Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-16

Why did Miss Happy Van Wyck IN
terrupt her own wedding just at the
point in the marriage service where the
minister expected her to say Yes by
replying with a most determined Nor
Why should the daughter OF the late
Charles H. Van Wyck who was a
United States senator from Nebraska.
| who has an income Of more than N,UOO
week. and Is absolute mistress Of her
| fortune and herself, have refused az the
yer. last moment to wed Frank Nit
chell. a railway clerk with salary Of
Sl5 week. after they had sought sew
eral ministers to marry them, thereby
| giving Washington the greatest social
sensation Of the year,
Even Miss Van Wyck was shocked by
! the stand she had taken, William Bald
| win, who expected 10 be best man at the
wedding. was shocked and grieyed. The
| Rev. DR.. Wallace ]. Radcliffe, who was
In the midst OF the service which the
young woman interrupted, was shocked
and grieved and startled Mr. Mitchell
was absolutely--even intensely-stun
| ned
Dr. Radcliffe wanted TO know the
reason, He feared at first he was being
made the victim OF a practical Joke al
| though the fact that Mr., Mitchell had
| produced a properly filed out marriage
license indicated that he at least was
acting In good faith.
At first Miss Van Wyck, who was
| very white and apparently laboring I'M
| der strong nervous strain, was silent
The minister reiterated his question.
| Then she said:
Il cannot be married now 1t is too
serious 10 act In this way. l will not
30 on with the ceremony"
Mr. Mitchell demanded an explana-
tion, Everybody knows that an inter-
rupted wedding Is the worst luck in the
world, and Mr. Mitchell Is a southerner
who was brought up on a plantation.
where the colOred people know the
meaning OF all signs and can recognize
all hoodoos.
Miss Van Wyck refused to supple
ment the reason she had given. The
prospective bridegroom tried to reason
with her and then pleaded. Miss Van
Wyck was absolutely firm. She wasn't
seeking dramatic effect. but she refused
To recede from the position she had
taken.
Mr.. Mitchell then became angry, il is
said. Much may be pardoned a man UNI
der the circumstances. It is trying TO
stand before minister with a young
woman as beautiful as Is Miss Van
Wyck, who Is fascinating and altogeth-
er delightful as we'll as rich, and hear
her refuse TO go on with the marriage
ceremony about sixty seconds before
one expects TO hear the Clergyman pro-
nounoe them man and wife.
-
IL is said that in his wrath Mr..
Mitchell ted Miss Van Wyck that she
had no right 10 humlllate him in that
fashion aud that she could marry him
then or lot at all. According to the
current story, Miss Van Wyek replied
that she would marry him some time,
but only when she was ready.
The party separated at DR.. Rad
cliffe's door, and II Is declared that Miss
Van Wyck and Mr.. Mitchell have not
seen each other since, Miss Van Wyck
went to Milford, Pa, and Mr.. Mitchell
also left town.
There Is no reason why Miss Van
Wyck should have elected to get mar
rled without people knowing anything
about 1t. Although she Is only 10, she
is her own mistress and has absolute
control Of her large fortune.
1t is possible the fact that the mar
rlage seemed to be one of those hastily
arranged, informal affairs that usually
characterize runaway matches made her
change her mind. Every right minded
young woman looks forward TO a we'd
ding which shall be fine affair. and
because of her wealth and position, Miss
Van Wyck can have o very splendid
one, with all the attributes which make
those AFFAIRS notable.
II there had been an opposing parent
or guardian 10 object to the match.
possibly she would have been married.
IT Is even more probable that II the
ReN, Herbert Scott Smith rector of
~ Margarets church, in Washington.
had not been shaving a week ago last
wednesday at the particular time he
selected for that necessary operation,
MISS van Wyck would now be Mrs.
Frank Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell and Miss Van Wyck
sought Rector Smith first, and they re-
lused 10 walt until he had finished
shaving They drove from rectory TO
parsonage only TO find the clergyman
out or engaged until they reached the
parsonage Of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian church. DR.. Radcliffe
was at home and quite willing TO per
form the ceremony.
But the long delay and the several
disappointments had a marked effect
upon the prospective bride. Under
those circumstances