The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-25
90 sSoss G.3
4 Most Successful Bigamist. !
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In the latter part OF the seventeenth
century there was pract,cing in tn
town OF Banbury a young surgeon
named William Morrell. or his ante
cedents Httle was known. except that h'
came from Worcestershire. and haC
been ships doctor. His address wa.
SO pleasing that he soon became gen.
eral favorite, and nourished according
ly. He married a respectable widow OF
the place, who had money. and had. tc
al appearance. prosperous and hon
ofdDle professional career before h.m
But Morrell's social gifts were not
wholly To his advantage. He was the
Dest OF good company, and this recon-
mended him TO the society OF the gem
Try or the neighborhood. Whilst he en-
Joyed their hospltalities, his practice
was neglected. and he became hopeless
ly involved i'm money difficulties. Under
tnese circumstances he made up his
mind TO take French leave OF all his
troubles and responsibilities. and start
on new career-to begin life as a pro-
fessional bigamistl
lie had a man-servant as little trou-
pieu win scruples as himself who
agreed 10 share his adventures, and
VINO proved worthy Sancho for such
Don Quixote. Their first exploit, was
achieved at Brailes, a Warwickshire
village not many miles from Banbury,
Out on the particulars OF IL we need not
enter. The wife married. and deserted
IN rev days. was merely the daughter
OF a weI-to-do country artificer; and
the AFFAIR fad no special influence on
ms iuture career. except as furnishing
FUNDS TO enable him TO appear shortly
afterwards at Ludlow in all the splen-
dor proper TO fine gentleman of the
period.
The name which he gave there was
that OF an honorable Berkshire family
but he made no parade OF rank or
wealth. The part he elected TO take was
that OF the prince in disguise. who. for
reasons OF his own, courted retirement.
lie found lodging in the house OF
prosperous tradesman, the eldest OF
whose two handsome daughters had a
fortune at her disposal. This young
lady had romantic ideas. and was nat
urally interested I'm the mysterious
stranger. who soon began TO show her
particular attentions.
The father. n shrewd man, was little
lnclned to favor an unknown suitof:
but he was no match for Morrell Be-
fore going out for the day. that gentle
man one morning, by a premeditated
accident. left the drawer unlocked i'm
which he kept his papers That the fe-
males OF the family would yield 10 Gu
rlosity was foregone conclusion. In
the drawer were business letters such
as the owner of a large estate might be
supposed to receive from his steward
tenants, etc, and among them was one |
n feminine hand, I'm which sister |
begged her brother TO return home and |
no longer To withhold his consent to her |
marriage.
These convincing documents were |
read by the daughters, and even shown |
10 the rather, and they had the desired /
result. A marriage followed: and now |
the mysterious bridegroom professed TO |
make clean breast of il. His reason |
Tor leaving his mansion and seeking |
this retreat was that his young sister |
VINO was also his ward, had formed an
unsuitable attachment; and. as she |
could not marry and retain her fortune |
without his consent, he had thought
II better TO Withdraw till the affair had
cooled down; he was so fond of her
that he feared If he remained with her
she would coax him into letting her
nave her way against his better judg-
ment. He said however. that he had
failed IN keeping his hiding place al
together secret; a Berkshire neigh
Dor had seen and known him at the re-
cent Ludlow Fair. since which time
certain letters had reached him.
Before the wedding festivities were
we'll over, Morrell's valuable man-ser-
want. Tom. appeared on the scene He
came in hot haste. booted and spurred
tie was now his worship's steward His
most startling news was that his young
mistress had eloped-disappeare but
he also brought the Information that
Urgent business required his masters
attention i'm Bristol
Close on h s heels come n second mes
'enger. a footboy in smart. livery. He
pore letter from the lost sister. She
lad LETT home only to seek out her
lard- d-hearted brother. She had come SO |
ar as Hereford: there her courage had
allied her. She begged him TO come 10
Ter at that place.
The bride-she was Of a romantic !
for the poor young lady.
ma the bridegroom consented TO go To |
Ter. But there We're difficulties: he had
10 horse. and the steward I'm his haste
lad left home with few pounds IN his
'ocket. Yet these were trifes easily ar
anged The brides father kept a fine
lorse, and he was only too happy to
end u. The Bristol business would in
olive some heavy disbursements. and
o meet these the brides fortune was
aid over. The squire, attended by his
Wo servants, was to ride to Hereford
nd bring his sister back with him 10
ludlow, whilst the steward went on to
Bristol.
That the bride looked as vainly for
he return OF her spouse as did the
ather Tor that of his horse needs
carcely to be said. Morrell had, as he
hought. taken his final leave OF I.nd- J
NV and OF all that belonged 10 it: but J
e was TO hear more of the lady later
n-and 20 his cost. {
The whole of this hero's exploits {
iould take long i'm the telling: but
tue later he was az Bath. where I'm
ne character OF a Norfolk squire. ne c
arried OFF the daughter OF a rich inn
eeper; AZ slough, as a wealthy London !
lerchant. he wooed and won the only :
aughter or gentleman OF properly. {
nd from fashionable boarding o
chool. at Wells he eloped with an !
rphan heHress. AN these. with several +
,her wives. ne plundered and desert r
A: and. after time we find him tn 4