Centre Democrat

A CALIFORNIA ROMANCE

The St. Louis paper tells a strange story of one John Hardwick, a Pittsburg mechanic. In 1853 he went to California, leaving a wife and two children behind. Reaching the land of gold, he dug a pile which his partner stole from him. Then he fell sick, and recovered only to find himself quite impoverished, enfeebled, discouraged. He wrote frequently to his wife; she did not receive his letters, nor did any from her reach him. He concluded that she was glad to get rid of him, so he began to dig again.

In the meantime, the wife mourned for him as for one dead, she naturally married again and removed to St. Louis. Her first children died, and she bore two more to the second husband who after a time died also.

Within a month, Hardwick, the California adventurer, having accumulated a fortune, came towards the East, travelling by the overland route. Stopping in St. Louis he walked about the city, looking at the town. While so engaged he met his wife, "Mutual explanations" followed. The dead children and received the tribute of paternal tears, and the new ones were welcomed with affection. Then the clergyman united the pair for the second time, and all parties soon left St. Louis.