The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-21
IS STRANGE ROMANCE
Marriage Is NuIIified Because
Pique Inspired II.
BOTH WIFE AND MAID
Welded Without Love and So
Announced al the lime.


nance that led up to an interlocutory
decree Of marriage annuiraent granted by
Justice Bischoff in the supreme court yes
terday. This decree. which nullifies the
marriage of Herbert P. Ingalls, and Nina
Dalton. is said By lawyers to be unique.
in hiatt the ground on which 1t is granted
is that Miss Dalton became Mr. Ingalls,
wife out Of pique and without the slight
est intention OF bestOwing upon him
more than a platonic friendship.
Mr.. ingalls, is connected with the firm
of Johnson & Higgins, No. 30 Wall street
and belongs TO a socially prominent Phil
sdelphia family. Miss Dalton-for she is
Mrs Ingalls, no more-is now an actress.
tail, statuesque and talented She is
known on the stage as Myra Dalton. and
few even among her intimate friends ever
heard of her marriage.
Her engagement to H. ". Mercer, who
Is on the staff of the Columbia theater
Brooklyn, was announced several weeks
ago, coupled with the announcement of
her retirement from the stage.
1t was in the early winter of 1900 that
Mr.. ingalls, and Miss Dalton met. She
was then prominent in amateur theatre
sional stage. Her mother Mrs. James
Dalton, lived IN President street, Brooklyn,
and entertained extensively.
ingalls, was fascinated and so ingratfat-
ed himself with Mrs Dalton that she adj
nitted him to her home as a boarder
From this strong strategetic position In
gals pressed his suit, but Miss Dalton re-
fused him, courteously but firmly. This
In April, 1899
As he left Mrs Daltons house Mr.. In
gals fingered at the door to say:
You don't think you love me now.
but search your heart carefully. Ny pro-
posal holds good. If you ever change
your mind about it Just send for me-
One whole year passed without word.
1t was noon on April y, 1891. when the
Telephone in the office of Johnson & Hig-
gins jingled a summons TO Mr.. Ingalls,
Who is il? he queried.
Me" came back the ungrammatical
response.
Is that Miss DaIton?f gasped ingalls,,
Recognizing the voice
: Yes. I've changed my mind. Come to
me at once"
ingalls, closed his desk, got in cab
and started fer Miss Dalton's home, which
had been transferred from President
street to No. IS Prospect Place
Miss Dalton's welcome was cordial, but
her manner constrained.
Il will now marry you if You still wish
It. she said. but | can not give you my
lore. You understand"
ingalls, thought he understood and he
wooed SO ardentiv that Miss Dalton
agreed to an immediate marriage. The
cab was waiting and it took them to the
parsonage of the Broadway Tabernacle,
where the marriage was performed.
+. ingalls, agreed 10 his wife's request that
they make their home with her mother
The best room IN the house was set apart
for them.
But ingalls, was not happy. His bride
had turned strangely cold on the home
ward drive. IL his hand touched hers she
complained. If he voiced tender word
she cut him short. If he attempted to
kiss her she flared no in an angry protest.
ne was patient. submitting TO the I'M
accountable GOODNESS OF his bride from
the date of the marriage. April -, to July
. Then, thinking that sixxty-six days OF
wifeless honeymoon was about enough.
ingalls, called u family council and de-
manded an explanation
You shall have it," said the bride To
the assembled group. Il married this
man out of pique. I love another. We
Quarreled and l ii anger allowed this
man ingalls, to marry me.
But l teid him / could not love him.
He should have known what that meant.
He said he understood
The Disguised bridegroom moved that
night. and a few months later, his wife.
taking the name CT Myra Dalton, went
on the stage.
Mr.. Mercer was the original lover in the
case. and it was after u little quarrel
with him that Miss Dalton summoned
the plant Ingalls,.
Lawyer Clarence De Witt Rogers, Of
No. 14l Broadway. took charge of Mr.. In
gals case. He argued successfully that
Miss Dalton had decoyed ingalls, into
marriage precisely as a dishonest trades
man secures q delivery of merchandise
for which he does not intend TO pay.