The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-05

New York Special
Mr.. George Simpson was amazed on seeing a
story of the elopement of his sons intended BRIDE
in an evening paper which he hurriedy bought
on his way to catch train for Grange. When he
got to his handsome Queen Anne house, on
Main street, he found his son Frank singing in
the parlor with his sister, who sat at piano.
Young Simpson, who is an agreeable fellow of
twenty-five years, with dark hair and a budding
mustache and side whiskers, was oven more sur
prised than his father had been, when the latter
showed him the newspaper. 1t was the first in
timatiOn of the affair he had received He is a
resident of Kansas City, where he does business
as real estate and insurance broker, and came
on to Washington few weeks ago to visit Miss
Willard. He arrived in Orange last Monday,
after spending a couple of days with his aft
anced. why, father" he cried, as he ran his
eye over the paper this is nonsense, Mary and
| parted most affectionately when l left her.
She never said a word about any desire to be re-
leased from her engagement to me. She never
told me she could not love mo-"
The young couple were to have been married
last month, but the ceremony was postponed
until the 11th inst. to please young Simpson,
who wanted Miss Wizards father to be present
at the ceremony Mr. Willard, ST., was very
much attached to his prospective son-in law,
and started week ago from London to attend
the wedding and give the bride away.
Banker Simpson incredulous, but sent
dispatches instantly TO various friends in Wash
ington, asking what gave rise to the story. Up
to 10 o'clock tonight the only reply he received
to these dispatches was a message saying that
his friend would investigate the matter and let
him know. 81 think it is hoax" he said, but
if it is really true the only thing we can do is to
make the most of it. | know that it will be
terrible blow to Mr.. Willard, for he was sin
cerely attached to my son, and looked forward
to the marriage anxously something that
would secure the happiness of both.
The frustrated wedding was to have taken
place at the Metropolitan Church in Washing
ton Young Simpson sent out about 100 invi-
tations to his personal friends before he left the
city to visit his father in Orange. About 400
others had been sent out by Mrs. Willard the
design being to have the ceremony, so far as
the church service was concerned, a quiet af-
fair.
Mrs. Paxton was student at a fashionable
private school in this city two years ago, at
which Simpsons sister was being educated. The
Simpsons say the two girls were the very best of
friends, and that her relations with the rest of
the family were also of the most cordial kind.
1t was said at the house in Orange, tonight,
that young Simpson knew but very little
of Paxton. He mad seen him but once at Miss
Wizards house, and the young lady never init
mated to him that she cared straw about him
beyond her mere acquaintancoship with him as
visitor to her parents home. Simpson had been
in Kansas City for several months previous to
his last visit to Washington, however, and, of
course was not aware of what might have trans
pired between the young lady and her old lover
But very few persons in Orange outside the fam
lily knew Of the elopement to night ut is
hard thing to tell what any woman will do any
way" said an acquaintance of young Simpson,
"and Franks experience shows it in rather I'M
comfortable way. He's a jolly good fellow,
though and will be likely to get over the adven-
ture. He's not the sort of a fellow to force
match of this sort, and if he had really known
the girl loved another fellow he would have
gracefully yielded to her preference.