The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-11-29
a singular Marriage
rienr DONE At THE LAsF.

served IN ihe circles IN winch tntl
moved. highly respectable circles too.
that a gentleman whose age entitled
him to be considered a bachelor, and
a lady artist not much younger, but
very attractive, and who makes q
great deal of money, were SO init
mate and so much together upon all
public occasions as TO warrant the
opinion that they were engaged.
This proved to be the fact, and many
were the congratulations, and much
the Joking in consequence for the gen.
tleman. who because Of bis cynicism,
had been understood as a confined
woman-hater, while the lady had ex-
pressed herself after the manner OF
laGies. on the wrong side Of twenty
Eve. as determined never to marry.
Cupid. however, seemed determ.n-
ed to make them pay up for lost time.
They were o most devoted couple,
evidently very much in love, and the
only question that troubled their
friends was, why they did not get
married.
Privately this question disturbed
the lady as much as il did Der friends.
There seemed to be no reason why
they should not marry. Both were
tolerably well Off each seemed indie
pendent OF the world and Of relatives,
for the lady lived with and supported,
her mother, and had done SO for many
wears, while the only relative OF the
gentleman that any M knew OF was
a sister at school. The question oil
WAYS and methods had often been
discussed between the contracting
parties, and it bad been decided that
the lady should retain her home (she
had declared it impossible for her to
leave her mother as long as she
should live); that she should enlarge
her pretty French "hat' by taking
two additional rooms, which she vol
unteered to fit up and arrange IN the
most approved "Easilike" style. Yet
still. though impatient and eager Tor
the time when they should occupy q
Joint home. the lover apparently
shrank from the mention Of the day
when the knot was to be tied. Bu'
the time came when it was necessary
to begin preparations Z; the rooms hac
to be taken or left, and of course they
were taken, and in a short time eX
quisitely furnished.
Still though the month had beer
mentioned, the day had rot been set
and one evening the lover, after re
guessing the lady Il attire herself iol
a walk. took her to a quiet city parl
and impetuously asked Der to marry
Immediately and leave with him fol
a five years absence in Europe. Thi.
proposition paralyzed her. OF course
! she refused. She could not leave hel
mother ; she had just newly furnish
ed her house !; she had taken upor
herself heavier obligations as regard
ed rent: she had contracts uniulilled
II was simply impossible. He, ma,
like. reproached her-declared sh'
did not love him, and left her in
rage. which astonished and over
wbelmed her, but which, of course
was principally pretense. a few
evenings after that a visitor was an
nounced who requested to see be
alone, aud was shown into her studio
On entering she found a small, slen
der woman, dressed in black, who
throwing aside her vail, approached
her.
Madame" she said you do no
know me. but | understand that yol
are engaged to be married to a maj
who ought to be my husband, and
came to throw myself upon your pity
and forbearance." Her story wa.
that she had been married 10 a MAI
who neglected her ; that some eigh
wears previous she had become &C
ouainted with Mr.. d., who first pitied
then loved; that she left her husband
for him on his solemn promise to mar
nv her If ever she was free; that sab
seuuently (some FIVE years after) he
husband had died of hard drinking
but be had then refused to fulfill hi
promise, and it was not until recent,
that she had discovered that he hal
formed other plans. She bad thel
made a desperate appeal to him, an'
threatened exposure. He bad dehet
her. aud here she was
This story suggested an explana
ton TO the lady of her lovers coDduc
Of The previous evening, and though
the discovery was a shock hey ont
the power Of words to express, 70
her heart had suggested many rea
sons for bis strange behavior, anC
never doubted but it would all com
out right, she could not help a feeling
of pity for the poor iorlorn and lovely
woman. so shut off from sympathy
so desperate in her need, and so evi
denly destined to an early grave, for
she was Enthusiastically in the grasp o
consumption.
A week after this, aud before she
had decided to write to him or not
she received a visit from her aHanc
ed. who ignorant Of what she knew
began to urge his project for a Euro
pean trip Of longer or shorter dura
lion. She silenced, 10 fact, stunned
him by giving the history of the Wis
it she had received, and urging upoI
him the duty Of making whatevei
PREPARATION be could to the unfortu
nate woman, if her story was true
He acknowledged it's truth but de
clared THAT be had been entirely sep
arated from her since bis engagement
only paying q small sum per week foI
Der subsistence.
Finally her voluntary offer tina
she would never marry unless sb'
married him, her prayers, her tears
Der eutreaiies prevailed. He consent
ed TO marry the woman be had dis
honored-to allow her to bear bi;
name, but on the condition that ht
was not to live with her. He took
small floor for her, furnished It neatly
under Miss rs superintendent
sad a month ago Was married at thu
Little Church Around the Corner,
with only Miss T and her moth
er as witnesses. He drives his wifi
out occasionally, but only when hi
! former betrothed will ACCOMPANY