Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-10-07
And the Bridegroom Came Not.
49,. A SINGULAR STORY.

lHV JdltllllolC L'ttttst' 1SioN>o -
singular story in which the Rev. Ben
iamin Bausman, formerly Of thit
county, and well known to many Of
our citizens, occupied, though limo.
Gently, very prominent place. II
seems that in the beautiful village Of
Middletown, Frederick county, Mary.
land, there resides a maiden lady
about thirty-fivc years of age, named
Malinda Shafer, who possessed prop.
erty to the value of about $40, 0,0OO.-
A short time since the lady announced
/ her intended marriage, and stated
that the bridegroom was Rev Baus,
man, of Reading, Pa. The announce
ment caused a great flutter in the
social circles of Middletown and Fred
erick, and the matter was the subject
Of much conversation. Miss Shafer
however, made extensive preparations
in the purchase Of trousscau, and
the dav was fixed for the wedding
This was to have been on the 3lst OF
August, On the 30th everything was
readiness: the cake and the confcc-
tionerv w.re piled on the tables OF
Miss Shacrs house in way tha,
,ladc the small boys mouths water
when thev took surrrptitiou' peeps
through he blinds the house was
rarnercd, and swept, and polished
and Miss $. rrtrr: to hed in = stat,
Of mental c1altation, tondly rarc9sin@
the gold engagement ring which she
had purchased herself soar time pre-.
yiouslv. The secret of the rtory j,
thus told: SO admirably had all hel
plans been laid, and 80 consistent had
she been in everything, that it VA.
onI V on tic day following that hel
friends discovered Tint the Rev. Mr.
Bansman WA. in hlis.tul ignorance (.
the honor which awaited him, enc
that - FIR 4. any marrias" was con.
crrncd lie was altogether uniutcreStcG
and uninvoly"d. Every ono in Fred
rrirk and Millletown .ymra,hiz-d
sincerely with the unhappy lady, who
evidently believed firmly that III.
Rev. Mr.. Is, wa, coming, that .h. Wa
engaged to him, and hat she had be,
corresponding with him. Indeed, =.
Ia" F"el.rick Union kuy-, ",he think
that some accident some di>reu.atio,
pf Providence prevented hi. coming
n the tim" appointed, hut that he
will sure y come, rhc do1b,S not. -
Mr. B,usman conformation, alarm
and h.Willrrmrnt ran be well
imagined, when ne received the
inquiries that poured in on him. lie
wrote to the Rev Mr.. Rupl-v, OF
! Midil",opn declaring sol emn v
before his Maker that he never knew
hnr. never met or -aw her to hi.
knowledge, never had any correspon,
dencc with her, and, in fact never
heard Of her. good, bad or indifferent
Size had hi, picture hanging in he,
room, and av"wed that she had been
in correspondence with him. She
probably purchased his picture some
where and it has been as"rr,aincd
that Sic never got letters. n-'hc stated
1t seems that some ten wears AGO she
saw him and heard him preach, snG
since thcn the unhappy gentleman hat
/ c9"n ". "...vrcntly running her peace O.
mind. lie is y very talented clergy
man, popular at Reading. and ha'
been to the Holy Land and written :
book about it, which Miss Shater ha.
read. Good looking young cIcrgvmer
should avoid this sort Of thing and
leaving their photographs where i'm
pressi"nahI" Young splnsters can ge'
them. m.--h1Y,r<e.
.