Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-17
MISS WlNNle's OWN STORY.
Reasons Tint Led 30 the Breaking on OF
Her Engagement
New York starl

New York Start
The engagement of Miss Winnie Davis,
"the daughter OF the C0nfederacy,
and Mr.. Alfred Wilkinson, OF Syracuse,
is definitely broken. The principals
themselves authorize the announcement
To star reporter who met her IN
Mrs. Clusters apartments at the + nun
Avenue Hotel, Miss Davis SAID 90
not care 10 converse about the breaking
of my engagement. Suffice 1t 10 say
that no mercenary motive prompted m ,
in the course | decided to take. MI
Wilkinson and severed our relation by
mutual agreement
In regard 90 the reports abo'lt her
delicate health, Miss DAVIS declared
that. while not robust, she Is by no
means an invalid. My trip abroad dld
me world Of good" said she. MY
/ travels are not over yet, either. lhlS
winter my mother and ! propose 10
make an extended tour through Sont /
America / was there with my iather
when a child. and my recollectlons OF
the country are very pleasant. Mofher
and | have rooms at the New York Hotel,
but j have been spending most oil my
time with relatives and friends. In
few hours | leave for Mississippi and
| have been away so long that L really
yearn to get home"
Returning to the subject OF her recent
engagement, Miss Davis manifested
some signs of pique. "All this chatter
about Mr.. Wilkinson and myself is ex-
ceedingly annoying" she exclaimed.
=" Mr.. Wilkinson Is an estlmabie young
man. think q great deal OF hlm and
of his family. That's all there is to 1t.
As for my friends influencing me, that
is absurd. The decision was left entire
" TO myself. Many of my relatives IN
the South were particularly fond OF Mr..
Wilkinson. But" said Miss DAVIS,
checking herself and biting her lip just
perceptiblv, 81 don't think such matters
are for the public. | prefer to keep per
sonal affairs to myself. My reasons Tor
adopting the course have chosen con-
Germ nv immediate family alone. They
are perfectly satisfied with my conduct.
After Miss Davis and her mother had
taken their departure Mrs. Custer gave
IT as her opinion that the rupture OF the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. engagement was que
to personal reasons solely. Miss Da-
Wis, she explained, CTS very self-willed
and likes to have ner own way. She has
been the idol Of every aristocratic south
ern family since her birth and has
formulated some very decided notions
| concerning the late war which she never
hesitated to express. believe, although
/ have no right to assert, that Miss Ia
Wis and Mr.. Wilkinson agreed to dis
agree.
"There is great disappointment among
Mr.. Wilkinson's friends over the result
of his noted engagement, continued
Mrs. Custer. "Many OF them refuse &c
accept such reasons as / have detailed
and persist in believing that Mr.. Wilkin
sons financial misfortunes are at the bot
tom of Miss Davis's refusal to marry
him. Mr.. Wilkinson himself Is too
hiph.minded TO cherish such ideas for al
instant.
Syracuse people still refuse to lool
upon Miss Dayiss decision as unIntlu
enced by thoughts of wealth. MIR. Wi
kinson's own family refused to creditth
reports that the engagement was OF
until he gave his positive assurance o
their authenticity. he is greatly dis.
heartened by the unhappy turn whicl
his affairs have taken, but magnani
mously refrains from casting any re
proach upon Miss Davis. lie PERSONAL,
announced the breaking of the engage
ment, saying that he believed some saci
open declaration necessary to mis-
Dayis's comfort and happiness.