Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-08-27
LOVES DUNG DREAM.
The Entertaining story OF the secret
Marriage Of Two BrHttleboro Young

Marriage Of Two BfHttleborO Young
FoIk.
A romantic episode in the lives of two
young people, formerly OF Brattleboro,
now comes TO the surface for the first time
so far as the public knowledge Is concern
ed This event is no other than the mar
riage of Listou G. Ketchum and Laura
Richardson, which took place at the Brooks
House on the afternoon of Christmas day,
1894 The bridegroom was one OF the best
known of Brattleboro young men. He
was the son of the late DR.. i. +. ketch-
UNI, and except when away al school his
home had been at the Brooks House with
his parents since their return to town in
1SSS He had quick wit and warm
heart, and a nervous, impulsive tempera-
ment which won everyDOdy's friendship
/ and liking The bride was the only child
! of Charles A. Richardson, a New York
/ lawyer who had spent two or more sum
mers at the Brooks House with his wife
/ and daughter The family had been &C
companied bv Mrs. Richardsons sister and
brother. Miss and Mr.. Singer of Pittsburg,
Pa. The daughter was distinctively
pretty girl of the pink-a 7d- white, rosebud
/ type, of a confding nature, and a heart
which was highly susceptible TO the admir-
/ alton and attention of her young friends
/ of the sterner sex. Ii is well understood
/ that in the case of one or two young men,
/ then resident in Brattleboro, these atten-
tiOns went to a serious pointer the
young men. Mr.. and Mrs. Richardson de-
veloped a great liking for Liston ketchum,
and he was their frequent companion when
driving and during social hours at the
Brooks House. The daughter was well
/ guarded, and it seems not TO have occurred
TO the parents that the young people were
impressionabe as regards each other. But
the young folk themselves knew thing or
two which their elders did not.
No Sc ,ret was ever better kept than that
OF their marriage. As eventually stated TO
ms friends by the young groom the cere-
mony was performed by a. W. j. wilkins
OF Putney. As justice of the peace, to
whom a bond was given TO save him harm
less in case OF trouble on account of the
rregularity OF the proceeding. No town
clerks certificate was issued and no public
record was made The penalty for per
forming a marriage ceremony without a
legal certificate is SO. II is no, definitely
known by the Brattleboro friends whether
witnesses were present at the ceremony,
bu. the Vermont law does not require the
presence of witnesses az a marriage cere-
mony, as rs commonly supposed.
Abou the middle of tae folio wing Jan
uary the Richardson family returned 10
New York. and two weeks later it was an
nounced that they had sailed suddenly tor
the Mediterranean. the voyage being uu-
dertakeu tor the benefit of Mrs. Richard
son who had been seized with a severe at
tack OF heart disease. The daughter knew
nothing OF the proposed departure till late
in the evening previous, when she came
home from IittsDurg in answer to a sum
mons from her father.
Liston Kctchlm did not acquaint his pa
rents with the facts until five months after
his marriage Their surprise may be i'm
aCined Letters were sent at once 10 MI.
aud Mrs Richardson expressing regret
that the marriage should have taken place
in this way, and the son and husband also
wrote acknowledging his part in the at
fair. No answer was received 10 these let
tiers. Up to this time letters had come reg
ularly from the young wife TO her husband.
/ The last news received by him was a cable
gram from her saying that they were soon
to return TO this country. At that time
the family were in Africa. Presumably
the young woman was persuaded or com
PEELED TO give up the correspondence
Sometime in the summer Of 1895 a young
woman who had visited in Brattleboro saw
the family in Paris. but it was a chance
meeting and very brief She was told that
the Richardson's were then on the point of
leaving for some distant place. Since then
nothing is known of their whereabouts.
During the summer OF 1895 Liston
ketchum finished his law studies, and in
the fall he was admitted TO the bar He
went to Baltimore soon after and since
then has been connected with one of the
best law firms in the city, that Of Schumacher
& Whitelock.
While the main facts in this picturesque
little story have been known for some
months TO a small circle Of friends. it has
now first seemed timely to make them pub
lie. 1t is a case of young mans folly
beyond question, but it will be a very grlz-
zled and weakened heart that does not feel
a little thrill Of sympathy for the ardent and
romantic haste Of the young folk.
The late Deacon" Richardson, presi-
dent and chief owner of the Brooklyn, n.
! Y, surface railroads, was the grandfather
of the young woman. The Singer family
of Pittsburg, 20 whom the mother belongs,
is one of the wealthiest and most promi-
nent in that city.