Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-09
AFRAID TO MARRY.
Millionaire Williamson Hid Himself on
the Day Set for His Wedding.

Millionaire Williamson Hid Himself on
the Day set for His Wedding.
There is a romance connected with
the life of the late philanthropist,
Isaiah V. Williamson, which formed
a great commotion in social circles in
Philadelphia a third of century ago.
Mr.. Williamson remained a bachelor
all his life, but it was a narrow escape,
Tor it vas only the excessive timidity
of the man which caused him to shirk
at the last moment. Since his death
the circumstance of the millionaire's
only love venture has been recalled,
and the story told below is vouched
for by several of his friends. who
knew him in his money making days,
when he was familiar figure on Third
street.
In those days Mr.. Williamson was
considered one of the beaus of Phila-
delphia. He was extremely fond of
society, and was always a prominent
figure in the gay and giddy throngs Of
people, not only in this city, but in
New York and elsewhere. 1t was his
custom to spend the greater portion of
the summer months at Saratoga,
where he was much courted and an
gled after by lovely daughters and
designing mammas. He was known
as the rich bachelor from pAiladel-
phia, and as he was by no means
bad looking man, he succeeded in
creating q decided impression wher-
ever he went.
1t is possible that among the brill
liant throngs at Saratoga he first met
the woman who, SO far as is known,
was his only love. She was a Phila-
delphia belle, a member of one of the
best and oldest families lovely and
accomplished woman, wealthy, and in
every respect desirable life mate for
the wealthy young merchant. The
courtship was brief one, and it was
not long before the date of the mar
riage was announced The ceremony
was to take place in this city at the
residence of the prospective brides
parents. Preparations for the wedding
were on an elaborate scale, and it was
widely heralded as the coming social
event of the season.
The day arrived, and large and
sembled at the young lady IS residence.
The clergyman was on hand in readi-
ness to read the marriage service; the
DllNtC lOOhtu lcT lONcllcSl, lIlt NtNl-
ding supper was ready for the table,
and the guests in full expectation,
when at the last moment it was dis
covered that a very important person.
age was missing-the groom
Mr.. Williamson was nowhere to be
found. Messengers were sent to his
house. He was not there, and after
an hour passed and still no sign of
him, the best man, accompanied by
another intimate friend of the missing
man, went in search of him i'll a cab.
After vainly inquiring at several Of
his regular haunts they drove to his
office in Bank street. Here they
found him sitting all alone in the
gloomy, dusty, little den, attired in
his wedding suit, his knees trembling
and his brows overcast. He was near
ly scared to death.
Don't talk to me. can never face
all those people, was the only reply
he would make to all the arguments
of his friends And he had his way.
After an hour spent in pleading with
the obstinate man there was nothing
left for his friends to do but to drive
back to the mansion and have the
guests dismissed, giving the best cx-
cuse they could devise. The bride
was nearly distracted for day or so,
but she was soon brought to a reali-
cation of the ridiculous side of the
matter. The engagement was of
course, broken OFT, and this is why the
millionaire philanthropist was never
married.
The lady is still living, and is high
ly respected by large circle of ac-
quaintances. Philadelphia Record.