The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-12-18
Mr., LEAVITT WAS
ALREADY ENGAGED
Artist Had a Fiancee in New
port When He Decided to
Wed Miss Bryan.
WEDDING SET FOR FALL
Miss Mamie Cook Was to Have Beef
the Bride, and She's Lots Pret-
tier Than Ruth-No Danger
of a Damage Sui

Newport, Dec. 16.-James II. Cook.
father of Miss Mamie Cock, 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 hs
told of Leavitt's love making to his
daughter. He is general utility man
at a 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
daughter will sue the young Newport
artist who won Miss Bryan for breach
of promise of marriage.
Miss Cook is a very pretty girl, small
dark-eyed and chic-far prettier, the
Newport villagers think, than Mr.
Leavitts bride. Only today she was out
on the street in a suit of drab cordu-
roy, with hat to match, looking stun
ming" and in no way abashed by her
present noto-iety. 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 NJ. Leavitt and his bride
are or were expected here tomorrow
for a visit of several weeks.
Mr.. Cook Can't Understand.
Mr.. Cook cannot understand wha
could have happened in the w weeks
that Leavitt was at the Bryan home
to make him flout his daughter as el-
legged.
Mr.. Cook is being overwhelmed with
dispatches from newspapers and pri-
vate persons demanding if it is true
that his daughter will sue young Leav-
lit. He reluctantly descended from the
ladder when a correspondent hailed
him today and wept as he declared that
he would not be interviewed.
II refuse to either confirm or deny
It," he said. II don't know what 1 shall
do. You say that Mr.. and Mrs. Leavitt
are expected either today or tomorrow?
Well, l may see Mr.. Leavitt.
My daughter, I assure o upon my
honor, was engaged to Mr.. Leavitt, and
my wife and 1 approved of the match.
They went together to entertainments,
and during the recent summer nights
they sat upon u piazza and acted as
lovers. That trip to the west, when Mr..
Leavitt painted the portrait of Mr..
Bryan, l don't understand.
when he left Newport it was with
the understanding that the marriage
would take place early in the fall. /
decline to say If my daughter has en-
So6Cd couiiSel. lSdSc Say llldl 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 a nice girl, but that both he
n his wife agreed that she was not
the girl for their son.
w knew that he was very attentive
to Miss Cook" said Mr.. Leavitt, and
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 a secret.
My son was not engaged to Miss
Cook. I 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!
I 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 o. here at the
tail n of the fashionable season and
conducted himself much like a 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 Viewpoints leading citizens
He returned to Nebraska more opposed
than ever to ms 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 q 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.