The evening times., 1895-11-25
ROMANCE OF Two CITIES
Veteran mcPhersoa Won At last
the Widow Biddle.
AGED ROMEO AND JULIET
The Hnsfa nd Is Employed In the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing and
Sought the Widows Hand for Fiji
teen Years-She Thought Him Ex-
travagant and Refused Him.


an almost hopeless battle.
Samuel T. N cPherson. an employe in the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing. and
Mrs. Matilda Biddle, OF Philadelphia, were
married last week. The groom is seventy
eight years of age. and the bride is said
TO be fort y-eight.
|. MCPHERSON Is a veteran Of two wars
the Mexican and civil. When the Mexican
war was fought the aged Romeo was in
the flush or manhood. but now his crown
is whitcned toy the weight of years.
The gallant lover, was wounded in the
Mexican war, and in consequence of that
receives a small pension from the govern
ment. Inaddition to the pension NJ cP herson
is said to get a salary OF $S4 month
for his services In the Bureau OF Engraving
and Printing.
He was married once, but his wife died
about sixtcrn years ago. md for nearly ten
years OF that time he has known the Widow
Biddlc. Her husband died about fifteen
years ago and left her n son, now about
seventeen years OF age. But the son has
nothing whatever to do with the story
OF the marriage.
The acquaintance between the widow
and tie old war horse arose from the ac
cidenlal circumstance or the Illness of
Mr.. AfcPherson's mother. Mrs. Blddle WIS
called in 10 nurse her, and during the prog
Tess of the patients malady the devoted son
began 10 nurse a foBdness for the buxom
widow, regardless of the fact that he had
fought, bled, and been wounded for his
country before the widow was born.
WANTED TO MARRY HER.
From the time the old batiescarred hero
began 10 nUurIsh his admiration Tor the
widow lie also conceived the idea OF marry
ing her. After the recovery OF the patient,
il is said, the widow was installed in the
house as housekeeper. Mcpherson pur-
sued the object of lls admiration with re-
leniless ylgor, and repeatiy avuwed to her
tie depth of his passion.
Tie widow. howe Yer r,Seen1eSiOhayefnrned
Geaf ear 10 Tire pleading Of her aged lover,
ana successfully defended herself from his
CnsiaugtltS.
Peopie who know both the widow and
the veteran say that about n year agothcre
was row between them, ana as Il result the
widow packed up everything in The house
and moved To Philadelphia. On her ARRIVAL
IN the CITY OF Broiheriy Love She took up her
residence with her sister, al No. 1922 South
Front street, and her aged adnirer used to
come over VIII astonishing regularity,
ana offer to do the forget ana forgive act
IF she would only agree TO marry him
and return TO Washington.
Inc wlaow, however, refused She did
not care tu marry him. She also said that
her Rome, had acquired expensive tastes
and was altogether tbo extraya CANT to get
married on his present intume.
On Friday, August z, Mcpherson made
another trip la Philadelphia to see the
widow, and as soon as he arrived in the
rNN Ht ITtl1pU uHiiStit VIII d Di1EIldSe
license. With The precious ducument safety
placed in his inside pocket, the ND warrior
hasteled to the home OF the widow and
/. Then began to unfuiu the dream of happf-
hess that had prompted him tn press his
a termination. o .'' " "' anu manu- u
Some say that the widow agreed to
marry him this time. and that they had
a little lovers quarrel ,,n the way to the
church and that then she refused.
Others claim that Mrs. Biddle had some
flNa h. N1af
they were just the opposite OF those held
by Mr.. Mcpherson. Even the presentation
OF the marriage license did mot change her
Alter giving vent to s.,ne harsh express
sions "r the feelings that were in him Nc
Pherson pat the precious certificate 10
his journey l., Washington. The next day
Mrs. Bicdie declared in an interview that
sihe nuptia!s were of, that strained rela-
tons existed between herself and the Old
military hero.
Il have changed my mind" said the wild
ow, 'and that IS a woman's privilege.
Mr.. McPherson has wanted me TO move
here for long time. He only grts SEA
Il month and pension. and when a woman
niarries an old man she wants one with
more money than that.
TOLD HlMTO GO AWAY.
''The first time he came over to see me
refused to see him and he went a wa angry.
The second time he saw me and insisted
that should marry him, and told him TO
20 away. He promised to abandon all his
expensive habits and give me all his salary
but that was no inducenent. l heard he
had only Sico in the bank. He promised TO
be very good. Another tine he came he
pleaded with me and said he had 500 for !
a wedding tour. did not want wedding
tour. told him that did not intend to |
marry him, and that settled it,. !
The widow evidently used her prcroga- !
tive of changing her mind again, Tor the !
next time her Romeo made application he |
found that Juliet was willing.
About q week ago Mr.. Mcpherson seemed |
to be suffering mentally, and tie clerks |
decided that he wos again going away to /!
try his fate with the widow.
He did not tell them anything about the !
"trip he was contemplating. and when his |
fellow worknieB began chIdinS him about i
getting married, Mcpherson told them I
that the only req son he wished TO marry the |
widow was that he thought he Beededa coni-
panion.
Romeo" as the clerks call him. took |
none OF them into his confidence, except |
the chief clerk, and so he packed up his grip !
and started out once more to tempt fate at |
the shrine of love. He had the same old
license, ana in addition to all
this he was armed with the address of |
several ministers in the immediate vicinity |
of his Juliet's home.
He went up and after very interesting
balcony scene, Juliet consented and they |
ad iourned to the house OF a nearby minis
ter. who made them one.
The newly made bride objected TO spend
ing the hundred that was in the bank for a
wedding trip, and so the couple took
train for this city and are now living on
Il street southwest.
Mrs. Biddie is plump little woman, and
she might be taken for very much less than
AZ years.
The groom is a tall, distinguished-look-
ing man, with gray beard and hair. Be
sides killing Greasers during the Mexican
war, he was attached to the conimiSSary
of the army during the civil
war and afterwarl received an ppointnient
in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
He held this place until $50. when ne was
the first Cleveland Admins
tration. When Harrison entered the White
House, Mcpherson was reinstated in his
old position through the influence of Sena-
tor Allison, of Iowa, and he has remained
there ever since.