Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-07
SHE FOOLED A FARMER.

SHE FOOLED A FARMER.
James F. Hopkins, Missouri farm
er, has had an unfortunate experience
in his efforts to get "a wife. He told
the police that woman had robbed
him of;s3O0. He got to Chicago Satur-
day last, and met his prospective bride
at the Palmer House. He recognized
her by % photograph which she had
sent him several weeks ago. Together
they went to Marshall Field & Co.'s
store to buy wedding outfit.
Hopkins had sent the woman 500
two weeks ago to buy her trousseau,
and she told him, with tears in her eyes,
that the house where she was living
was burned, and the money, which was
in her trunk, was lost. Taking out a
wallet from his pocket, he counted out
5000 and handed it to her as they left
the hotel for Fields store. In the store
the woman gave Hopkins the slip, but
he had such confidence in her that he
was 10th to believe that he was The
victim of a swindle until he had spent
twenty four hours of fruitless search
for her. He then went to the Central
Station and told his story to Lieutenant
Haas.
Hopkins said he owned farm of 160
acres about ten miles from Macon, Mo-
His wife died two years ago leaving
him with two children. the eldest a girl
of nine. There were plenty of mar
riageable young women and widows
around Macon, but Hopkins showed
them no attention. He had resolved
to remain widower.
Fate, however, threw matrimonial
paper in his way. Among the adver-
iisements was one of u charming
young widown that caught the farmer $
eye. AS near as Hopkins could re-
member the advertisement read some
thing like this:
Charming young widow, aged
twenty-seven, desires to correspond
with widower who is matrimonially
inclined. Would prefer farmer, as l
was born and reared in the country. l
understand all kinds of household
work and would make very lovable
wife. Address Mrs. ALICE CARSON.
General Delivery, Chicago, Ill.
Hopkins answered Mrs Carson's ''ad-
vertisement," and in a few days re-
ceived an answer couched in the most
enticing terms. The writer said that it
was the dream of her life to be the wife
of farmer, and especially Missouri
farmer, for she had heard so much
about the ''lovely climate of Missouri" I"
The letter was answered, and the
two exchanged letters at the rate OF
two a week. The widow accepted him,
and fixed December 2 as the day of the
marriage. Hopkins bought an organ
to give his house tone. Three weeks
ago he asked by letter if she needed
any money to buy a wedding outfit.
She replied that 800 would come in
very handy. The money was sent by
return mail.
II was arranged that Hopkins was To-
arrived in Chicago, November 80. The
widow wrote that she would meet him
in the ladies' waiting-room at the Pal
mer House. She would wear a rose
on her coat so he could easily find her.
About four o'clock Saturday after
noon the farmer from Missouri walked
into the Palmer House and asked to be
directed to the "ladies' settin' ROOM"
One of the bell boys showed him the
way. Hopkins espied the Charming
young widown with the rose on her
coat, and his heart thumped. He was
given cordial greeting.
The widow" soon told the farmer of
misfortune by fire at her boarding
house.
well, little thing like that amt
goin to stop our marriage" he said.
And, by gum, you can have a couple
of hundred more"
The farmer counted out the widow"
5000, saying that if it would buy what
she needed she was welcome to it. On
the way to Fields store the farmer
stopped in q jewelers. and bought a
wedding ring.
Soon after entering Fields store the
woman told Hopkins to wait for her
until she looked at some gloves. BE
waited half an hour, and fearing, he
said, that she might have lost herself
IN such big store he began to search
for her. The search was continued all
day. When Hopkins could not find
the "widew," he told his troubles to
Lieutenant Haas. In all candor he
said he was beginning to believe that
he had been swindled.
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