The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-20
SURPRISE IN SOCIETY.
Hiss Marie Johnson ElOpes With
VIM. Bowers.

Last Thursday afternoon Miss Marie
Johnson, daughter Of the late Judge J.
B. Johnson. told her mother that she
was going TO spend the afternoon at the
home of her sister. Mrs Eugene Hagan.
went to the Union Pacific station and
took the train for Lawrence where she
was met by William Bowers, popularity
known in Topeka as Billy" Bowers.
They were Mr.. and Mrs William Bow
ers when they returned to Topeka that
night. The bride went to the home OF
her mother, 1701 Sixth avenue west, and
announced her marriage, bringing to a
climax the worry ana anxiety which her
love affair with Bowers had been caus-
ing the members Of her family for sew
eral years
The Johnsons are one of the Oldest
families in Topeka where they have al
ways occupied q prominent and enviabIe
position. The late Judge Johnson was q
member of the law firm OF Peck, Ryan
& Johnson, master of chancery Of the
Santa Fe, and prominent in politics
Mrs. Johnson and her two older daugh-
tiers were always society leaders in To-
peka One Of the daughters Is Mrs
Johnson, was considered the most beau
tiful girl in Topeka. She had many
suitors and her marriage to Eugene Ha-
gan, a prominent lawyer, was one of the
events of the season i've or six years
ago The other sister IS Mrs. Frank
Thomas of -Atchison, as popular and i'm
pOrtant a person in her own town as
her mother and sister are in Topeka.
The youngest daughter whose mar
riage is the latest social surprise is only
Is years DID and just out Of school She
made her DEBUT IN Topeka at large
party given by her sister, Mrs. Hagan,
last fail, but the guests who were asked
TO meet her on that occasion are now re-
calling that she appeared lsstiess and
uniuterested- She cared nothing for so
ciety and little for the pretty new outfit
which her mother and sister prepared
for her entrance upon a social career
Those who know her best say she was
head over heels il love with the sweet
heart of her school days. Billy Bow
ers.
The affair dates back seven years
when Marie Johnson and young Bowers
were going to P0twin school together.
Tt was the kind of romance that Will
lam Allen White tells about in The
King of BoyVille." in which "Penning-
ton" and his Hearts Desire" exchange
notes and candy hearts and shy glances.
Miss Johnson was sent to a convent a
st. Joseph where he education was fin
ished last spring. and spent her vacation
with her sister IN AtchiSOn. and Bowers
left school and went to work for Chas
S Eagle but they managed to keep IN
a correspondence and to meet occasion
ally and their love endured through diff
ficulties. However, the young people
had learned to be discreet and since her
return from AtchisQn last fall and her
Introduction to Topeka society her Deo-
nle believed that the affair had been
broken of. The announcement of her
marriage was A complete surprise to
them. Put what y done can't be u1I-
dOEe. 50 the best face is TO be nut upon
the matter The young husband goes q
ClehurEe. Texas. where Fred Carson
master mechanic af the Santa Fe Shoes
and a neDhew Of Mrs. J. 3. Johnson.
has given him 2 position and in few