Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-27
NELLlR HUBBARD MARRIED.
Another Chapter In the Lir. or Hartford's
Noted Belle.

Another Chapter In the Life OF Harfford'i
Noted Belle.
"A New Haven spesal OF the 25th says
Another chapter was written to-day I'm the
life OF Nellie Hubbard. she who q half.
dozen years $50 set the fashion for fashion.
able young women by el0ping with the
eoachman. Governor Hubbard was at the
height Of his popularity aud political sue
cess when Nellie deserted the parental man.
sion in Hartford TO become the wife
OF the family groom, Fred. shepard. She
was The Governors pet child. She was
belle in Hafti0rd's most exclusive social
circles. She was educated and suspected OF
literary tastes. She was all that in fond
fathers Imagination went for perfection.
ii was his custom never 10 leave his law
Office in the afternoon until the daughter =
phaeton drew up at the door TO whirl him
away. He never went to a concert Or
looked ut play without her. In all his
oui-of-town trips she was his companion.
They were as inseparabIe a. lovers. And
20 1t continued until the very day wnen
she suddenly startled the aristocratic
household and sfupeticd high-toned friends
by little dispatch which said but this:
"trcd. and i are married. | love him
and will never leave him."
From the date Of that dispatch change
came into the life Of Richard ID. Hubbard.
Less than n year aeo he died. Few there
are who doubt that he was the victim OF q
broken heart. lie stood up braveIy under
the heavy blow, and, 40 far as the outer
world could see, he pursued unaiteTed the
course Of bis busy life. but TO those who
stood close beside him came multi
Piled evidences OF the change. He was
always at his desk, and his business
grew larger and larger. No time was given
to resi-. He seemed all-absorbed in de-
yotion 10 his profession. Unthinking peo-
pie, deceived by bis calm exterior, accused
him Of hard-hesrtedness. This charge was
not well based. lie had discarded his Ia
vorile child after having idOlized her FOR
years. but she paid no such penalty as did
be. Were the personal friends Of the
brave old man to speak they would tell
how again and again, rushing into his pri-
yaic office unexpected, they had fallen upon
him bent over his desk. with his face in his
hands, sobbng Ike a child.
Not long ago the Tim,S announced the
divorce OF Mr.. and Mrs. Shepard. The
decree was granted on her application
without opposition by Shepard, the ground
being desertion. Fred. shepard was n
handsome fellow when he gave up his place
~ hOstler at Governor IuUbard's mansion
to become Governor Iiubbards sOn-in-lav.
He had some education and much native
Yankee wit. IL is amusing 10 note how the
same PROPOSITIONS were made TO him bv
sensational advertisers as are now sent b
the young man schellng, who has walk
cd of with the afettionate lass Of the
hOroSinl household. A New York cl0-
thing-house wanted him as supcrintcnd-
cnt; Broadway hotel had a cerkship FOR
him; theatrical agency was anxious To
give him both glory and cash. and dozen
local tradesmen were anxious to put him on
exhibition. And, too, the stereOtyped offer
Cf an operate engagement was made 70 his
bride, an offer with which she again SET the
fpshion for Patriot MOTosin's daughter by
promptly refusing. Shepard finally went
lehInd the eOunter OF q Hartford shoe.
store. and as long ms the newspaper, kept
bis name before the public he drew Il
handsome salary on precious Title clpi-
tai. MTS. Shepard had her pbart)n, and
though the doors Of the big house where
she had hitherto queened it were shut
against her, she worried little and sought
no seclusion. Fashionable friend. cut her.
Women who from childhood had been her
intlmatts passed her by on the streets I'M
noticed, and the nice young men OF Hart
who in the Governors house had been
prone 10 spin out pretty compliments look
cd plaeidly across the way whenever her
pony drew nigh. Blue-bloodel Hartford
punished her transgrcsSiOn in "marrying
tclow herself" This was not always 30
be borne. though the defiant toss of her
head did not seem to denote That she cared
much for the opinion or friendship OF tbs
world.
One day Shepard suddenly resigned his
clerksbIp and came TO New liaven. From
some source tie had come into possession 0i
considerable means. amounting. so some
authorities put II. 10 $1,000. Whence this
money came II j. believed that he himself
never knew, though the popular opinion is
that it was g1it from hi. wi'e's mother,
Mis-. Hubbard having stouty defended
Neliic's marriage up to the very moment
when The Governor stOutly demanded that
herceforh the erring girls name be never
more mentioned in his presence.
In New Haven, in little cottage on a
quiet street, the couple lived happily iof :
while. Fred. Shepard established himself
in the livery business on state street and
made money. 20 devoted did he become TO
Li- stables that lis wife was left much
alone. and gossip grew. Her dOg-cart.
snowy pony. and iine dresses were often on
the street. II is needless 10 dwell much on
The matrimonial history oi this period.
Separation finally came. The husband took
hiS abode at one hotcl; the wife went to
live at another. Experience had taught
them 10th that their marriage bad
teen a mistake. They were without
tastes N common. Divorce was tine natural
outcome, and, rc'uminc her maiden name.
Nellie LETT New Haven TO become member
q the family az an aunt in Eeridcn.
Whispers went around oi reconciliation
lctwecn her and her father. l. was certain
that mutual friends were eXeriing them
selves 90 accomplish tlls result. Her
mother met her. Other members Of the
family received her. But TO the dag OF hi>
death she father had no more 10 do with
her. When be east her or il was forever
Pride blocked cut all possibility Of forgive
rc>s. or rather it prevented any public ac-
Acknowledgement. Ter name was not found
iu his will when ii was read.
II is aycrrcd, however. that The Governor
did quietly what he could not bring him
self 10 90 before the public. The T,meSs
correspondent has been informed on what
seems 10 be satisfactory authority that the
wayWard girls name was found in her
fathers handwriting after his death I'm
package containing securities worth many
thousand dollars. Thus was attcSted the
love which he could not bring himself tO
aYow in his legal testament.
Nellie was within call when her father
died. ItiS ssid TO have been wholly due 10
an accdent that she was not by his bedside
in his last moments. lie would have re-
eeiyed her gladly, so his mother believes.
lut \ message was mscarried, and tue
brave old man died with the daughter not
once in his presence since the day, 4 haR
dozen years ago, when she broke his heart
10y dcsortlng him.
Since the beginning Of the past summer
Nellie has been at her old home, aud old
friends have cordially received her. 90 far
81 she would allow them, for, much sub
dued by experiences that have not been all
rose-tinted. she has little Of her old-time
iondness for society.
A fortnight ago invitations were sent out
for wedding at the Hubbard mansion.
That wedding took place al $50 o'cloca
this afternoon. Nellie Hubbard WAS the
bride. The groom was Clark l.. smcdle''
OF New Haven. Only members OF the faml
lies of The contracting parties wcr" prt''
ent. The Rev. DR.. John Huntington per-
formed the ceremony. After a wedding
supper hr. and Mrs. Smedlcy LETT Hartford
on a tour which takes them south. when
they return il will be to entertain ii'ir
friends at reception in this city, where
they are 10 reside, Mr.. Smedley has N