The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-16

W. YYARxSG GILL AED MISS GwYNSE
II appeared first through the bresch Of
confidence OF whil0m bosom friend Of the
bridegroom Of an hour. This Judas sold his
bsaefactor out for pItiably small Ness Of
potta2e, II APPEARS, and left 1im 70 the Dy-
no mean, tender mercies Of the reporters
who fill the columns Of the metropolitan
press. This was the first shot in the fusilade
of sensa ionalisn that ensued. Following
II cams the midnight siege Of the
press haunted htteratsur, his rude
awakening from his slumber by the
advance guard Of scribe pickets,
and their defiant threat to publish a story
that had come to their Newspaper through
a ''sidsdoor,' unless their victim succumbej
to the coercion and yielded NJ the facts 70
them A near friend OF Mr. Gin assures
the writer Of this article, and he is il pos
session of all the facts, that nothing but ap
prehensiOn that a warped and distorted
tissue Of lies compromising TO an estimabls
lady would be published, otherwise, forced
from him the reluctant admission Of the
civil marriage contract. Faced with the
issue that ne had been betrayed by false
friend, made evident from the fact that bis
house address had been given % the report
ers by this Judas, his only alternative then
was to give himself up as target Of public
discussion rather than Imperil the name If
young lady A second chapter of this
now celebrated case was opened by the re-
turn Of the Vanderbilts, and society's curl
osity was whetted TO keen edge. The CON
viction that some inexplicable mystery ex-
istsd was deepened by the knowledge 70 no
small portion Of the fashionable world thai
the lady was engaged at the time Of the an
nounced marriage in June last, 70 an En-
giishman, whom she had met last summer
at Narragalsett, and. as to Mr.. Gill, it was
claimed by his friends that be was not a
AaIIT ....ff.
mental impulses of such intensity. Not
more than Aaif dozen people, outside Of
the Vanderb It's and Gwynns families knew
taat the actual basis Of the contract was
"mock marriage supplemented by brief
and fanciful episode Of no more gravity. II
was thOught, however, that whatever the
basis of the accidental event, that the sober
Judgment Of the Vsnderbilts might decide
TO recommend that the civil contract be con
fTIned by church wedding
This conclusion seems to nave been justi-
fed by such action as tne Vanderbilts have
taken since their return. Such ternlina-
ton, however, of this nine days wonder was
nuliiied by the attitude taken by the bride
groom-elect, He felt 50 his friends say,
that he was, from circumstances beyond his
control, on trial before the society world.
He was not a free agent. anyway, and
should he 90 forward as indicated, the mis-
constructions that had been placed upon his
motive would be irdslibly confirmed No
material advantage DO sib!e would weigh in
the balance, with man Of peculiarly SEN
siuve temperament, and his decision was
anticipated by all Of his intmates. This
conclusion was finally announced to the
lady's family early in the month, but a seri-
Gus accident b Mrs. Vanderbilt that oc-
Cured at Newport, deferred any further
action until the present week. IL appears,
now that council of wel-knovn lawyers
Nat~. ~ a
that 20 church ceremony will occur. and il
only remains for the legal examiners to come
to an agreement as 20 the status OF the
civil marriage of June last.
Meantime, as far as IL goes, the contract
has not been formally annuled. The mo-
InentOus questions remains yet to be settled I;
whether or not, should Edith Gwynne elect
to wed her devoted son Of Albion, who,
alone holds place in her heart, she would
challenge an action for bigamy; or whether
or not, the over-chiValrous Fen ing Gill is
FREQ TO follow his inchnations without a
similar peril. AN eminent pillar OF the law
assures me that IA divorce could be readily
obtained under the laws Of Rhode Island, or
TN annullment Of the civil contract without
divorce in New York, but only upon
grounds, which would not be ultimately
agreeable to the parties. The hoped for
outcome Of toe affair, isnOw clearly def ued
Eminent counsel hold that tho parties in
terested had no serious intent" of being
1nerried; and even If they had, there was no
completion Of the civil contract demanded
ly the law Of the state, and that, therefore,
duly appointed referee will mold that tho
marriage announced only under threat
and unconfIIned by the after consent Of
either party, Is not legal marriage, even
civily.
The comedy adjuncts Of this much talked
Of episode have been numerous and unique
For Ing ne Ia
marriage" was an enormous "key-ring,n
attached 10 a bunch of keys. Neither Mr.
Gin nor Miss Gwynpe remember what form
of declaration they used on either occasion /:
neither could swear that any complete
declaration was made, but both would
swear that no engagement existed between
them previous TO the burlesque marriage (;
and that neither contemplated matrimony
at the time. The whole affair seems 70 be
at the outset simply a high jink.n Per-
hnps, il the newspapers were to visit SINH
lar consequences upon all society larks,"
New York society would be tanner, even
than il Is The sustained satire upon the
Sun kept up continuously fer eight weeks
by TobOn Topics, IL perhaps the most anus
ing incident that has followed in the wake
of this sensation. The Sun IL seems, under
MISREPRESENTATION as to Mr.. GiIs literary
connection, made an attack upon the socie-
ity paper, as well as upon him. With deft
ingenuity this audacious journal has scarf
fed the Sun mercilessly ever since, and in
variably points its shafts by ascribing all
the intellectual ability of Mr.. Dana's jour
nal to Mr.. Gill, who has never been con-
nected with it. The heroic landlady OF Mr.
Gill's residence was immortalized 10y the
scribes as a defiant Sphinx. She defended
her tenant during hts absence at Narragan-
sett, and out Of the jurisdiction Of inter
viewer, with masterful reticence aud pug
nacity. Indeed, she is probably responsible,
from her jealous antagonism OF the craft"
for the severity visited upon the absent vic,