Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-07
SHE CHOSE THE OLD LOVER.

Miss willard Surprises Young Simpson,
of Kansas City-Lawyer Paxton, of
Washington, Carries Her Off Week
Before Her Wedding Day and is Anx-
ious to Get Her Wedding Presents.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-One of the most
brilliant society events of the season here
was spoiled to-day in a very sensational
way by a sudden change of mind on the
part of young lady, who substituted an
old lover for an expectant bridegroom at
the eleventh hour. The young lady in
question was Miss Mary Willard, daugh-
ter of Mr.. Carey D. Willard, an officer in
the army during the late war, who
came TO Washington after the war
from the West. The Willards live
in fine style in a large four-story
house at the corner of South A and
Third street, on Capitol Hill. The family
had been abroad for some time,' and Miss
Willard and her mother only re-
Gently returned after ordering the we'd
ding trOusseau in Paris. Mr.. Willard did
not come with his family, but was eX-
pected to arrive in time for the wedding.
He had forwarded many costly gifts to
his daughter. Miss Mary is a brunette,
with large dark-brown eyes and plump
tleman to whom she was engaged to be
married one week from tomorrow was
Mr.. Frank Simpson, son of Mr.. George
Simpson, of Donnell, Lawson g. Simpson,
bankers in New York. Mr.. Simpson met
Miss Willard in London a year and a
half ago, and was struck with her beauty
and accomplishments. He soon became a
sutton for her hand, and an engagement
followed, with the entire approval of Miss
VIZ 30
appears, had not forgotten an earlier lover,
Mr.. William Paxton, a promising young
patent lawyer of this city. who had been
a frequent visitor at the Willard mansion
for years. 1t is not known whether she
correspondent with Mr.. Paxton during her
stay abroad, but on her return his visits
were renewed, and the sequel shows that
the elOpement was long and carefully
planned. About a fortnight ago, on the
Miss Willard, so one of her friends
says, told him that she did not
love him enough to marry him,
but the difficulty was arranged
some way, and 1000 invitations were sent
out for the wedding on Dec. IL. Prepara-
tions for the event went busily on in the
Willard mansion, and presents valued at
thousands of dollars We're received from
friends in New York, Washington and
elsewhere. Meantime Miss Willard and
MIR. Paxton were busy planning for an
entirely different wedding. Mr.. Paxton
took his brother and two friends into his
confidence, and their cooler heads laid
the plans. This morning at $3.50 O'Clock
Miss Willard, attired in plum-col0red
walking dress, theatre hat and sealskin
sacque. left the house Ostensibly on a
shopping tour. She met Mr.. Paxton and
his friends by appointment on Pennsylva-
MIA avenue, and the party went to the City
Hall, where license was obtained from
Clerk Meigs. Thence they went to the resi-
dence of Rector Addison, of Trinity Epis-
cOpal Church, two blocks distant, and We e
married. The BRIDE and groom, to avoid
suspicion, parted company at the rectOry,
Mrs. Paxton departing under the escort
| of one of her husbands friends, and the
| groom proceeding direct 70 the Baltimore
and Potomac depot, where he engaged a
compartment in parlOr car in the IL a.
| m. train. A few minutes later he was
| Joined by the bride, and the pair babe
adieu to the three imprOmptu groomsmen
and the train rolled away. Their desti-
nation was not known until tonight,
when friend said they would pass the
| honeymoon with an uncle of the groom
in suburb of New York and then return
here. There are many evidences that the
affair was not sudden freak. Mr.. Pax
ton had even been so thoughtful as to
consult lawyer to learn If the presents
intended for Mrs. Simpson could be
claimed by Mrs. Paxton.