Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1880 — The Latest Enoch Arden. [ARTICLE]

The Latest Enoch Arden.

Atlantic, in Cass County, is reveling in all the marvels of a genuine EnochArden case, recently developed there. The statement is authentic, but names are withheld from deference to the woman, who is exceedingly sensitive as to the peculiar position she occupies. Several years before the war an industrious and estimable young man and a young woman, daughter of an estimable faimly residing in the eastern part of the State, were married. Children were bom to them, and they prospered in worldly estate. They were happy and content. When the war came, and the Nation called for help, the husband left his home, took a musket and entered the army. For a time letters were received regularly from him, but gradually the interim lengthened until at last they ceased altogether. The next tidings received by the anxious wife and mother was that he had been wounded in battle, and then the news that he was dead. So direct and positive was the information, the Government awarded her a pension for herself and children. After a time she gave her hand to another, who soon proved a worthless, drunken brute, from whom she separated by divorcement. Meanwhile she, with her parents, removed to Atlantic, where she again made a matrimonial venture, which proved even worse than the second, for her husband was not only a drunkard, but a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow on general principles. While living with him, there came to Atlantic a stranger, Who obtained employment with a contractor. He was quiet in manner, sober and industrious. He formed the acquaintance of the woman and her husband, and was a frequent visitor at the house. Weeks and months went by, until last week the worthless husband skipped out under cover of night. When he was gone the stranger made inquiries of the woman as to her past history, and in various ways sought to awaken her suspicion, but without success. She had buried her first love and father of her children forever from her sight. At last he revealed himself as the longlost husband, and gave a history of hts. wanderings with such certainty of detail as to leave no doubt in the mind of the astounded wife that he was what he affirmed. He stated that he was wounded and captured, and taken to a prison in the far South. That what few letters he was able to write to her probably did not reach her, she having removed from where he left her, and, finally, getting no answers, he concluded she had died, and gave her up as lost. He came to Atlantic with no expectation of seeing a Eerson he ever saw before. So soon as e saw this woman he recognized her as his wife. He sought an acquaintance simply to be near her, though he should never have revealed himself had not her husband No. 3 cleared out. The woman is sorely puzzled. She is still receiving a pension. What will be the result is mere conjecture; in fact, neither of the interested parties themselves know just what they want to do. —Des Moines (Iowa) Cor. Chicago Tribune.