband,
Huntington, was not dead, as she had sup
posed, but had gone from this city to San
Francisco, and she wrote to him telling her
belief regarding his death. The letter reach
ed 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
06r That ne WOulu W duu uio Sob,
whom he had never seen. This news was al
most too much for the wretcbed woman to
stand. The thought of once more seeing him
for whom she had mourned for many long
years as dead overpowered her, and she was
quite ill for several days. She rallied, how
ever, and made preparations for Hunnington's 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, and still no tidings ofhim. 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 occupied by friend. and
said to her, II had a strange dream last night
I dreamed of the dead" This, her friend
told her, was sure sign that she would see
the living. About half an hour later the
two women we're standing in the rear part OF
the yard, when they saw stranger, with car
pet-sack in hand, pass by. The friend observ:
ed e that it might be Mr. Huntington, and
ran to the gate and called. He turned and
entered the yard. When his wife saw this