AN AMERICAN ENOCK ARDEN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 407, 30 June 1881, Page 2

AN AMERICAN ENOCK ARDEN.

The following story of an American. Enoch Arden is related iu the FrancoAmerican Messenger :—Some 40 years ago a gentleman named Phillips was married in the United States, became in course of time the father of several children, and then abruptly disappeared from his home. Years passed without bringing any news of the absent one, and eventually his wife, Relieving him to be dead, remarried, happily during 20 years with her second husband, by whom she had-, several children . Recently she did,- the funeral took place, and shortly afterwards the widower received a visit from an elderly man> who. introduced himself as the deceased lady's first husband, and claimed a right *o administer her property. He was regarded as an impostor at the outset, but succeeded in the end in proving his identity, and explained the cause of his singulardissappeararice. He had gone to California in the hope of becoming a mtK

iionaire, but had written seveial letters to his wife, who had failed to rec<-iv <h< m - He Lad returned to his native town years back, but on finding his wife remarried and happy, he had refrained fr-m troubling her by revealing the fact that she had two husbands living. Her death rendered further concealment unnecessary, aatf in the affection of his children he to find solace in his decliniug years. The two widowers thereupon shook hands, says the American journal. Tho children and the property were divided, the first aDd second husbands separating the best of friends.