Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-06
CUPID AT A PICNIC
Plays Havoc With Two Young Hearts,
but Their Dream Ends in
SUIT FOR BREACH OF PROMISE.
Miss Mary Vance Wants $4,000 for Her
Damaged Affections.
HER LOVER TO BE ARRESTED ON A CAPIAs

Miss Mary Vance, belle of Little Wash
ington, yesterday laid her bleeding heart on
the altar of Justice and demanded repars-
tion Tor the Jagged rent which now disfgures
that useful organ. The lady thinks that
a proper, not to say a lavish, application Of
currency might heal the wound to some ex-
tent, leaving nothing but scar and a semi
occasional ache. She therefore asks the
Allegheny county courts to compel John
Pfeifer to pay her the sum of 81, 900 in hard,
cold cash-for breach of promise.
Miss Vance dates all her troubles from a
picnic held at McKee's Rocks, on the
Fourth of July, 1887. There she met
Pfeifer. 1t was a case of love at first sight.
John loved Mary, and Mary found her beau
ideal in John. They wandered through the
classic groves Of the picnic grounds, clam
bered hand in hand over the moss-clad
rocks. and went skiff riding. Then the
monotony was varied by John swinging
Mary until she become dizzy, whereupon
her gallant escort furnished her with un-
limited lemonade and peanuts to settle her
turbulent digestive apparatus.
THE coURrsHIP BEGUN.
When the shades of evening began to fall
and the mysterious voice of nature was
nushing the little birds to sleep, John and
Mary wandered afar from the brassy strains
of the band and the -thump-
thump OF the dancers. John poured mis-
protestations of affection into Mary s
coy, but half willing ear, his
remarks being occasionally interrupted by
the hoarse below of pessimistic bull frog
or the abrupt but cheerful chirrup of a
cricket. Finally Mary consented to John
visiting her at her home, and as they slowly
strolled back to their companions they bore
with them an atmosphere of their own
which soitened the harsh outlines Of the
rocks, and gave a picturesque coloring to
the most commonplace objects.
Pfeifer thereafter visited Miss Vance reg
ularly at her home. As the grain took q
golden hue he leaned over the front gate
and breathed soft words of love. When the
first touch of frost played q chromatic scale
of yellow, red and brown upon the foliage
OF the trees, John moved into the parlor,
and by the glowing CRATE continued his tale
of love.
Pfeifer's love continued to grow in ardor,
until in August, 1888, he asked Mary to
make her home in Pittsburg, where he
could visit her oftener. She consented, and
being an independent young lady, obtained
q position In this city to defray expenses:
PROPOSED AND ACCEPTED.
Thus time sped away, each learning to
love the other better every day. In May,
1889. Pfeifer proposed marriage, and was
accepted. Pfeifer suggested that he would
make arrangements for their wedding in the
near future, and Mary relying upon that
express agreement, the couple took up their
abode at No. 13 Bedford street.
Miss Vance says Pfeifer kept putting of
the wedding day until October, when Mary
insisted that he put his promise into i'm
mediate effect. Pleifer settled the difficulty
by sending Mary back to her parents at
Washington.
Miss Vance has waited for Pfeifer to re-
deem her promise until yesterday, when she
entered this suit to obtain damages for her.
self and her child. A warrant was issued
for Pfeifer's arrest.