The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-08
AULD FORCED TO MARRY.
he RESIGNS THE RECToRsHIP OF
ST. MARY'S AND IS PENNILESS.


Marries Them-Mr. Aud Will Not
Live with Her.
From. the Netc York Sun.
There was a new worshipper in the
Church of the Holy Faith, in East One
Hundred and Sixty-sixth street, when the
rector, the Victor G. Smith, preached there
IN the Sunday before Thanksgiving. She
was young, with dark hair, dark flashing
eyes, a pale complexion, and an aquiline
nose She was stylishly dressed, but not
pretty. The next day she visited the rector
at his home, S14 East One Hundred and
sixty-fifth street, and asked him to marry
her on the following Wednesday evening to
the Rev. Harry Floyd Aud, rector of st.
Marys Protestant Episcopal church at
Alexander avenue and One Hundred and
Forty-second street. She showed him a
contract dated March 4, 1887, which
set forth that Harry Aud and Emma
Helen Christie solemnly VOW and
covenant together in holy matrimony.n 1t
was witnessed by A. J. Thompson, who,
Mr.. Smith knew, had been assistant rector
of st. Paul's Episcopal church at Vesey
street and Broadway. but had since moved
to Providence. The young woman claimed
that by UnlS COnUTdCU sue was already Mr..
Auld's wife, but she wanted to be married
over again. She said that she and Mr.. Aud
had gone to Mr.. Thompson on the date of
the contract, and that he had refused to
marry them because it was Lent, but had
readily witnessed the agreement which she
herself had drawn up on the spot.
n Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Aud had been col
iege mates together in st. Stephens of Am
mondale before Mr.. Aud graduated in
1876, and had been intimate since. but not
a word of any such alleged marriage had
Mr. Smith heard from his friend. In the
afternoon of the same day, however, came
letter from Mr.. Aud himself asking Mr..
Smith to set aside Wednesday night ito
marry couple" He did net say who the
couple were
On the Saturday preceding this. the
vestry of st. Mary's had received their
rector's resignation. He said that his
re sons for resign1ng were purely personal,
and such as he did not care to disclose. Mr..
Aud had been rector for five years, since
the death of his predecessor, whose assistant
be had been. He was the sole support of
his mother. who lived with him in the
rectDry. The terms of the resignation
offered no alternative, and the vestry ac-
cepted it. The congregation was astonished,
but no one conjecturedwhat were the rector's
purely personal reasons.
Az O'Clock on w edneSday night Rector
Smiths servant ushered Mr. Aud into his
library with two friends, Frank p Bagley
Of 491 East One Hundred and Forty-fourth
street and Louis Smith of Newark, former
choir singer in the church and a son of the
Rev. Joseph Smith of New Hamburg, N. j.
Then came Mrs. Christie with her mother.
Mrs. William Cook, her intimate friend
Miss Winona Garrison, and John D.
Hemke, grocer of Alexander avenue.
They sat down in perfect silence aud simply
bowed to Mr.. Smith when he entered with
a record book. Mr.. Smith said nothing
until he began to ask the usual questions as
to the names, age, ETC.. OF the contracting
parties. Mr.. Aud replied in a low, con-
strained voice. Mrs. Christie's voice was
determined, aud she sat upright and look
straight before her. Mrs. Christies mother
interrupted the proceeding by exclaiming:
Can we go into the parlors This room
is very warm"
The minister led the way in silence, and
in silence the guests followed The minis
ter turned in the middle of the room, and
Mr.. Aud and Mrs. Christie came forward
and faced him. The others remained stand
ing The bride wore brown silk dress, a
sealskin sacque, and two excited red spots
in Der cheeks. Mr.. Aud was dressed in an
unclerical black cheviot, with a low-cut vest
and black tie. Just as the minister began
MIR. Aud made gesture of command, and
in an agitated voice, said slowly and dis
tinctly:
This woman has forced me to resign nv
pastorate. she has ruined my life. She
has brought me here. and feel obliged to
marry her, though | do not want to, and
will not recog lize her as my wife or live
with her. am a beggar and cannot sup
port her,"
There was a rustic of excitement. Mrs
Chrsties eyes flashed. She thrust her hand
into her pocket snd drew forth paper. 1t
was the contract of March 4, 1887. Her
cheeks grew brighter, while Mr.. Auld's
grew paler. She SAID to the rector in hard
voice:
Read thatl"
There is no necessity for my reading it,"
SAID the minister with wave of his hand.
This is a very distressing scene. 1t is
better not to prolong it. Hand it to the
Witnesses
Yes, hand it to them" broke in the
brides mother. Fair play on both sides"
The contract was handed to the wit
nesses, and while they looked at it the groom
stood white and nerV ele with his eyes cast
down, and the bride pped the floor impa-
IDENTITY with her foot. The witnesses fingered
long over the contrac too long Mr.. Bag
ley thought, for presently he circulated:
60 Oh with the ceremonyp
MI; Smith led the couple through all the
rltual except the ceremony of the ring. Mr..
aud had provided no ring. The groom
look the brides hand, though, at the proper
Time. Mr. Smith asked his fellow rector
the usual question:
a Harry, wilt thou take this woman to be
thy welded wifeg'
\, take her for my legal wife," answered
mr. Aud in trembling voice, "but ! de-
clare shall not live with her."
Inc brides face was growing paler as the
ceremony progressed. w gu Mr.. Smith
pronou ced the benediction an almost
STcorntul expression crossed the groom's face.
instantly the last word of the ceremony
was spoken he wheeled abruptly, and with
Uu. word, put his overcoat hastily on and
t .eLI tae room and house, followed by his
."o friends Mrs. Auld's face was now
mhite She looked once at her departing
husoand, and seemed to totter. Her friends
neped her to a sofa and gave her water. In
lew minutes she arose and left with her
tnoVuer and friends. She was taken to her
l noine at | IL East One Hundred and Fortieth
IlLeet' Her husband had already reached
nIs nome four doors westward. Husband
anu vile have had no communication since.
Oh Thanksgiving day the news of tue
Wedding began to get abroad. 1t created
9euSatlon. Mr.. Aud was not known to
lave lave been paying attention to any of the
lung ladies Of his congregation. When
que name Of Mrs. Christie was mentioned
everybody was astonished. Mr.. Aud had
lever been seen with her in public and had
heSe been known to visit her home. She
mau oeel seen TO call at his house. but she