Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-03
sGArcRED From sin,
A Romantic Marriage Ceremony
Which Took Place in a Palace
of Shame.
An UNIQUE EPISODE.
Courier Journsl, LIST,

Courier J%ournsl, LIST.
A sensational marriage took place
last Saturday afternoon at Birdie
Whites hagnio, on Green street, be.
tween Seventh and Eighth. The
we're John CLARK, q well.to do
farmer from near Frankfort, KY, and
Emma O. York, an inmate Of tue
but a former resident of the
capital. The story Of their acquaint
ance, courlship and marriage Is 3
strange one, aud reveals one Of the
few i%nstancesi in which a man is willing
10 make amends for his misconduct.
The couple became acquainted
about six years ago in Frankfort, the
girl being with her parents at the
time Clark seemed 10 be somewhat
smitten with her charms. She wss
about nineteen years old, aud, although
not what might be called pretty, was
attractive looking, with dark hair and
blue eyes, q pleasant face and a pleas
ant figure. Clark became more than
interested in her as a mere acquaint-
snce, and began 10 visit her at her
mothers house. This continued for
about a year, at the end Of which tim
they we're engaged to be married. II
was during this period that Clark
BEGAN TO SHOW HIS True ooLoRs,
and worked the girls ruin under
promise of marriage. Their intimac,
continued from month to month, and
under SOME pretext or other he put of
the marriage until the eirl despoudeo
Of his ever becoming her husband
To add TO her grief rumors OF theii
intimacy began to be circulated AROUND
with that avidity which only the gos.
tongues Of a country neighbor.
hood can master.
One day when he called to see her
she put the question sQuarely to him
as to whether he would marry her OF
not, and When he began to iuvenl
more excuses she became indignant
aud threatened to call her father,
attention to the Whole matter, ana
then, woman like, burst Into tear,
aud ended BY ordering him out oil
the house,
This occurred about three months
ago, and their nv seem 10 be fleet
u4lly severed, al she declined to re
ceive any more attention from hiu
By this time every one who knew hei
knew also the story of her misplaced
confidence, aud she was barred ever
from the rather humble circle il
which she moved This settled her
determination, and rather than be
stunned By her acqusintsnces sh,
resolved to come to this city aud LEAD
q life Of shame. Accordingly, two
weeks ago sho boarded the train ont
morning and, upon arriving here, wen
at once to Birdie Whites house
Here
SHE TOLD HER STORY
to the proprietress, who consented to
take her in as a boarder. aud she Was
installed 10 her new quarters.
As soon as CLARK learned that sh
had run away from home he began to
repent Of his conduct and determined
to marry her. He came to the city
last week, aud after a dllIigent search.
managed to find out where she was
He would not 90 to the house, how
ever, but returned home and wrot,
her a letter, stating bis determination
aud she at once answered his letter
being already sick Of her life, aud toll
him TO come down aud she would
marry him. On last Saturday morn
Ing he arrived, and procuring a hack
drove to Birdie Whites house. o.
arriving there he asked for Emm
Richardson, By which name sho wat
known.
The girl was out at the time, ard th
landl ,dy, who answered his summons
began to suspect something. She saw
that he was greatly excited, ano
thinking be might be M OF The girl,
relations who would proceed agaios
her, told him that no one By tina
name lived at her house. she invite
him 10, however, aud after some it'll
time learned who he really WIS. Sh.
then told him that his sweetheart wa
an inmate OIL her house, but had gon
out IN town. BE waited until sh,
came back, when
A MEETING AND RECONCILIATION
took place between them. Claik haC
not only determined TO marry le Blu
TO make further amends, and, bsfor
leaving home, had a deed made out
transferring to her his farm aud all hIs
property. The couple made knoSb
their wishes to Birdie White, and sh,
At once consented to do everything H.
her power to aid them, and sent hin
to the courthouse for license. Esduir,
Mcuann was next summoned TO Il.
the knot.
Tue ceremony took place in the from
parlor Of the house, and c~onsiderabl
preparation was made. The room wa
neatly decked out, and all the wom,,
we're present, dressed in their hoIida
costumes Two Of them acted a
bridesmaids, and helped the bride 10
arrange her costume This scene wa,
very strange one, such as but few
times occur in the annals of basnit
lite.
A 6ue dinner had been prepared for
he party, and a liberal quantity OF
champagne was drank to the health
Of the bride aud groom.
The couple left for Frankfort on tho
late train the same evening, aud will
live at Clark's home The woman
a ove1oyed at her ~deliverance. and
.eemed firm in her determination 10
lead . Virtuous life.
The Year Abroad.
NaH Vnwk u.-.Ia n. a.