"ENOCH ARDEN" IN REAL LIFE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3236, 14 November 1881, Page 4

"ENOCH ARDEN" IN REAL LIFE.

"Not a little excitement and amusement (says a Cardiff paper) have prevailed during the last few days in the Rhondda Valley in consequence of an occurrence well nigh tmpreeedented. It appears that about twenty years ago a collier, named Thomas Miles, resolved upon quitting that neighborhood, and to try his luck far over the soas. He would, he conjectured, do better there. Ho was ambitious of wealth, if not of distinction, and Australia was a country where he conjectured he might realise one, if not both. He had robust health, and was an experienced workman. So away he went, leaving behind him a persevering wife and recently-born child, the heir of his prospective riches. Bnl Miles in Wales and Miles out of Wales were two different personages. Whilst home ho discharged his marital responsibilities, maintained his family, and attended to their welfare. Once out of sight of his better half, however, she was out of his mind. Mrs Miles heard little, if anything, of her conjugal partner afterwards : the report was brought her six or seven years subsequently that he had died. Probabilities were evidently in favor of the allegation, for what respectable man would have so abruptly left his not long married wife and infant to helplessly face the cold world's trials and troubles ? Mrs Miles was reconciled to her bereavement, and by-and-by she entered into the matrimonial stato —married Lewis Davics, another collier. She passed with him many peaceful years, and then he grew sick and died. By him she had had three children. The widow had all a woman's heroism. The boreayc-

nient was a sad blow to her; but she had her children yet to live for, and she bravely battled once more with circumstances. Her industry and fortitude were rewarded ; she brought up her first and second offspring excellently, and the baby which had been deserted by the father in its infancy had of late years been to her an appreciable means of support. At times she could not help speculating on the misfortunes and mischances of her first husband, and doubtless at times, cruel through his conduct was, shed a secret tear over his emigrant sorrows and emigrant grave. But the sequel showed her grief to be superfluous, for, into her well furnished house at Treherbert last week her quondam partner (Miles) suddenly walked. He was twenty years older than when she saw him last, but she knew him at once. He was the loved husband of her early womanhood. The recognition was mutual and positive. Years had not improved Miles. The day-dream and rapturous visions of a bygone era had vanished. Australia had not poured her coffers into his pockets. His attenuated anatomy, clad in habiliments less "tasty" than striking, appealed to the slumbering sympathies of the lady. She would have nothing to do with him, and nothing to say to him. Neither did the boy exhibit any predilection for claiming relationship. The child of 20 years of age was still of course his father's son ; but as his father had chosen to let him fight his way through infancy into boyhood, and through boyhood into manhood unaided, the son was content to do without his father. Miles was- shocked at all this, and his reproaches became more vigorous than chaste. This roused the ire of the lady and all concerned, and Miles had to beat a retreat more precipitate than dignified. Miles was bellicose and would not be beaten. He claimed his wife and he claimed her furniture. He could not carry the former away on his back, but he could put a bailiff in possession of the latter. So to a bailiff he hied, and gave him instructions to sell all the lady's goods. This tactic was more abrupt and daring than -useful, so the bailiff found out, and he hastened back by-and-by to Miles to get from him payment of his expenses. Meanwhile, Miles had swallowed copious draughts of liquor, and by this time was in a state of temporary mental collapse. He did more for Miles than, under the circumstances, might have been expected ; ha trundled him along in a wheelbarrow to some convenient dwelling-place. The wife, who is most respectably connected in the Ehondda, has sought and obtained legal protection ; thus she has baffled her husband. But there is one point still remaining for casuists and lovers of subtleties to settle, and that is— What must the lady be henceforth called, ]V2"rs Miles or Mrs Davies ?