The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-14
A SAD ROMANCE.
The Marriage and Death of Gustayus A.
Reed, Wealthy Ohio Merchant.

New YORK, June 10 In handsome residence
in a quiet part of Brooklyn were enacted last
week the closing scenes of romance which had
its beginning there something like fifteen years
ago. The residence is No PIT Carlton avenue,
the home of Andrew ]. Shiyely. the attorney of
Teft, Weller & Co., of this city, where, at noon
on Saturday last, Miss Harriet A. Butler, of
Stottsvle, n. Y, was married to Gustavus F.
Reed, one of the largest dry goods merchants Of
Massillon, o. The ceremony was followed the
next morning by the sudden death of the bride
groom.
Fifteen year ago Miss Butler was teacher in
the Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, and a FREE
quent visitor at Mr.. Shively's Mr. Reed was
in the habit of making periodical visits to New
York for the purpose Of buying goods. He was a
bachelor and not over forty, then, but was Of
a very sociable disposition and an invariable
visitor at the home of Mr. Shively. On enc of
those visits he made the acquaintance of Miss
Butler, and formed the attachment which lasted
for the remainder of his life, and resulted in
making the latter Mrs. Reed just twenty three
hours before his death. But while the acquaint-
ance and the attachment were of long standing,
Miss Butler left Brooklyn and pursued her voca-
ton of teacher In various places, while Mr.. Reed
continued his career as a successful merchant,
and his friends if they had ever known of it,
had forgotten all about his attachments for the
attractive school teacher About this time last
year, when he was on his usual visit to this city
he astonished Mr.. Shively by telling him one
day that he had consulted an astrologer and as.
certained that it was his fate to be married
within twelve months. A few months later Mr.
Shively was still more astonished to learn that
his old friend was engaged to Miss Butler. That
Stott, the millionaire resident of Stottville. The
marriage was then fixed for the 18th
of the present month. During the past
winter Mr. Reed fell into poor health,
him to bed and was not apparently serious,
baffied the skill of the local physicians Hoping
to find benefit in the salt air. he came East in
the latter part of May, and engaged rooms at
Long Branch, to be occupied after his marriage
Pending that event he went to Mr.. Shivelys
house and placed himself under the care Of Dr.
Robert P. Newman who said he suffering
from heart trouble. but he did not apprehend
immediate danger.
About ten days ago, when he had determined
to go to Stottville to meet Miss Butler Mr.
Reed showed such feebleness that Mr.. Shively
prevailed on him to give up the trip, and tele-
graphed, instead, for her to come to Brooklyn
Miss BItler came on at once. Though Mr.
IN6oU COnInucu 10 tile idSt Co express CoulUcHC0
in his ultimate recovery his friends believe now
that he secretly feared that death was near, for,
on Saturday morning last, when Mr. Shiyely
was absent he sent for the Rev. Joseph M.
Wait, of st. AIMS Church, to marry him. Mr..
Wait was disposed to act with
caution, and would not consent to
perform the ceremony until he was assured
by Dr. Newman that Mr.. Reed was in no imme-
date danger. During the greater part of the
ceremony Mr.. Reed reclined upon a lounge. Be-
fore the ceremony he insisted on making his
will in favor of his wife, and as there was no
lawyer to be had in the time at hand, it was
drawn up by Mrs. Bainbrdge. married daugh-
| ter of Mr.. Shiyey This will has since been ex-
amined by Mr.. Shively and several other lawyers
and pronounced to be in conformity with all the
requirements of the law.
| On Sunday morning Mr.. Reed said he was bet
| ter than he had been for long time, but at II