The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-02
CUP1D'S GREAT SHOT.
REMARKABLE LOVE AFFAIR OF CHI
CAGO MAN AND OHIO GIRL.
4 Romance In Black and White In Which
Real Estate Dealer, a Country Maiden
and Two Colorcd Folks Are the Heroes
and Horofncs.


Real Estate Dealer, Country Maider
and Two Colorcd Folks Are the Heroe1
and Horoincs.
The announcement of the engagement
Of Mr.. Claude M. Sanford, leading
real estate man Of Chicago. and Miss
Gladys Westlake, a leading society
young lady Of Fernwood. was detailed
to The Plain Dealer representative this
evening. The novel and unique circum.
stances bringing about this unusual oc.
currence have set the people Of that
thriving little town all agog.
Miss Westlake, following her gradua-
tion last season, spent the winter with
her mother in Europe. She is viva
cious young girl of 10 summers, and the
rather monotonous life Of her country
home after her return last spring from
her winter spent in society in the old
world soop began to cause her to seek
some new avenue for amusement, and
accordingly she resolved on inserting an
advertisement in leading Ohio paper
for gentleman correspondent. lust
for fun, you know" 1t read: Gentle
man correspondent wanted. Address
Miss G.. Westlake, Fernwood, o."
Claude M. Sanford, sitting at his
desk in Chicago last June, ran across
the advertisement, and he, too, "just
for fun" thought he would have a lit
tie amusement during the summer
months, and hastily penned brief note
to tho above address. A number of othN
or similar advertisements appeared in
the paper, and he exhibited the paper
to several Of his friends, who picked out
different ones and did likewise. Busted
with the cares Of his profession, he for
go. his unknown correspondent, and
after weeks time had elapsed, one
evening just as he was leaving his Of
flee he was handed neat little pink
envelope. He scanned the address,
which was an entirely unknown hand
writing to him, but observing the post
mark he saw it was from his unknown.
He found his correspondent to be an ex-
ceptionally good letter writer and her
chirography elegant. He was we'll
pleased, but the correspondence Jagged
for some weeks, then both parties SEEM
ed to have been pierced by Cupid's
darts, and the letters came thick and
fast. 1t was not long until Mr.. San
ford acknowledged himself deeply in
love with Miss Westlake and asked for
her photograph, but was refused. The
correspondence continued until the first
Of this month, when Mr.. Sanford, in
his customary businesslike way, boldly
proposed. He was promptly accepted by
Miss Westlake, much to his vsyy agree
able surprise. Arrangements wsrc at
once made for meeting, and Saturday
was arranged ~ the date. and extensive
preparations were made by both.
Neither having ever seen the other
or photograph, unique plan Of Yecog-
milton was hit upon previous to the cleo
tion in that if Mckinley was elected
each was to wear a yellow chrysanthe-
mum; if Bryan was successful, white
one was to be the label.
AS the time approached Mr.. Sanford
became uneasy and thought possibly he
might be tho victim only of huge joke.
He became much perturbed, and Oft
times pictured as best he could how he
would feel if it ali turned out hoax.
But to obviate this he hit upon another
novel scheme, and, calling his colored
porter into the play, confided to him the
situation and arranged to take the por-
ter, George w. Ford, along with him.
Ford was to wear the chrysanthemum,
alight from the front end Of the train,
while he would, unobserved, alight from
the rear. If the whole thing was hoax,
he would conceal his identity and re-
turn wiser but unhappy, but if Miss
Westlake was there he would disclose
his identity and more than be pleased
to fulfill his part.
When the train due at 8 40 Saturday
afternoon pulled into Jackson on the
Ohio Southern road, as prearranged,
Ford stepped off the train. his monster
yellow chry 5anthemum forming quite a
striking contrast with his complexion.
He quickly surveyed the crowd in search
of the lady with the corresponding sign.
Sanford alighted from the rear Of the
train. and, sauntering up the platform
to reconnoiter, his chagrin can be better
imagined than expressed when he OBJ
served equally as dark hued lady,
with a mammoth yellow chrysanthe-
mum prominently pinned on her jacket,
engaged in an animated conversation
with Ford.
A bevy Of young ladies about this
time attracted the crestfallen lovers
attention by their seeming interest in
his porter and new made friend. They
seemed to be directing their jests toYard
beautiful brunette, whose face was
flushed and who seemed nonplused for
something to respond to her "mean
companions. " Just at this juncture Mr..
Sanford, having drawn nearer. heard
one Of the girls say. "Gladys, what do
you think Of Mr.. Sanford?" and pointed
toward the porter. The remarkable CO.
incidence at once dawned on Sanford
that his fair stranger had been equal in
strategy and pursued the same tactic.
and brought her oolored maid. He ut
once stepped up to the crowd and intro