Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-05-18
AFRAID TO MARRY.
Mmionairc Williamson Hid Himself ON
the Lay Set Tor His wedding.


the Lay 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 a century ago.
Mr.. Williamson remained a bachelor
all his life, but il was n narrow escape,
for il was only the excessive timldlty
of the man Which caused llim 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 a 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 nj Saratoga,
where he was much courted and an.
gled after by lovely daughters and
designing mammas. He was known
as the rich bachelor from Philadel-
phia," and as he was by no means a
bad looking man, he succeeded in
creating a decided impression wher'
ever howent
II 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 Phila-
delphia belle, a member of n OF the
best and oldest families, a lovely and
accomplished woman, wealthy, and in
every respect a desirable lie mate for
the wealthy young merchant. The
courtship was a brief one, and il wa
not long before the date of the mar
rage was announced. The ceremony
was TO take place in this city at tn
residence Of the prospective bridef
parents. Preparations for the weddin'
were on an elaborate scale, and it wa
widely heralded as the coming social
event of the season.
The day arrived, and a large and
brilliant assemblage of guests had as
sembled at the young lady's residence.
The clergyman was on hand in readi.
ness TO read the marriage service; the
bride looked her loveliest, the wed.
ding supper was ready for the table,
and the guests in full expectation,
when at the last moment il was dis
covered that q 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 in a cab.
After vainly inquir!pg at several Of
his regular hauhts 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 vert 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 10 drive
back TO the mansion and have the
guests dismissed, giving the best ex.
cuse they could devise. The bride
was nearly distracted for a day or so,
but she was soon brought TO a reali-
zation Of the ridiculous side of the
matter. The engagement was, of
course, broken off, and this is why the
millionaire philanthropist was never
married.
The lady is still living, and is high.
ly respected by a large circle of &C.
luaintances. Philadelphia Record.