The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-07
SOME ODD COURTSHIPS.
A Quartette, Of Love Stories Told
by Ministers.
DlnicuIty Men Experience In Proposing to
the Women They Adore "A Young
Lady's Tact Enables Her Lover
to Make Charming
Declaration.

-
read a poem entitled, 1.-THE Sling of
David" and turned from the task with
evident pleasure when reporter for
the Chicago Herald asked him for
story
'sThere's the marriage of John Blank,
an Ohio man, that | might tell you
about" said he. John was a wealthy
Young fellow, and member of the
church at Mount Gilead. He thought
he wanted to marry certain young
woman whose fortune was in litigation.
but he never could muster up enough
courage to ask her to be his wife. He
finally surrendered to another lady who
was willing to speed his wooing slightly,
and was married in the church, in the
presence of his first love, whose case in
court was the same day decided against
her and her wealth seemed likely to GO
to distant persons. But No. l, as we
will call her, was sensible girl. and
when her lawyers had appealed from
the Judgment of the local to the SUI
preme Court. she went on as usual. sup
porting herself by teaching school. She
was handsome, and seemed to the bene-
dict Blank to grow more beautiful every
day. He was good to his wife and all
that. but we could see he still kept his
sweetest chances for No. 1. His wife died
finally, and after a year Of mourning
John renewed his attentions to No. |,
Just at the time the Supreme Court
handed down decision in her favor.
She did not repulse him, and every thing
70 no nr,1, f,N,
Blank. although he had not asked the
woman to be his wife. when the young
lawyer who had SO pluckily fought and
won the case proposed. was accepted and
married her. That was twenty years
ago. The lawyer died in 1887, and last
week / received marked paper from
Mount Gilead containing an account of
the marriage of John Blank and the
lawyers widow. Funny, isn't it, how
some unions are brought about and
the Methodist laughed a little at the
dilatOry man who proved the proverb
that every thing comes to the man who
can wait.
SAT the time of the Chicago fire. said
the Presbyterian minister, II was
preaching in Northern Illinois town.
and was visiting sister who lived
then, as she does now. in Chicago. Her
house was just west of the line of fire
and was filled with refugees for the first
few days after the catastrophe. Among
them was young man. a slight ac-
Quaintance of my sisters husband, and
young woman whom my sister had met
at church sociables and such places, and
who was known to he wealthy. Both
had lost by the fire. ard both had been
wounded in that awf crush by which
they had escaped fro the sweep of de-
struction. The young man recovered
rapidly, and aided m sister in minister
ing to the wants of her patients. He
was particularly att, tive to the young
woman / have mentioned, though he
had never before met her, and they be-
came very fond of each other. When
matters got slightly Strengthened out
the young man became a real-estate
agent on his own account, and among
other business handled the estate of his
fair fellOw-victim. She was an orphan
and he had no family connection tC
speak Of They seemed suited to each
other, and my sister in writing to me
often mentioned them and reported the
progress of what she thought was their
love affair. The young man managed
the young womans property SO well
that her wealth was doubled in value in
ten years. They often consulted to
gether on business matters, and he of
ten spent an evening at her home. but
he never escorted her to any place o.
amusement or to chnrch and the,
seemed no nearer a union than the day
after the fire. They are still in ex
actly the same position. She has los
her youth and he is gray-haired She
has never received any attention from
any other man, and apparently he ha.
not thought or any other woman. Wher
] accepted the call to my present church
found them just so, and they are to
day, after lapse-a courtship, | mi gh
say-of eighteen years as far apart a.
ever. ! know there is mutual esteem
may be love. ! know they are we'll
fitted for each other. l know she il
rich and still handsome. and l know h.
Is honorable; but never saw such stu
pid ditfidence, such prolonged, self-in
fiicted misery, such wasting of two gooi
lives. and / trust never may again.
''This cOurtship long drawn OUT sai(
brother Presbyterian, reminds me O
Rachael Dewey, girl who lived at M
bOyhoOd home in New England. A
five years of age she sang at fair give1
by the ladies for the benefit of soldiers
for 1T was in war time. A man named
Abrams had died in t. hospital of thu
army at Frankfort. KY. and his son, tel
years old, visited the fair and wa
petted by the women. as well as b,
Rachael. AS they grew up Abrams
came into possession of some gOot
property, but Rachael was left by he
parents with only a small fortune
Abrams looked after her business, flut
tered around after her wherever she
went. kept himself in an agon,
lest she should marry some o
the many young fellows who adj
mired and courted her, but could
never dare to secure her against los.
by proposing marriage himself She
sold her property finally and moved t.
Chicago, and accounts from the ole
home in the East say that both the young
peoples hearts were nearly broken BY
the separation. That was in $780, -Four
years later Abrams closed out all of hi.
interests East. and coming to Chicago
met Rachael again, handsomer thar
ever, although little past thirty, and
still fancy free. He became more marked
In his attentions, escorting her to
church and concerts, but avoiding the
subject of marriage. Rachael, who is a
close friend of my wife. confided all
these things to her, and more than two
years ago she must have been advised,
Tor things came to crisis Christmas