Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-01-17
A Romantic Wedding.

A great deal of interest was created
in Shepherdstown Monday morning
by the news that Miss Mary Agnes
Hess, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. T. l.
Hess, formerly one Of Shepherdstown's
prettiest and most popular girls, had
been married in most romantic fash
ion. The Sun gives the details in the
following graphic style:
One o'clock Sunday morning was the
romantic hour selected by W. T. Rau,
of Clarksburg, ". Va, and Miss Mary
Agnes Hess, of Washington, d. c., 10
merge their lives into one.
One of the parlors of the Hotel Rem
merit was the scene Of the wedding.
Rev. William L. WAY. pastor of En-
manuel Reformed Episcopal Church,
at Eden and Hoffman streets. was the
officiating clergyman.
AS bridesmaid and best man were
Miss Annie Rau, of Washington, and
Mr.. W. 0. Rau, of Harper's Ferry, Sis
ter and brother Of the groom.
1t may be inferred from these odd
proceedings that Family of one of the
leading actors in the midnight wedding
had objected to it, And il may now be
said that those directors were the pa
rents of Miss Hess, who on more than
one occasion had frustrated an elope-
ment. Perhaps that is why the broth
er of the groom cried out eXultantly
just as the clergyman said the last word,
We've stolen her this time - remark
that caused no little merriment
The couple, accompanied by the rel
ativeS of the groom, arrived in Balti-
more on late Saturday train from the
capital.
About midnight Mr.. Charles f. West,
deputy clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas. received visit from Thomas Q.
Agnew, who told Mr.. West that he was
just the man to help a pair of faithful
lovers TO do some laughing at lock-
smiths and join in wedloCk two trusting
souls who had hitherto been kept apart
by the cruel hand of fate
Would Mr. West go along with Mr..
Agnew to his place of business. where
the wedding party was waiting and hes
itating for its next cue
Mr. West would and did.
There he found a determined and
confident groom pretty, shrinking
and somewhat frightened bride and
jubilant gentleman and lady, who
proved to be w. o. Rau, of Harper's
Ferry, and Miss Annie Rau, the broth
CIR and sister Of the groom.
Mr. West proved good general man
ager. He found that Mr.. w. L. Rau
had stopped at the Reunert and suggest
ed that the party go there at once while
he took the necessary legal steps to
make a success out Of the midnight ro-
nance.
"What's the correct thing in register
ing at a hotel in an affair of this kind p
asked the groom. I'm little new at
such thing and we cannot be too care
full about observing the prophecies.
This is the way" said Mr.. West.
Il shall at once order suit Of rooms
for you. Now the two ladies will reg
lister in their present names and be as
signed rooms. The two men will do the
same Then when we get this wedding
over why there will appear new entry
of W. T. Rau and wife and Miss Hess,
of Washington, with disappeared
This met the approval of all and Mr.
West began TO look like the biggest man
in Baltimore
Now for the marriage license, said
he.
Directing Mr.. Agnew to meet him.
within short time at the courthouse,
he soon had Mr.. George Wise, the mar
riage license clerk, on the spot with the
keys. and Mr.. Agnew got the license
and the two went to the Hotel Rennert.
The groom's age was given as 20 years
and the brides as 10 years.
Now for the preacher 1t was past
midnight and all eyes were turned upon
Mr. West. Could he do it? They had
seen he was great before this, but could
he really get Il minister out at such an
unSeemly hour Sunday, too
He could and he did. Flinging him
self into "A carriage, as they say in nov
els. he drove rapidly to the home Of
Rev William T. Way, 1911 North Car
oline street Mr. Way was willing to
Join the yearning hearts and hands and
soon the carriage ratified up to the door
of the Rennert, and rs Mr.. West took
the minister into the room where the
party were waiting their looks Of ankle
ty changed to pleasant smiles and I'M
disguised beams of admiration for so
able general as had been directing the
campaign All hands then went TO the
parlor, and at | o'clock Sunday morn
ing the minister pronounced the twain
to be one and not to be put asunder
Mr. Thomas .. Agnew, who procured
the marriage license, had this TO say
THE couple came here to be married
because of the opposition Of the brides
family. Mr.. Rau is proprietor OF a no.
tel in Clarksbure and is also engaged IN
the wholesale liquor business. Until
few years ago he lived at Harper's Fer
ry and Miss Hess lived at HalltOwn, w.
Va, a few miles away. They have
been warm friends since childhood and
have been engaged for some time. They
decided yesterday not to wait any long
er. Miss Hess met him al the home Of
a friend and they came to Baltimore,
reaching here at 1870 o'clock. Mr..
Rau's brother, William Rau, cashier Of
the First National Bank Iof Harper's
Ferry, and his sister, Miss Rau, had
been apprised by wire Of the coming
event and at once started for Baltimore.
They were present at the marriage, as
were Messrs. Robert Muir, Samuel w.
Derr and Charles West, Of this city,
and myself. Mr.. and Mrs. Rau left this
afternoon, both looking very happy, for
Clarksburg.