Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-12-17
mr.. LEAVITT WAS
AIR. AOY ENGAGED
Artist Had a Flancee in New.
port When He Decided to
Wed Miss Bryan.
WEDDING SET FOR FALL
Miss Mamie Cook Was to Have Been
the Bride, and She's Lots Pref.
tier Than Ruth-No Danger
of Damage Suit.

Newport, Dec. 16.-James H. Cook,
father of Miss Mamie Cook, declared
today that his daughter was the prom
ised bride of William Homer Leavitt
when Mr.. Leavitt married the daughter
Of William Jennings Bryan.
Mr.. Cook had tears in his eyes as he
told of Leavitt's love making to his
daughter. He is general utility man
at big factory here, and he came
down from a high ladder, from which
he was painting a smokestack, to give
his version of the rumor that his
laughter will sue the young Newport
artist who Won Miss Bryan for breach
of promise of marriage.
Miss Cook is very pretty girl, small,
dark-eyed and chic-far prettier, the
Newport Villagers think, than Mr.
Leavltt's bride Only today she was out
on the street in IL suit of drab cordu-
roy, with hat to match, looking stun
ming, and in no way abashed by her
present notoriety. She is "a, is organist
at the Central Baptist church, to the
faith of which she recently Went from
Methodism; teaches the piano, has
may pupils and is widely popular.
Interest is added to the situation by
the fact that MIR. Leavitt and his bride
are or We're expected here tomorrow
for visit of several weeks.
Mr.. Cook Can't Understand.
Mr.. Cook cannot understand what
could have happened in the two weeks
that Leavitt was at the Bryan home
to make him fout his daughter as all
legged.
MIR. Cook is being overwhelmed with
dispatches from newspapers and pri-
waite persons demanding if it is true
a dom ,fnr 1t-i1l 1yortt II
tit. He reluctantly descended from the
ladder when correspondent hailed
him To-Day and wept as he declared that
he would not be interviewed
II refuse to either confirm or deny
It," he said. Il don't know what shall
do. You say that MIR. and Mrs. Ieavitt
are expected either today or tomorrow?
Well, 1 may see MIR. Leavitt.
My daughter ] assure you upon my
honor was engaged to Mr.. Leavitt and
my Wife and l approved of the match.
They Went together to entertainments,
and during the recent summer nights
they sat upon our piazza and acted as
lovers. That trip to the west. when Mr..
Leavitt painted the portrait of Mr..
Bryan, don't understand.
when he left Newport it was With
the understanding that the marriage
would take place early in the fall. l
decline to say if my daughter has en-
gagged counsel. Please say that we are
not after money, but only want JUS
tice.'
Elder Leavitt Denies 1t All.
A. L. Leavitt, father of Mr.. Bryan's
son-in-law, said that certainly Miss
Cook was Il nice girl, but that both he
and l,is wife agreed that she was not
the girl for their son.
1--WE knew that he was very attentive
tn Mr
he brought her TO our house. 1t was
merely a platonic affair. If he had
been engaged to her he would have told
his mother, from whom he has never
kept Il secret.
My son was not engaged to Miss
Cook. cannot understand how the re-
port got about that he was to be sued
by the young lady. He has not a dol
lar in the world What a farce it would
be to sue him for breach of promise!
| do not expect my son and his wife
here for at least two weeks"
When Miss Ruth Bryan told her ia
Their that she intended to marry the
artist, Mr.. Bryan came on here at the
tail end of the fashionable season and
conducted himself much like sleuth
as he inquired into the manner of man
young Leavitt was. He refused to en-
ter his name on the register at the New
Cliffs hotel, and made quiet visits to
several of Newport's leading citizens.
He returned to Nebraska more opposed
than ever to the proposed union, but
he had to yield to his determined
daughter, who asserted herself and
married the man of her choice.
The Circle of Kings Daughters, of
which the elder Mrs. Leavitt is a prom
inent member, had arranged to present
to the new Mrs. Leavitt upon the oc-
casion of her prospective visit here, a
handsome library table.