Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-07-28
An Interesting Story-But Untrue.

An Interesting StOry-But Untrue.
The following article was published
in the Philadelphia North American
of Tuesday:
"News comes from Shepherdstown,
W. Va, that ex-senator Henry G.
Davis will in the fall marry Mrs.
Katherine Reynolds, widow Of DIR.
John Reynolds of Shepherdstown.
Mrs. Reynolds is 10 years old, while
Senator Davis is 81.
There is an interesting story back
of the approaching wedding. Many
years ago, when Senator Davis was
brakeman on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, he became sutton for the
hand of Miss Katharine Cushwa, whose
family was one of the most prominent
in Washington county, Maryland.
Miss Cushwa was pronounced beauty
and was the acknowled belle in the
section in which she lived. Her fam
lily being an aristocratic one, she be-
came the leader in the exclusive set,
and at social gatherings Miss Cushwas
society was sought after by the young
gallants of Maryland and Western
Virginia.
"She and young Davis met for the
first time at a dance at a country
house, and frequently thereafter he
became her escort. The friendship
thus begun speedily ri ened into love
Davis proposed, and the young
woman was willing, but her parents
could not reconcile themselves to the
idea of their beautiful and accomplish
ed daughter marrying poor railroad
brakeman, and the young man was
sent on his way with broken heart.
Young Davis disappeared, to rise
rapidly in the railroad service, until
he became the richest and most pow
erful citizen of his State, while Miss
Cushwa became the bride of DR.. John
Reynolds, a prominent physician OF
Shepherdstown, her old or first fame
also taking unto himself life partner
in a distant part of the State.
at was not until many years after
ward that the two old lovers came to-
gether again, one as a widow and the
other as a widower. The spark re-
kindled into a fame, with the result
that there will be a notable wedding
at the quaint old town Of Shepherds
town some time in October, so the
gossips say.
"Mrs. Reynolds is remarkably well
preserved and for a half century or
more has been a social leader of Shop
herdstown. She is the mother Of two
grown-up children and the grand
mother Of halt dozen interesting
boys and girls She lives in beauti-
full old-fashioned house, within a
stones throw of the stately Potomac,
and many distinguished men and wo-
men have enjoyed her hospitality"
Naturally the publication of this
bit Of romance created a vast deal of
interest throughout the country, as
Mr.. Davis is now one Of the central
figures in public life as candidate
for Vice President A representative
of the REGISTER called upon Mrs.
Reynolds, and she at once requested
him to make positive denial of the
story, stating that there was not the
slightest foundation for such a rumor
Many kilograms had been received
here from the city dailies inquiring
about the matter, and her denial was
wired at once, but in the meantime
there had been wide publication Of
the sensational story.
Mr.. Davis has been at Bedford
Springs, Pa, this week, and he was
naturally surprised to read in the
papers the details of circumstances
that were so entirely unfounded. AS
kilograms of congratulation began to
pour in the ex-senator was visibly
annoyed, and added his denial to that
of Mrs. Reynolds 1t has not been
revealed who started the story, but
it was evidently frst-class prevari-
Gator. The Philadelphia North Amer
lean wired the REGISTER yesterday
to the effect that st had eninformed
the publication Of the engagement
had been made in a Shepherdstown
paper, but this is Of course untrue.
The North American has probably
been imposed upon by some person.
The main fact in the article quoted,
that an engagement existed, is false,
and there are various other inaccura-
cies not necessary to specify. 1t is a
fsct, however, that Mrs. Reynolds and
ex-senator Davis have known each
other for many years. When Mrs
Reynolds was girl Miss Kate With
row. attending school she became ac-
quainted with Mr.. Davis, who was
then a passenger conductor on the B.
and o. Railroad. He was highly re-
garded by the father of Mrs Reynolds
most intimate school friend, and thus
a friendship was formed, which, how
ever, we believe, was regarded by both
parties as friendship oily. The two
met from time to time, but as the
years passed they drifted apart and
each took another for a life partner.
Miss Withrow married DR.. John Rey-
nolds, of sainted memory in Shep-
herdstown, and as wife and mother
she has always been loved and re-
spected while no woman in our COM
munitY has been held in greater es-
TEEN and admiration than she. Mr..
Davis married Miss Bantz, Of Freder-
lex, and she lived to see him become