Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-18
TO WED HIS STEPMOTHER.
The Curious sequel of Western
Young Mans Love.
,nce of Tn. Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star
EMPORIA. Kan. July l6. 1894.
When Malcomb Stout appeared before
Probate Judge Peyton today for a license
to wed Mrs. Malcomb Stout that venerable
official peered over his glasses apparently
dazed at the similarity of the names. Upon
being questioned young Stout admitted that
he desired to marry his stepmother. Judge
Peyton declined to issue a licease, because
the laws OF Kansas prohibit such marriages.
Stout went out of the office with n sad
heart and started for the home of his boy
hood twelve miles south of this place.
Seventeen years ago Malcomb Stout, ST..
his wife and only child. Maicomb. settled
on a farm twelve miles south in Lyon
county. The family came from Peunsylva-
MIA. The family was prosperous ana Mr..
Stout soon became a well-to-do farmer.
tachment for Miss Mary Sigsby. a very
worthy young woman. who made her home.
as a servant. with the family of a neigh
boring farmer. A year later an engagemen.
of marriage was effected and the day was
Sc. for the wedding. When Mrs. Stout WAS
told of this she objected to her AIRY
ing a servant girl and set about TO break
the engagement This she accomplished.
and in the spring of 1880 young Stout de-
cided to leave the country TO get away
/ from the Sigsby girl. He went to Okla
homa, but never let his parents know Of mis-
whereabouts In the following August his
through the local paper, which ne sub
scrIbed for In another name. bur he did not
attend her funeral
This was all the Information he had re-
ceiyed from his old home until two weeks
ago. when he read In the local paper that
his father was dead. Suppos.ny that he
was the only heir to his estate he arranged
for a trip to the old home to take charge
of the property. Imagine his surprise when
M reached the old farm TO ind his cid luve
in possession. He couif not believe he
when she told him she was his stepmother.
that two years ago she mad married his
father and was now in possession OF his
estate. II did not take long for the old
flame to kindle. and accordingly a reen-
gagement took place and the day was set
for the marriage. Young Stout came to
Emporia, stated. for the license. which
was refused. but the resolute couple are not
to be outwittcd. They are now Offering
the farm and other property for sale and
will go to Oklahoma, where the laws will
permit them to marry.
A great deal of Indignation was created
In the neighborhood when il was ascertain
ed that the couple contemplated marriage.
and it was not until after The people had
decreed against such course that the de-
cision was reached by the couple to leave
the country and go to Oklahoma
The marriage of Mr.. Stout, ST.. to Miss
Sigsby came about in a peculiar way Old
man Stout always favored the marriage of
his son to the young woman and was very
much put out when he left the country
He would occasionally visit the girl and
talk about the boy. Finally The yirI lost
her position in the family with whom she
made her home and told Mr. Stout that she
was going back to Indiana. where her pco-
pie lived. Stout told her she could come To
his house and make it her home But she
said that would not be proper. Then il
was that Stout proposed marriage to her
saying: Il will make you my WIFE and
you shall share with me all l have" The
proffer was accepted and Mary Sigsby be-
came Mrs. Malcomb Stout. sr.. and within
a few short weeks she will become Mrs
Malcomb Stout, jr.