Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-04
BOSTON DRY GOODS HOUSE

she went to Florida, from which place she has
Just returned. Mr.. Halford owns two houses
in Indianapolis, and is worth perhaps, els, 600.
Church going is his only diversion. He used
to attend both services on Sunday and teach
Bible class with good success. He is not new
to Washington, for he was here as secretary to
the late Senator o. p. Morton for while in 1875,
and he was also General Harrison's secretary
when the President was in the Senate. 1t is
expected that "Lige" Halford will prove fully
as popular in his new position as was Colonel
Lamont whom he succeeds.
HALFoRD's MARRIAGE.
An incident in Halford's life which illustrates
his secretive power, which is essentially neces-
sary in private secretary is found in the way
in which he was married. His wife was teach
ing music in female seminary Of the MethO-
dist persuasion in Indianapolis when she at
tracted the attention of Mr.. Halford, and a
warm attachment sprung up between them.
Miss Fitzgerald's parents removed to Franklin,
Ind, and subsequently to Elgin, ILL.,, but sep
aration did not cool the ardor OF the
young people, who corresponded regularly,
although the parents of the young lady had no
idea that matters were assuming a serious
shape. Miss Fitzgerald at length wrote that
her family were to go to Chicago ON visit and
that she would accompany them. As they pro-
posed to remain about three hours in Indian
apolis on their journey. Halford thought that
would be good opportunity to have the nup-
cordlngly. When the family reached IndianapO-
lis Haiford met his fancee at the depot. put her
into a carriage and they were driven to a min
listers house, where they were quietly made
man and wife. When her family were ready
to resume their journey, their daughter (now
Mrs. Halford), although the old folks knew
nothing Of the affair. was at the depot to &C.
company them. Halford babe his bride good
bye, she was whisked off by the train. and he
returned quietly to his work at the Journal
office. He didn't see his bride for six weeks
BY that time he had made arrangements for
her reception, and he went to her home in FL
gin to fetch her. There he revealed their re-
latlons to her parents and took his wife to her
new home. But one or two of his most init
mate friends had any idea that he was married
until he brought his wife to Indianapolis. =
HIS NEW DRESS SUIT.
Halford has been in one respect like Attorney
General Garland-he has always had an an
tipathy to dress coat. He considered that
the double-breasted prince albert frock was good
enough dress for him, and had always refused
to don the regulation claw-hammer. But when
he was made Gen. Harrisons private secretary
he realized that he must get used to everything
that pertained to official society, including the
nlght-or at the reception. it is called by some
of the hyper-religious friends of the Presi-
dent-he will be radiant in a dress coat of
the most approved pattern, and it will also be
seen that he wears it with the ease and grace
that characterizes all his movements. II some
Of the letters which Private Secretary
Halford has written to his brother
Jim describing his Graeco-Roman wrest-
ling with the tailor in fitting the dress
coat and with the coat itself in its newness
could be published it would be seen that the
new private secretary has a fund of humor
worthy of Mark Twain or Bill Nye. But
brother Jim will not furnish those letters for
publication. He only keeps them as guaran-
tee OF good faith, and he says that he remem-
beers the prejudices he himself had to conquer
against the regulation dress-coat.