Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-10-31
THE AYERS AIRED.
Interesting Gossip Concerning Sunder-
ed Family.

CHICAGO, October 23.-The dispatch
from New York relative to the employ
ment of Mrs. Herbert @. Ayers, for
merly society lady of this city in the
bric-a- brac establishment of Sypher 4
Co., has caused much gossip here. In
reply to inquiries about the family, a
well-known citizen who was on intimate
terms with the family, said that Mrs.
Aver was most versatile and brilliant
woman. He was acquainted with the
young couple before their mar
riage, which occurred about the
year 1867, when the bride was
about Is years of age. Her
bert O. Aver was brilliant young man,
tall and dark, and type of the aristoc-
racY of the south. He was certain from
his knowledge of their character that if
the couple did not perfectly agree, each
had nature strong and stubborn enough
to make their home Untenable for the
other. During the past five years Mr..
Aver has been Incorporate in his habits,
while his wife had devoted her attention
to the study of the drama She was
stage-struck, and imagined that she was
endowed with the gifts of a Siddons or
a Cushman. The gentleman said that
she had every gift necessary to
cept personal beauty, and related an
incident well-koown society lady
living on Dearborn Avenue was in Paris
several years ago, and was in want of a
French governes5 for her children. An
advertisement was inserted in one of
the Paris papers, and Mrs. Aver hap
pened to see it. Though she was per-
sonaIly acquainted with the lady who
advertised for the governess, Mrs. Aver
SO disguised herself that she applied for
and secured the situation, and entered
on its duties at once. She spoke French
SO fuently that the deception was
not suspected during the whole
of the first day, although a
young lady who had been Mrs.
Ayers most intimate friend from
childhood was visiting at the house, and
was in her presence a good part of the
time. At night the new governess init
mated wish to return to her home to
inform her father of her engagement,
but objections we're offered, and the gov
erness at once threw up her position.
To cap the climax of her establishment
she then removed the mask and dis
closed their old friend Mrs. Aver. Mrs.
Aver was very fond of the society
of theatrical people of note, and
gave frequent breakfasts to the
most eminent IN the profession at
her home. This of course did
not tend to increase family harmony.
Herbert G. Aver, too, had little ro-
nance connected with his career. His
father had disappeared from the ken of
his mother, who heard that he was dead.
She married again, and her second hus-
band died, and fifteen years after the
disappearance of her husband she was
taking breakfast in hotel in New Or
leans, toward the close of the war, when
she noticed a gentleman opposite her
who appeared to regard her with I'M
usual interest for stranger. After the
meal he sent up his card. It was that
of her first husband supposed to
be dead-John Y. Aver. He had
also been informed that his
wife was dead and had mar
ried again and was again a widower
Sparks of the old fame still remained
and they were reunited. Their son
Herbert was then prisoner and his re-
lease was secured. He returned to Chi
cago and formed the acquaintance of his
future wife, whose family were very
much opposed to the match. But two
such natures could not be kept apart
when both were bent on a union. After
they had lived together number of
years and four children had been born
to them, the eldest now girl of about
Is, they began TO drift apart, each car
ried by powerful current. Mr.. Ayers
habits have been growing worse, it is
said, for n any years, and he is said to
have sought green fields and pastures
new.