The age-herald., 1898-10-13
DROVE FORTY MILES TO GET MARRIED Romantic Marriage of Two Young People
 of This City. THEY LEFT HERE YESTERDAY Went Through the Country to ASh0-
 YilIe.
THEY LEFT HERE YESTERDAY
WERE MARRIED AT 400 A. M.
MT. Modie Cunningham and Miss Kath- leen Hundley, Two Popular Young Society Leaders-They Have
 Not Yet Returned

The most exciting marriage that has occurred in Birmingham society for many months was consummated yesterday morn ing at o'clock at Asheville, Ala, the par ties being Modie Cunningham and Miss Kathleen Hundley, both of this city. This young couple left Birmingham Tuesday af- ternoon in drag and drove all night until they arrived at a place where they could be married. The reason for this runaway method of marrying was on account of the parental objection which they were sure would be raised on account of their youth if they attempted to marry in Birmingham
 Miss Hundley the fair young bride, is about 20 years old, and Is one of Jefferson's most lovable daughters. She is a member of one of the most prominent fam lies in this county, being a granddaughter of Judge Porter, and grand niece of Gov ernor Johnston. She Is universally liked by all who know her and she has many friends in all parts of the state. Last win ter Miss Hundley was voted the most pop ular woman in Alabama.
 MT. Cunningham is also a member of one of Jefferson's most prom nent families, be- ing the son of Senator R. M. Cunningham He is young man of great promise He received his education at the Bingham academy in North Carolina, and year ago began the study of medicine at the Bir- mingham Med cal college. When the call for volunteers came at the opening of the war he was among the first to enlist and he served all through the Florida cam paign as a member of the Jefferson volun- teers First Alabama. He is just now taking his thirty days furlough from his regiment preparatory to be ng mustered out, and in the meantime has resumed the study of his profession at the med cal col lege.
 Separated by Cruel War
 These young people 1t is said, have loved each other for several years, and have said on more than one occasion that they intended getting married, though no one dreamed that 1t would be at such an early date. Soon after his regiment went to Mobile in May, Miss Hundley was one of the maids of honor who went to that city to present the regiment with a stand of colors, which the ladies of Birmingham had made, and at that time the gallant young sold CT paid her marked attention for it was then thought that the reg ment would soon leave for Cuban battlefelds.
 But when the war was over, and his regi- ment returned to Birmingham to be mus tered out, they saw the opportunity to carry out their hearts desire and proceed ed to put their idea into execution.
 All their plans were carefully arranged. They knew that they could not get a li- cense in Birmingham, for Judge Porter, her grandfather, was judge of probate, and their plan would be given away at once. Asheville, the county seat of St. Clair coun- ty, was the nearest place. to Birmingham at which they could get license, and they made their arrangements accordingly.
 Careful Preparations
 A party of young people from Birming- ham, including MT. Cunningham and Miss Hunley and her brother, Dick Hunley, spent the day at St. Clair Springs last Sunday, and that night it is said that the young couple drove down to Springville, few miles away, but were unable to obtain a license, and had to return. During the trip MT. Hunley says he heard MT. Cum ningham asking very particularly about the route that must be taken to Asheville the distance there, and other such questions, but he paid no attention to them at the time. Monday the whole party returned to Birmingham, and theier first opportunity was gone.
 But Tuesday they got another chance. MT. Cunningham and Miss Hunley and John Porter, uncle of Miss Hunley, and Miss Oracle Smith, of Elyton, were out rid ing in drag, and among other places vis- ited the grounds near East Lake, where Troop was holding it's barbecue. They were last seen there about o'clock in the afternoon. It is supposed that from tEere the whole party drove straight on to St. Clair Springs, a distance of thirty-two miles. No uneasiness was felt by Miss Hunley's family, for she had said she would either spend the night with Miss Smith at Elyton or with Miss Jessie Eu- banks at East Lake.
 Dr. and Mrs. Cunningham, who live at Pratt City, thought their son was spending the night with friends in the city
 Alone from St. Clair
 It is not known exactly what happened after the party reached St. Clair Springs. It is supposed they all stopped at the no. tel where the family is in the habit of stopping. Whether the runaways left MT. Porter and Miss Smith behind and contin- ued their trip on to Asheville, or whether they slipped off from them is not yet known. Anyhow, the telegrams received from Asheville yesterday say that the couple arrived in buggy at a. m., oD- tained their license, were married and left in their buggy at once, coming back to- ward Birmingham.
 The first news of the marriage received in Birmingham was the press dispatches le- ceived from Asheville yesterday morning. The families of both the young people were dumbfounded, and said that it was the first intimation they had had of any such step. The news spread like wildfire, and within an hour or two Birmingham society was all agog over the affair and was par ticularly anxious to know the particulars.
 The first news from the party direct came yesterday afternoon from Springvile from MT. Porter, telling the Hundleys to notify Miss Smiths family that the latter was