Year: 1874

Tennyson lived too early, and the story
of Enoch Arden was written too soon
for almost every dav some strange event
brings up the reelection that all the songs
of the SierraS have not vet been sung, nor
the strange happenings in the land where
the Oregon hears no sound save that OF its
own dashings have been told.


The particulars which follow might
well be set down as n repOrtorial fancy
were they not well known to a number of
witnesses who reside in this city, some of
whom are acquainted with one of the
characters of the chapter.


ACT I.


1t was over forty years ago in the State
of Indiana that two lovers ripened into one
and started out in life with one resolve.
Hand in hand two forms turned TO the
West TO seek fortune which seemed to
stand upon the mountain tops and beckOn
them on. 1t was summer in the shades of
the forests upon the slopes, and spring
time in the valleys, so that the journey
was made while nature was rendering an
ovation to the earth.


For two years these two dwelt together
away from kindred and early associates,
fortune meanwhile laying its treasures at
the door OF their household. To add TO
their comforts and joys, beautiful child
tripped before them and learned songs
from the murmurs of the sea, which she
sang beneath the thatch of the house that
opulence had built in the valleys.


ACT II.


Suddenly there came a change which
caused rs strange a story as has seldom
been told. the wife, still in the bloom OF
womanhoOd, abandoned the roof of her
t,I- Aa ol,, ,,-,rh N
reason was LETT for her action, and the
husband went on about his worldly at-
fairs, trusting to time to bring about a So
luton of what appeared to him to be the
most mysterious occurrence in the world.
After while he heard that she was mar
ried and living in the States. He kept the
secret close in his heart, and continued to
amass fortune which to-day is estimated
at 100000. Soon after he received an APP
pOintment as United States Interpreter
of the Flathead Indians in Oregon Terri
tory. But in the midst of his cares he for
got not the days when he had loved a fair
thing in the East, and the pilgrimage they
had made together across the Western
main. Twenty-Five years ago he came
back with the hope that he might find the
object he still cherished with the fOndncss
of youth. Inquiry was of no avail, and he
returned to the spot where the only de
lightful period of his life had been passed
Fifteen years were added to his life, anC
still the story of the old, old love cant
back to him. He was growing intirm, anC
once more he reasoned, before the sum
mons should come he would make another
effort to find the only bride his life anC
heart had ever known.


ACT III.


! He arrived in Kansas City Tuesday
morning. having heard that the object o
his search was living with her second hus
band in the quiet little village Of Wate
Valley, Clay county, Mo-, four miles dis
tant from this city. Tuesday night he wa!
under her roof. Forty years of separa
ton The bride had grown gray, and th'
| innocent child was in the prime of life
married, and living happily with th'
| mother.


The father and husband told the story o
! his life and of his fortune, and again asked
/ the wife of his youth to make anothe
| Journey with him to the land over tn
mountains. This she refused to do at tbi
time. An arrangement was made, how
ever, which will, if carried out, agail
j bring the twain beneath the same root, t,
close the last chapter of life as they begal
/ the earlier OneS-aS man and wife.
! THE CURTAIN FALLS.


He is to visit Indiana, where he will re
main during the winter. On the Openin!
of spring he is to call this way on his re
turn, where he will be Joined by the Onl.
one he has loved, and to whom he ha
been faithful for forty weary years.


This is the story as it came from the lip
of a man in whose face there was shadO1
yesterday of the sunlight of spring; up
on whose lips there were whispers of hope
and in whose heart there sprang up an
ticipations that seemed to make age forge
its burdens.


Who will not wish him another brida
Journey over the mountains by the sun
when the next spring-time shall come ?
Kansas City Times.