San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-11-07
MARRIED SECRETLY.
A PRETTY GIRL CATCHES A
RICH HUBBY.
He Dies and the Wife Surprises His
Relatives - Hortense DIX, Well
Known in San Antonio, Married
to A. R. Collins, Wealthy Citi-
zen OF benson. Who Dies and
Leaves q Fortune,

to A. r. Collins, wealthy Cltl-
zen OF Denlson. Who Dies and
Leaves 9 Fortune,
Gi5rtense Dix. young lady
about twenty-one years of age, and
well known in San Antonio, having
attended school here several years
ago, is at present the central figure
of a case in the courts in Sherman,
growing out of love and romance,
with sensational proceedings. Her
father was b. W. Dix, farmer in
Limestone county, Texas. There
the family lived for a few years.
The child was but few years old
when they moved to Waco. From
Waco they moved to San Antonio,
where Hortense attended school,
but subsequently attended Baylor
university, in 1889, at Bolton. In
1884 her father died, and in 1883
her mother was married for the
second time, her last husband be-
ing 3. NJ. Carson.
In 1890 Mrs. Carson and her
daughter went TO DenisOn,and there
Miss Dix met Mr.. A. r. Collins,
a wealthy citizen of GraysOn cOun-
ty and owner of several large farms
near DenisOn. Her mother was
employed as hOusekeeper on one Of
the farms of Collins in GraysOn
county. The employer was a
widower, his wife having been dead
several years. The inability Of the
mother to educate the girl worked
on the kindly feelings Of the en-
DlOyer, and out of his ample means
the girl was educated in Chicago.
As HUrtense, the girl, budded in
to wOmanhOOd the friendship Of
Mr.. Collins was warmed into
more ardent feeling, which was
brought from bud to blossom as he
bro oded over his loneliness in life.
Hortense is said to be a beauty
by all who know her and Collins
affections towards her grew in
tense shortly after their first meet
ing. While he was very attentive,
kind and courteous to her, she
never realized that he cared very
much for her until he began to OBJ
ject to her receiving the calls Of
one or two young men whose ac-
Juaintance she had made in Deni-
son. Finally Collins declared his
affection for her and asked her to
consent to an engagement. She and
Collins laid the matter before the
mother, who gave her consent.
They were married, but the mar
riage was kept quiet for reasons
assigned by him. The couple
then went north on account Of
Collins health. The husband went
to Chicago, while the wife stopped
at Detroit, Mich. The child was
born then, which was named
Gretchen, and shortly after Col
Inns died. ON last March the
wife, nee HOrtense Dix, appeared
and announced herself the widow
of A. X. Collins, supposed to be
an unmarried man at the time of
HIS NVTSilllSt' 1IllS CltdltO al plO-
found sensation. She asked for a
homestead and a years support
for the child, but this was refused
and the case was brought into the
county court at Sherman. The
style of the case was Gretchen
Collins, by next friend A. &. Nose
ly, against c. X. Daugherty, adj
ministratOr of the estate of A. r
Collins, deceased.
In March, 1893, Mrs. Collins and
her child returned to DenisOn from
the north and she made known hel
claim. 1t was denied and the sui
was filed. Once before the case was
called, but was continued unit
this term of the county court
when it went to trial, and ha:
been listened to by a crowded
court room. There was no mistak.
ing public sentiment. Since tn,
introduction of testimony began il
has been with the mother anC
child. Mrs. Collins is little bru
nette below the medium height
and inclined to be slenderly built
Too small to be called handsome
she is very attractive and intelli