Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-23
A SOCIAL STIR.
THEM PLANS FAILED m BALTIMORE
And Norfolk, Va, and Determined to
Wed, They Ride Thirty Miles to
Border Town IN North
Carolina.

BALTIMORE, June 2S-The eiopement ofs
young lady, res,ed IN the EpiscopsI church.
with young Ia,slite Of Norfolk b social
sensation in the western part Of this city.
The young lady W. Miss Co,ists HoPwood,
daughter OF Mr.. John J. Hopwocd. OF 80
West Lombard street. we'll known IN nR
sical circles, and member Of the choir Of
the p. +. Church OF the Ascension, Lafay.
ette square. She is in her 10th yess, and,
though unusually we'll developed for ber
age, was regarded at home a. mere child.
being the youngest Of Mr.. HopwooSs
children by deceased wife.
The Family
are members of St Marks z. K. Church,
on Lombard street. Last spring, when .
confirmation class was being formed By
the rector, the Rev. T.. l.. Kemp, Mss
Hopwood was urged By her father to become
q candidate, but she replied, as they then
thought iestinsly, mo, I'm going 10 be .
Jewess." The young man Is hr. VIM.
Oberndofer, sged % years, Of Norfolk, Va
He was . frequent visitor at the residence
OF Mrs. Laner, 3Si West Lombard street
opposite the home Of Mrs. Hopwood u
is thought that the two have been ac-
Mrs. Hopwood says Miss Colista was
never out later than o'clock OF IN even.
ing.
since the Elspemens.
however, she has learned that they met
afternoons at Mrs. Laneis house.
On Saturday afternoon, June ., Miss
Colista left here, saying that she was going
out for walk and would return In the
evening. As she did not return, Mr.. Hop
wood became alarmed, and made inquiries
in the neighborhood. He gained no tidines
of the missing girl, and the night was
passed in great anxiety. On Sunday II WAS
young lady and John Oberndofer enter .
carriage. 1t was also ascertained that they
had applied to several clergymen and Jus
tices Of the Peace to be married, but were
refused on account OF the youthful appear
ance OF the lady, notwithstanding that tho
young man
Produced . License.
They then visited well.known dry goods
store on Baltimore street. where Q more
womanly outfit Of silk was purchased for
the young lady. The long, girlish, hsKen
curls were transformed into . demure.
looking Langtry knot, and other devices OF
the toilet were resorted TO 40 that the
youthfulness OF the would.be bride might
~
applying TO have the ceremony performed
after these preparations they again met ~.
fusal.
II was then growing late, but the mar.
riagc vas by no means given up. The
young couple went to the Norfolk boat.
where Mr.. OberndOfer had engaged passage.
registering himself and intended wife In
their proper names. On arriving at Nor
folk they again made persistent efforts 70
be married, but were refused because no
one could state under oath that tie young
lady was Of age as requiredby
Virginia Laws.
Mrs. Oberndofer, mother OF the young
man, took an active interest in her sons
marrage, and II was arranged that they
should go To North Carolina, where the
laws are less stringent TO accomplish u.
Accordingly one Monday the party drove
thirty miles To village just over the
border. where the ceremony was performed
by Justice of the Peace.
Meantime the young lady's family In
Baltimore were In a state Oi painfdl sus.
pense. They were relieved, however, .
lew days later by the news OF the marriage;
that in order that she might be fully salts.
fled Mrs. Hopwood visited Norfolk last
week, and found her daughter apparently
hsppy with her husband In the home OF
Mrs. Oberndofer. Mrs. Hopwood intimates
that the elopement was planned BY olde
heads than the participants In II. Tho
Oberndofers are understood 10 be possessed
OF considerable wealth. They are of the
more liberal school In the Hebrew Church.