The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-09-08
A DOUBLE WEDDING.

Geftfuce Brett was an heireSS. Heir
esses are usually described as fearful
that they will be married for their
money but Gertrude had always been
used to the possession of wealth and
did not appear to realize its value. Be-
sides, she was ingenious and confld-
ing. Henry Dexter, the son of wealthy
parents, loved her, but after dellbera-
ton she gave her heart to Clarence
Hawley. At any rate, she accepted him.
Gertrude had an intimate friend,
Edna Clarke, and those who knew
Hawley best declared that If Miss
Clarke had been the helress, instead of
Miss Brett, Miss Clarke would have
been Mrs. Hawley. What every one
else saw Gertrude did not appear to
see-that her friend wanted her lover.
But Edna, while she was ostensibly
! Gertude's friend and confidante, con-
stantly accepting favors that Ger
trudes wealth rendered possible, Sc
cretly hated the girl who was to wed
| the man she herself wanted.
But a still greater surprise was in
store for them. When 1t was an
nounced that Gertrude. who had no
near relatives living, had made a will
leaving half of her fortune to Edna
! and tie other half to Clarence Haw-
ley, people considered it time for some
| one to Interfere. Unfortunately there
was no one near enough to the helress
to 60 to her aud demonstrate. Since
she was Of age there was no authority
to forbid the disposition she had made
of her property.
The next thing in this chain Of aston
lshments was Gertrudes sailing for u
trip abroad accompanied only by Ed
ma. 1t was considered frightful in
ducement to crime. Edna, loving her
bencfactus5' afiianced husband, inher-
iting half of her fortune, while Haw-
ley was heir to the remainder, would
have every opportunity to get rid Of
wealth and love.
Strangely enough there was at least
every appearance that this extreme
view of the case had come about In
Switzerland the two girls Joined a
party to ascend mountain. Gertrude
insisted ON making a detour alone with
a guide and separated for some time
from the other tourists. When her
guide rejoined the party he came with
out Gertrude, who, he reported, had
slipped and fallen into crevasse thou
sands Of feet deep. This was the story
that Edna brought home, and with it
she brought ample documentary evil
dence of its truth. Nevertheless there
were those who refused to believe it.
While legal proceedings were being
taken to divide Gertrude's estate be-
tween the heirs 1t was announced that
Hawley and Edna were engaged. OF
course no one was surprised. 1t was
simply considered an inevitable result
Of Gertrude's infatuation and that If
murder had not been committed she
had at least induced murder.
Meanwhile Henry Dexter, who sin
cerely loved Gertrude, went abroad
secretly to look into the matter Of the
accident. But his departure became
known. Since it did not seem to
trouble the heirs, who were preparing
for the wedding, the suspicious that
clung to Edna were much allayed.
Cards for the wedding were Issued,
as usual, some time before the event
was to come off. The wealth they
were to receive did away with the
prejudice against them, and people
were looking forward to a brilliant
affair But one morning week be-
fore the day set society met with a
shock. Some one-it was supposed
through mathematical number of in
vitations to the wedding of Henry Dex-
ter and Gertrude Brett, to take place
on the same day and hour as that Of
Clarence Hawley and Edna Clarke.
There was great Indignation at this
outrage, as it was considered, and 1t
was supposed that when Henry Dexter
returned he would take pains TO dis
cover and punish the perpetrator. The
bride and groom expectant gave every
evidence of being deeply wounded, and
feeling, which had been against them,
was turned in their favor.
The Dexter cards named the resi-
dence of Mrs. Whiting, a wealthy
friend of Gertrude, as the place Of
the wedding, and society was sur
prised ut the report that preparations
were being made there for some i'm
portant event. The night before the
weddings, as announced, startling re-
ha I,A
and Gertrude had been seen in town.
The last link in the chain was the
putting up Of awnings leading from
the street to Mrs. Writings residence.
At high noon the next day both we'd
dings took place. The clergyman had
scarcely pronounced Clarence and
Edna man and wife before they were
assured that at the same hour Henry
and Gertrude had also been made one.
In a twinkling their anticlpations Of
wealth tumbled like air castles about
them.
1t turned out that Gertrude had not
been so stupid after ALL Suspeoting
her lover and her friend, she had kept
her own counsel and laid plan by
which they should have every oppor-
tunlty to prove or disprove her sus-
plclons. During the mountain climb
she had purposely separated herself
from the party. bribed her guide to
leave her at his home with his wife
and report the fictitious accident.
After Edna's engagement she had
to her. 1t was then that she and Dex-
ter came TO decision as to their re-
lntions, and the forthcoming wedding