Omaha daily bee., 1880-06-15
An Indianola Romance.
A WEDDING PARTY WITHOUT A MAR.
RIAGE CEREMONY.

Indianola Advocate, June l.
Our people had been considerabl.
interested for the past two or tire
weeks-as people always r in sucl
affairs-in the prospective marriage o
Miss Charity Posegate of this place
to MI. George Flemming of st. 10
sepb, Mo. Miss Posegate vas n o
the pretty and popular young ladie'
of the town, and her family an OLE
and most respectable one in the place
with large connection. MI. Elem
ming was known to be an excellent
| young man, with good address and so
cial position in his city.
The engagement had been rather ar
interesting one, continuing for sever.
al years, with no special effort to keep
it secret. Miss Posegate had relatives
in St. Joseph, whom she visited occa-
sionally, and it vas on n of the Wis
its that she had met her affianced in
the first place. Of course, during their
engagement he visited her here q
number of times, and frequently sent
presents-all of which could not help
being noticed by kind friends. There
was one other thing with regard to the
presents which couldn't help being no.
ticed by the kindest of kind friends,
that is, that during the past winter
they changed character somewhat,
ms cad of the usual conventional
gifts of jewelry, gloves, etc, the ex-
press brought occasionally more sub
stantial articles-dresses, shoes, and
other things; and, at n time a
well-packed trunk. The giving and
accepting and acceptance of such pres
ents between lovers was not exactly
understood by these kindest of kind
friends, but as they felt bound to re-
mark, was considered "a little soft"
Ali the while Miss Posegate con-
Quoted herself as became a modest,
sensible young lady, whose engage
ment was public, tut whose lover
could not be her escort. She accept
ed the company of other young gen.
tlemen as a matter of courtesy, and
did it in a very graceful manner, too.
She was a good dancer, and during
the past winter the gentlemen of the
Coteri club generally saw that she n
joyed its pleasures to the utmost.
One young gentleman from East Dcs
Moines, who visited our club frequent
ly, always managed to take Miss Pose
gate, and it is even supposed that he
came ofteher thean he would had he
not been sure of such agreeable COM
pany.
The wedding, which was set for last
Wednesday morning, was no secret,
though it was understood that it
would be a very quiet sff4ir, only the
relatives aud nearest friends beirg
All the usual preparations
made. An elegant and costly
bosseau wa prepared; the expected
bridegroom arrived, accompanied by
q young gentleman friend; the guests
were assembled; the wedding march
but neither minister nor bride
and groom appeared. Mrs. Posegate
went up stairs to see what was the
matter. In a moment she returned
laughing, and, holding up q paper,
See what a Joke they've
on us!" Then she read aloud
certificate to the effect that on
October 8, 1879, at St. Joseph, Mo-,
Miss Charity Posegate was married to
Mr. George Flemming. The docu-
nent was signed and sealed by a
ussios of the peace and attended by
me witness.
At first the friends thought this was
imply a joke, and that the real we'd
ling would take place in a few mo-
But MI. and Mrs. Fleming
anne down, and assured them serious
y that the certificate was genuine;
hat no license had been obtained
lere or minister engaged-that, in
act, they have been man and wife for
more than seven months, and had
oncluded to set up in their own home
further ceremony. Mr..
Tlemming's friend from st. Joseph
'cuched for the genuineness of the
ustice's signature.
Then matters took another turn,
nd our reporter evaporated through
he keyhole. 1t is not to be wondered
t that there wal a good deal of feel
ng. 1t was 60 sudden, go utterly
so remarkable a proceed
no and SO serious q matter that all
elt it very deeply. But with that
art of the affair the public has no es-
ecial business.
The interesting question is, GLOW
id it all come about2 What was the
Dung peoples In pursuing such
n extraordiny course. Was it simply
Or a Joke on their friends, or wal it
desire to have something odd about
bout their marriage, the same kind of
eptimentality which sometimes lead
eople to be married in q canoe or up
l a balocn. Was it all deliberately
ranged, or was it half accident drift.
d into by degreesl The last seemsto
Q the fact. Miss Posegate spent two
last fall with her friends in
t. Joseph. The evening before she
the opera with hsr afisncsd,
nd at the close Of the performance,
ley proceeded to Q justices Office
nd were married. About three
ours later Mrs. Flemming took the
ain for ~Indianola, intending to tell
or parents of the marriage as soon a.
le should reach home; but her cour.
20 failed her, and the disclosure was
ostponed, until finally, the idea of
a sham wedding and having q
rand surprise was adopted, ana Mrs.
lemming lived quietly with her par
ats here as Miss Charity P~osegate,
hilo her husband attended to his
in st. Joseph. Whatever
be thought of the propriety of
le procedure, Mrs.. Flemming sue.
,eded in creating q profound sensa-
among her 1ndiauola friends last
The oddly married couple left on
10 morning train for their new home.
congratulations are out of date; but a
,eat many people wish them happi-
ess, all the same.
THE Hr1DSON