The Cecil Whig., 1886-05-15
THE PRESIDENTS FIANCBE.
History of the Buffalo Belle Whom, it Z
said, the President is to Marry.

History of the Buffalo Belle Whom, it 4
said, the President is to Marry.
The New York Sun of Saturday pub.
fishes dispatch from Buffalo which
| contains the following:
'The statement of the Rev. William
| Cleveland, brother of the President, that
che latter will marry Miss Frances Fol
som, the lovely daughter of the late Os
car Folsom, leaves no doubt of tn, fact
that the White House wedding will take
place. There has been romantic epi-
narrating, not only on account OF
its interest, but because it shows heI
rare and good common sense on a
trying occasion. Miss Folsom's father
| was killed in 1915 on Grand Island by
being thrown from a buggy in runaway
| accident. She was at that time only ele
ven years OF age, and her first appear
ance in public was some four years later.
The appearance of Miss Folosm referred
to was at the celebrated authors carni,
| val, held in 1879 in the Pearl Street Rink,
and which was one of the most brilliant
and resplendent affairs of the kind of
| which the monde of this city have any
recollection. Miss Folsom was an atten-
dant at the RJbert Burns booth, and
wore the character costume of High
land lassie, with plaid dress, knit and all
the accessorses. Her rare beauty and
amiability made her tremendous fa-
v0rite with everybody, and in a contest
Of beauty, in which all the bellies partici-
pated, Miss Folsom was first prize win
ner. About -, 900 ballots were cast in
this competition, and the fatherIess
beauty had large plurality, her vote
nearly equaling that of all the other
beauties put together. Despite her youth
and modest, retiring and sensitive dispo-
sition, Miss Folsom went more and
more in society, but did not neglect her
studies. She was able to pass the re-
gents examination about this time, and
spent two years in the Central High
School in preparation for the four years
course, which she subsequently took in
Wells College at Aurora, where she was
graduated last year, the star in the class.
''It was while she was a student at
the Central school that Miss Folsom s
first romance occurred. She and her
mother were devout attendants at the re-
ligious services and prayer-meetings of
the North Presbyterian Church. There
frankie, as she was known by her friends,
became acquainted with Charles Town
send, son of wealthy parents and fas-
cinating gallant, who was, however, i'm
pulsive, capricious and changeable, both
In society and business affairs. Mr..
Townsend had tried his talents in several
fields, but tired of them rapidly, and
seemed never likely to sottle down per-
manently in any sphere of life. He was
newspaper reporter, clerk in a drug
store, an embryo lawyer and a railroad
clerk. Miss Folsom was, as now, a lovely
and lovable girl, and as she was impress
sionable the attentions of Mr.. Townsend
were received with pleasing fervor. The
Folsoms reside in an unpretentious brick
house on Niagara street, near Morgan,
and there her first courUship was held.
An engagement soon resulted. Soon af-
terward young Townsend concluded to
study theology, and, with this object in
view, went to Auburn and attended ths
Presbyterian seminary there. a banker S
daughter there who possessed the same
qualities of heart, mind and face that
Miss Folsom was noted for, became ac.
quaiuted with him, and the present belle
soon shattered the absent idol of the
youths alteration. He finally wrote a
letter to Frrnkie, in which he told her,
with tiugue of sorrow, that he believed
he could never love her as she deserved
loved; that lie thought he had proved
himself unworthy of her affections, in
short, that she had best dismiss HIN
| from her mind. This was trying time
for frankie, but she promptly wrote
back that she was perfectly satisfied, anC
was rather glad to have him express his
views so frankly. That was all there was
of it. Franlsie's first lover is now the
Rev. Charles Townsend, popular cler
gyman of Lansinburg, who is married tt
an estimable lady, and is doing goot
work in the field i'll which he finally
chose to spend mis- life."
| In the Name Mary