Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-07
MISS POrTER's LATEST CAPRICE.
Chicago Society Surprised by News OF Her
Secret Marriune

SAicASo sociey surprised by News OF Her
Secret Marriage.
Chicago society has again been given a sur
prise, as stated in The SrAR's dispatches Satur-
day, by Miss Gertrude Potter, the beautiful
daughter of Orrin W. Potter, the Chicago cap
| italist- Some time ago it was officially an
nounced that Miss Potter would be welded i'm
nediately after her return from a European
tour to +. Lee Rust, q son of wealthy lumber
man of Eau Claire. Wis. Miss Potter has been
abroad since early in June, and now it becomes
known that she and Mr.. Rust we're married
June 6.
The ceremony took place at Lake Geneva,
Wis, popular resort not far from Chicago.
where Mr.. Potter and other Chicago million
aires own summer residences. The young lady
not only kept the marriage a secret from her
friends but from her parents, notwithstanding
that they had made extensive preparations for
swell marriage this fall She sailed for
Europe with her mother and q few DAYS later
young Rust left for New York, taking the ne xt
| steamer and joining his bride in England. Ex-
plantations followed to Mrs, Potter. who accom-
panied her daughter, ard through Mr. Potter Q
letters the publicity Of the affair was given.
Miss Potters husband is only twenty years
old and has just left the university at Be!oit,
wis. He is few years his wites junior. This
fact calls to mind the affair which first gave her
which has not yet been forgotten.
According to common report in Chicago
when Miss Potter WAC about eighteen years old
and romantic school girl she became at
tracted By the unusual good looks Of a young
ster who delivered the morning papers to aris-
tocratie residents of the North Side. Tie
story told is that the girl found her Prince
Charming III the Adonis of newsboy and that
she made known her affection by letter to
him. The boy, whether laboring under the in
M ~ IF,,,,, - Al A.
true cavalier style and clandestine meetings
followed. lie was only sixteen years old. but
he managed the affair like knight of old and
each morning early and each evening late was
punctual at the tryst.
The meetings became known to Miss Potter 9
parents. 30 II Is said, and the termination was q
sentence 10 Joliet for the newsboy, where he
Is now serving his time. The boy de-
tected entering the millionnires residence at
midnight. He had scarcely pulled his slight
frame through the bay window. which was
noiselessly opened before strong hands
grabbed him and held him captive till the
police arrived. Friends of the boy stoutly
proclaimed he was az the house by virtue of an
appointment, and that the note which arranged
the meeting had been confscated and de-
stroyed. This was never proved, however, at
the trial. At all events, the trial of the boy on
a charge of HOUSEKEEPING resulted in a SEN
tence of guilty and several years imprison-
ment. Strange to say. as widely known was
the sensation. no Chicago paper published a
line Of the affair.
All this was revived last fall, when Miss
Potter appeared at an amateur theatrical en-
tertainment at Hooley's Theater. She has
quite name as ali amateur actress and ia said
to possess much histrionic ability. Coupled
with her face and figure she made more than
an unusual stir when she appeared before a
crowded auditorium in tights. She obeyed
faithfully the demands of the playwright,
also an ateur, and played the part in good
style Doublet and hose were by no means I'M
becoming. The local press was loud in its
praise and long in its criticism and comment.
One journal made special mention of Miss
Potter bravery i'll facing such large audience
In such an extraordinary garb.