Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-17
ACCOUNT OF A WIDOW
Why A Minister Left The Sleepy
Town of Millvills.
PRETTY Organist, a Clergyman and a
CIub-Swinging Acrobat who Sang in
the Choir A Love Story.
PHILADELPHIA Times.

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A pretty widow, clergyman and =
young Christian who turned
flip-flaps in Barnum's circus and was
billed a. 1.-The champion Indian club
swinger of America" have just created
the most paralyzing sensation of the
year in the social circles of the sleepy
little town of NIillville, New Jersey.
The minister has given up his church
and become n pedogogue in Newark,
Barnum's club-Swinger languishes in
Bridgeton Jail and the fascinating
Young widow who caused all the trouble
is in state of laohrymose misery in
Millyille.
Three years ago the Rev. b. NJ. Bra
den, the son of a well-known Episco-
palian divine of Salem county, became
rector of Christ Protestant Episcopal
Church, of Millville. He was at that
time about twenty-six years of age and
the Millville church was his first charge.
He is said to be tall, dark, handsome,
intelligent, studiOus and very bashful.
When Mr.. Braden came to Millville
Mrs. Kate Wells, a beautiful brunette,
was the Organist. She is the sister of
George Payne. late member of the New
jersey Legislature, aud the widow Of
Robert Wells, son of ex-Mayor Wells,
of Millville.
SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH YANETTA.
When Robert Wells died in a lunatic
asylum, in 1877, he left behind him a
widow and three children, all of whom
are alive. In the following spring, before
the violets blOomed on Roberts grave,
his widow became quite intimate with,
or, as the natives express it, took up
with" Henry NOgt, 8 circus acrobat,
known tothe public as Harry Nanetta,
who left the sawduSt arena and became
a shipping clerk for the glass manufact-
uring firm Of Whitall Il Taitem, of
MillYille. When Mrs. Wells became ac-
uuainted with Vanetta she was teach
or in one of the public schools and play
ed the organ in Christ Church. Nanetta's
marvellous tales of adventure in all
parts of the world, his anecdotes Of
circus and theatrical life, his seeming
knowledge of all sporting matters, soon
made him well known in the commune
". AS his habits were regular and his
associates reputable, he was appointed
superintendent of the gymnasium at
tached to the Millville Instituter. After
basking in the sunlight Of Mrs. Wells
fascinating black eyes few weeks he
Joined the choir of Christ Church and
sang there regularly until few days
ago. Ii was soon set down that he and
Mrs. Wells were engaged, and their
courtship moved along delightfully."-
until the Rev. Mr.. Braden made his ap-
pearance on the scene.
SETTING HER CAP FOR THE MINISTER.
Then, it is said, the widow became in
fatuated with him, and the muscular
charms of her acrobatic and club-swing-
ing admirer were no longer appreciated.
E.X- Mayor Wells, the father of her
dead husband, declares. that as soon as
she set eyes on the new clergyman she
informed her feminine contidants that
she considered him a valuable matrimo-
NAL prize package and intended to win
him. Her acquaintance say that she
even went 50 far as to map ont line OF
social policy that she intended pursu-
ing when she should change her name
from Wells to Braden. The radical
changes she proposed making in the
social circles Of Millville are said to
have terrified the leaders OF the
various circles, and they took the first
opportunity to warn the minister of his
danger. His friends assert that after
being warned he summed the fair
widow as he would have summed a
plague, but, on the other hand, Mrs.
Wells friends as stoutly assert that bis
vanity was tickled by the impression he
had made on the susceptible relict OF
Robert Wells and he sought her society.
For months the town was filled with the
most contradictory stories about the be-
havior of the minister and Mrs. Wells
to each other.
BEGGING HIM To MARRY HER.
All this time the vitals of the Tilted
club-swinger were being slowly but
surely consumed by the fires of jealousy
that ragged within him. As, however,
he sang in the choir and was member
of the vestry of Christ Church, he was
compelled to assume an air Of patient
resignation and grin and bear 1t.
Finally, it was currently reported that
Mrs. Wells had thrown her arms around
the minister's neck and begged him to
marry her, and that on another occasion
she lured him to her home, on Sassafras
street near the church, under the pre-
tence of asking his advice on an import
ant business matter, but in reality to
make love to him. These stories in
famed the already disturbed mind OF
the unhappy acrobat, and he publicly
declared war against his ministerial
rival. Vanetta's jealousy, the un-
daunted widows advances and the
scandalOus rumors that were circulated
made the clergyman's life anything but
happy. About this time he delivered a
sermon on the suffering poor, and in 1t
spoke vigorously against the hard
heartedness of wealthy people. The
sermon hurt the sensitive feeling OF
several influential members of the con-
gregation, and increased the minister's
troubles. At this point the club-swing-
er, unable to longer control his volcano
Of jealousy, began publicly denouneing
the clergyman and advocating the
cause of Mrs. Wells, who took him
back into her heart.
THE MINISTER LEAVES THE TOWN.
A meeting of the vestry was called a
couple Of weeks ago to consider the sit
uation, and Just after the session began
the widow and her acrobatic champion
entered the room for the purpose of rak-
ing the clergyman over the Goals, and,
as Mr.. Wells put it, raising - gen.
orally" The moment Vanetta opened
fire on Mr.. Braden, Vestrymau Ruben
Meredith, superintendent of the Mill
vile Gas Works, who is over six feet
high, interfered and quieted the excited
visitors. At the suggestion of Mr..
Rrahen the meeting adioIlrned at once