The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-08-23
A WEDDING BY CABLE.

WEDDING BY CABLE.
Mr.. Archibald Giddings was an
Englishman, but not of the phleg-
matte type, or this story would never
have been written.
At the death of his parents he had
been taken by male attendant to his
only living relative, an uncle, in Mel
bourne. There he grew to manhood
under the watchful eyes of his in
structors and his bachelor uncle.
At the age of thirty, the fair sex
had played no part in his life. His
uncle spared neither time nor money
to make Archibald Giddings' educa-
ton complete. He had the best of
instructors, and only the best, in art,
in literature, in the sciences, was to
his attention. In horsemanship, hunt
ing and athletics he was trained by
the most skil1ful tutors. But women
did not pass within the domain of his
uncle. He grew up with a strange
feeling of aversion for the opposite
sex. Having great admiration for
his uncle, and feeling sure that his
uncle's life had been saddened by
woman, he resolved to remain bach
e1or to the end of his days.
Then things took widely different
turn in the life of Archibald Gid
dings. His uncle died suddenly,
leaving will which made the nephew
sole heir to his immense fortune on
one condition on1y-that he, Archi-
bald Giddings, confirmed bachelor,
marry within the next six months.
1t was sudden, startling and decided
ly unthought Of.
At least, there was six months to
look about in, certainly not for wife,
but for what might be done at the
end of the six months when the in
come and all the luxuries of life
which he had so long enjoyed should
cease with him. A few weeks were
given to the settlement of his uncle's
affairs, and Archibald Giddings pre-
pared to bid goodbye to Melbourne.
In packing his belongings, he ran
across copy of New York news
paper which had been among the last
mail received by his uncle. The bold
headlines on the first page caught his
attention and he read an item of most
peculiar interest.
A wonderful coincidence. A young
woman in New York city had been
left a bequest that was precisely SINH
lar. As in his case, it amounted to
millions. AS in his case, also, the
young woman was confirmed deci-
pie of single blessedness.
The paper was four months old.
Archibald Giddings bethought plan
to plan was to act. The young
woman in New York was immediate
ly cabled an offer of marriage, said
marriage to be performed by cable in
the presence of a sufficient number of
witnesses at both ends of the line.
The entire situation was clearly ex-
planned in the message, and Archi-
bald Giddings had only to wait for
the return cablegram.
The young woman in New York
replied that she was still unmarried,
and that she would accept Mr.. Gid
dings' proposal on the condition that
the marriage should be held sacred
by both parties; that the understand
ing should be that they would live
their lives as they were now doing,
united only by lawful ties.
Archibald Giddings was delighted.
He secured a verbose legal opinion
from most learned judge that such
a wedding would be perfectly lawful,
and preparations were Immediately
began for a wedding by cable.
Private wires were laid to the house
of the bride in New York and to the
house of the groom in Melbourne
from the offices of the cable CON-
psnies. A corresponding date and
hour was set for the wedding to take
place in both cities. An eminent di-
vine of New York was engaged to
oficiate at this novel ceremony. The
marriage was recorded in both cities.
This accomplished, Archibald Gid
dings came into possession of his vast
fortune and assumed the air and bear
ing of a benedict. His marriage
vows were sacred, and the under
standing between himself and wife
was perfect, neither one should in
any way interfere with the other
their lives should go on as before.
Mr.. Giddings decided to travel ex-
tensively, but he proposed to steer
clear of New York.
Three years later he left Boston for
Liverpool. The social duties on
fast ocean liner would have bored
him, so to make sure of privacy and
an opportunity to enjoy himself and
his books he took passage on slow
tramp. The captain and owner of
the tramp was rare type of old sea
dog, an excellent character and man
of few words. "I sometimes take
few passengers" he told Mr.. Gid
dings, "but they must pay fare and
register on coming abroad"
Having come on board at night at
the moment of sailing Mr.. Giddings
was unable to register until morning.
When he glanced at the book he wish
ed that it was possible to leave the
ship, but she had already sunk High
land Light in the horizon.
kI<laro hafnra 11ic anraa IN q fine