The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-24

dren should for the future be exempted from
paying any taxes on their personal property.
A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
A Son WEEDS the Woman Who Had Prom
ised To Be His Fathers Wife,
Chicago Tribune.
There came to the knowledge of reporter, q
day or two ago. few points concerning most
remarkable instance OF romance IN real life lS
being known that Rev. DR.. Clinton Locke the
pastor of Grace Episcopal Church. was in pos
session of the facts, reporter yesterday called
upon him at his home on Prairie avenue Ing
Doctor was not at home, but Mrs Locke volur
teering any information she could give the re.
porter made known the object of his visit.
The story is true" she said, after the report
er stated the few facts in his possession. "A
week or ten days ago fine-looking man. of per-
haps about forty-ive years of age, called upon
the Doctor and told him that he would like I'd
have him perform marriage ceremony, at the
church. the following Saturday evening, when
he. the middle aged man-whom we will call Mr..
Willis, for / would prefer not to give their truG
names-and his intended would be present. ThA
Doctor fixed the hour at 7:30 o'clock, and Nh
Willis departed At o'clock the following Sat
urday, the day fixed for the ceremony, the Doc
tor was seated in his study here at home, when
young couple presented themselves and asked to
be united in marriage | was seated in the room
opposite at the time and heard the conversation
that passed between my husband and his visit
ors
"'You are rather young to be united in mat
riage, are you motif asked the Doctor.
" No, my intended is nearly eighteen and / am
of age. Here is our license said the young
man, producing the document
What is your business positionp the Doctor
asked, while he examined the license.
"'Well, [ would rather not say, and do not
know. was the young mans answer.
You should know if you expect to take to
yourself wife. How do you expect to support
herr
with my two hands, answered the young
fellow, confidently.
" And you miss; do your parents approve Of
this marriageP
They know am to be married, and would
have been here. but my mother is unwel and
my father would not come without her. This
was enough for the Doctor Tho young couple
had their license, and that really was all the
authority, in the absence of any known object
ions, which the Doctor required. / heard him
perform the ceremony. and the young couple
left Soon after the Doctor came in and handed
me the fee he had received, saying: / have,
just united in marriage one OF the finestlooking
| young couples that ever stood before Both
are young and very handsome, and apparently
devotedly attached to each other. / sincerely
| hope their future may be happy one.
after supper the Doctor left the house to per
| form the other marriage ceremony at the church,
| and it was not until his return that l heard the
| sequel to the story have told you. When he
came back saw that he was troubled over some
thing and upon asking him the cause he told me
what had occurred at the church
" Il arrived at the church little after
o'clock said he. and found it lighted and ready
for the expected bride and groom A we'll
dressed, gentlemanly appearing man was seated
in one of the pews when | entered and upon in
quiry learned that he was the head of large
mercantile house in the city, and the employees
OF the man at whose wedding l had expected b.
oficiate.'
- have come said he ito be present at
Williss wedding
1t occurred to me then that had not asked
Mr. Wlliis's name when he applied to me at my
study week before
"'What name did you say? asked
willis John Willis" he replied
"'Why, it is very singular, but / married a
man of that name an hour ago. said /, only it
was John Willis ir What was the name of the
lady Mr. Willis expects to marryf The name
was given me and knew it to be the same az
that of the young woman who had stood before
me that afternoon. AT 730 o'clock Mr.. Willis
arrived at the church alone
- II am sorry, Doctor" said he, .sbut called
at my intended's home half an hour ago. and
learned that she had suddenly been taken very
i'll. Our marriage will have to be postponed"
% Your intended is not ill., Mr.. Willis said T.
now convinced that my suspicious were correck
L this afternoon performed the ceremony that
made her the wife of young man bearing your
name
1T was hard blow to deliver, but knew I
was right and it had to be done. The pleasant
face before me turned very white, as told HIM
the truth and he sunk into the pew beside him
and covered his eyes with his hands Then hi
looked up and said: 10 you must be mistaken
Doctor. That cannot be. When l arrived at the
house, few minutes ago, found the wedding
supper ready. and carriage at the door, which
presumed was the physicians. It cannot be as
you say. What were the couple like?"
'' i described both to him-the girl first. and
then the groom. AS proceeded the mans face
betokened first surprise and then horror and
pain, and when he finally burst forth with "BIy
son, my son, what have you done2" knew that
it was as had suspected
Then it was your son whom I married to
your intended | asked.
"'''Yes" replied Willis.
So Did you know that your son and the young
woman had formed an attachment for each
otherp questioned further.
"'"I never dreamed of it," replied the father
~ did not even know that he had been in the habit
of visiting her."
"'Well, then, Mr.. Willis said l. st is better
that you should know it now than to have dis
covered it after your marriage, although the
| present blow is a hard one
|. For five minutes the man sat alone in the
| pew his employer and myself choosing to leave
| him alone with his own thoughts Then he
| arose and passed out of the building. The lights
| were put out and left the church without hav-
ing performed the ceremony that had called me
| there
Has anything since been heard of the husband
and wife,"
"Not that know Of 1t is presumed that they
left the city after marriage. and have not since
seen their parents The father and mother Of
the young woman, whom think the Doctor has
since seen, are deeply panied at their daughters
conduct A number of the Doctors friends who
know the story without knowing the names of
the parties, have declared their sympathy to DO
with the young couple. although the Doctor says
that the father was a fne-looking well-preserved
man, whom many girl might bave been glad to
marry"
Jesse James's Promising Son.
Kansas City Times
The Olive street Baptist Church was filed