, 1889-05-04
RAJ 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 n 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 n bachelor
all his life, but ii was n narrow escape,
for it was 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 a familiar figure on Third
street
In those days Mr.. Williamson WINS
considered one of the beaus of Phila-
delphia- He was extremely fond of
society, and was always q 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 10 spend the greater portion of
the summer months Mt Saratoga,
where he was much courted and an
glcd after by lovely daughters and
designing mammas- He was known
as tho rich bachelor from Philadel-
phia, and as he was by no means n
bad looking man, he succeeded in
creating n decided impression wher-
ever ho went
II is possible that among the brill
ANT throngs Mt Saratoga he first met
the woman who, so far as is known,
was his only love. She was n Phila-
delphia belle, n member of ono of the
best and Oldest families, n lovely and
accomplished woman, wealthy, and in
every respect n desirable life mate for
tho wealthy young merchant. The
courtship was a brief one, and it was
not long before the date of the mar
riago was announced. Tho ceremony
was to tako place in this city at the
residence of the prospective brides
parents. Preparations for the wedding
were on nm elaborate scale, and II was
widely heralded MS the coming social
event of tho season.
The day arrived, and n largo and
brilliant assemblago of guests had as
sembled at the young lady's residence.
The clergyman was on hand In readi-
c TO read the marriage service; the
bride looked her loveliest, the we'd
ding supper was ready for tho table,
and tho guests in full expectation,
when at the last moment it was dis
covered that n very important person
age was missing-the groom.
Mr.. Williamson was nowhere TO be
found. Messengers were sem 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 n cab.
After vainly inquiring at several of
his regular haunts they drove TO his
office in Bank street. Hero they
found him sitting all alone in tho
gloomy, dusty, little den, attired in
his wedding suit, his knees trembling
and his brows overcast. He was near
ly scared 10 death.
Don't talk TO me. / can never face
all those people" was tho only reply
he would make TO all the arguments
of his friends. And no 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 tho mansion and have the
guests dismissed, giving tho best ex-
cuso they could devise. The bride
was nearly distracted for a day or SO,
but she was soon brought to n reali-
cation of the ridiculous side of the
matter. Tho engagement was, of
course, broken off, and this is why the
millionaire philanthropist was
married.
Tho lady is still living, and is high
ly respected by a large circle of &c
q~uaintances. Philadelphia Record.