The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-30
W. Il. VS. LOVE STORY.
HOW THE MONEY KING WON HIS WIFE
His Awkward Introduction to the Belle OF
Albany and Its Happy sequel-A
Few of the Incidents Of His
Courtship.
IN. Y. Journal

IN. Y. Journal1
Il was bright moonlight night In Al
bany some thirty-hve years ago, and the
streets were filed with loving couples
who walked arm in arm up and down and
over the many hills in the city. The clock
in neighboring steeple was Ginning
the hour Of ten, when young lady who
was walking through the quiet and de-
serted streets was startled by the clatter OF
horses hoofs. Soon she saw coming up
the street ut brealneck pace bay horse,
on which was seated young man with
auburn hair and beautiful, smiling
mouth. His upper lip was shielded from
the night air by six months mustache,
which boasted of twenty-five redish brown
hairs. The young man handled his horse
with such ease and grace that the young
lady sighed and knew her heart had gone
out to the unknown rider. By this time
the horse and rider had reached the corner
where the young lady stood, and she being
of modest, retiring nature, withdrew In
the shadow of doorway.
The horse saw the movement and being
q spirited animal SHE'D and threw its
rider, who fell heavily on pile of stones,
striking the left side Of his face and ut
terly running the stone heap. The young
lady screamed and sprang forward, sup
posing the young man was either dead or
very badly hurt. Hardly had she reached
his side when he jumped up, shook himself
and brushed the dust from his face.
"Are-are you hurt very badly~ timidly
inquired the young lady.
"Not at all, -Miss-a-" stammered
the youth.
"Miss Kissam," whispered the young
lady, while many bushes sufRused her
pretty face.
swell, Pm not hurt, Miss Kissam," said
William H. Vanderbilt, as he introduced
himself, shut Pm pretty badly shaken
up"
Miss Kissam appeared embarrassed and
insisted upon young Mr.. Vanderbilt going
to her home, as ho suddenly appeared very
faint. 1t did not take much persuasion to
induce him to escort her home. Here he
was introduced to Miss Kissam's father,
Rev. DR.. Kissam.
A pleasant evening was spent, and VIII
liam proved such an excellent converse.
tionalist that when he took his departure
that evening he was invited TO call again.
This he promised to do. When he got TO
the street he found that he had forgotten
his heart and taken Miss Kissam's instead.
Evidently the young lady was satisfied
with the exchange, for she did not ask
Mr.. V. to return her palpitator. Many
times did the young couple meet. Finally
| young "Vandy," as his companions called
him, plucked up courage and decided to
ask Miss Kissam to change her name In
his favor. "..
He putoff the ''popping" from day TO
day until the next July, when the Sunday.
school Of which Mr.. Vanderbilt was Super.
intendent gave picnic. Miss Kissam was
present, and "vandy" popped.
When this momentous event occurred,
young William dropped on his knees with
such force that the earth quaked. He lis.
tened earnestly for an answer to his re-
quest, ana amid the singing OF birds and
| the rustling Of leaves, IL came, softly
and lowly whispered "Yes."
II reports are true Mr.. Vanderbilt's
strength greatly exceeded that made by
Samson in his palmest days, for when
Williams paroxysm Of Joy had passed
away there were several hundred young
saplings lying around torn up by the roots.
Drawing big pocket-knife the happy
young nan cut deeply into the bark OF a
stately maple the words "Mr. and Mrs.
Vanderbilt" just to see how It would look
in print.
It satisfied him, and few months later
'be young couple were married by the
BRIDES father. With his marriage Mr..
Vanderbilt prospered and to-day is the
richest man in the world. Never has he
regretted his union with pretty Miss
Kissam, the "belle of Albany"
To this day Mr.. Vanderbilt tells the
story of his first love. Amy one who can
find the tree where Mr.. V. carved his name
together with "Mr. and Mrs" may to
this day see the words. Even now, when
he thinks Of how he first met his wife he
will remark:
"Funny meeting, ehp and will then
sigh as he thinks how the stone heap must
have suffered.
Although Mr. Vanderbilt talks that way
now he knows better. Nobody knows bot.
ter than he that he Is tho eldest son Of bis
father, the late Commodore Vanderbilt, Of
Staten Island, who left dollars enough 10
keep Williams head above water for all
time. The present head of the house, VII.
liam H., has done better than his father
could have dreamed, as the old gentleman
was in the habit Of limiting that his "boy
Bill" had more feet than head. For all
that "Bill" has so many Government bonds
that steam engine going night and day
has hard work to clip Off the coupons in
time for payment.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt have six chill.
dren-three daughters and three sons.
One Of the latter, Cornelius, lives across tho
street in fine granite house. Another
son is William K, a chip OF the old block.
The last is George Washington, who is his
fathers pet The daughters are all mar
ricd-Mrs. Twombly, Mrs. Webb and Mrs
Sheppard.
-, HE WAS IN A HURRY. u1