Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-16
Hnll.n Million cnr q Wirc.

William Gilbert ana Martha Nc
Bride Burritt were joined in the bonds
Of wedlocl; by Rev. II. O. Rowlands, in
the parlor of prominent Chicago no.
Tel on Saturday. There were no brides
maids, 10 ushers, no groomsman. no
flowers. The bride was a widow, pret-
", plump, but not quite forty the
groom was formerly newsdealer OF
EIgin; now, in right of his Wiie's prop
ertv. he is almost millionaire.
Tp to four years ago there was bard
ly a more conspicuous figure in Elgin
than Peter Burrtt. Tall, erect and
firm Of step, he stalked along the
streets, his long white hair hutterlng in
the breeze. As Elgin grew the value
ofhis property grew with it, and at the
time of his death, eight months ago, his
estate was estimated to be worth half a
million dollars Another striking char
acter in Elgin four years ago was Will
liam Gilbert. the newsdeaier
Despite Burritts wealth, however,
he led lonely life. Cilbert's news
papers and periodicals proved an at
traction, and he and the proprietor soon
become fast friends. One day Gilbert
introduced Martha Mcbride to the old
man as his afiianced At once Burritt
became very polite to the girl. When
she came into the store he would out
strip Gilbert in his attentions. She was
fond Of books, and, though she had
passed her 30th year, was romantic
enough to thinl, the duchess" wrote
stories true 10 life The Old man en-
coulaged her literary proclivities and
she often read herself to sleep with q
novel he had presented to her. In the
meantime her attractions in the eyes OF
Burritt increased. When she did not
come into her fancee's store the day
seemed lost to him. He went to Chi
cago and gave fashionable taller
an order for clothing. Elgin people
remarked that Burritt seemed to have
taken new lease OF life, but the eli
max soon came.
One day Miss Mcbride rushed into
Gilbert's store with indignation visible
in every line of her countcnance.
That horrid old man, she exclaimed,
wants to marry me.
"Who?" asked Gilbert, calmly.
"Nhy that old man; that friend of
yours-M. Burritt
And what if he does: He's got
right to marry if lie wants to-"
But, William, you're the man want
| want to marry you"
THAT all right, too said Gilbert,
after moments thought ~ am ann
ious to marry YOU but we've both OF us
ouigrowu the nonsense of youth. and
there plenty oftime. Burritt, my dear,
is worth $500,0 COO and is IS years old,
feeble and"
Just month from that day the pa
pers announced the wedding Of Peter
Burritt TO Martha Mcbride The new ly-
welded pair ut once started for Cali
lOrnia.
About eight months age a handsome
young woman draped in widows weeds
stepped oil the train at Elgiu. Buritt
was dead, and his widow had returned
to the home of her childhood. Gilbert
called often, and the widow returned
his visits by dropping into the hook
store and having long chats with him.
! Her visits TO the store soon became as
frequent Is they had been before her
marriage, aud the good folks again be
gan togossip. They gosSiped still more
when Gilbert sold out his store.
And now 9lr. and Mrs. Gilbert are
passing the winter in Florida in the en-
iovment Of old Eian HUrrtt's half mill
| ion