The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-29
Cupid Leads Kansas City Couple
Merry chase.
Spent Hours in Topeka Hunting
Judge SchOch.
FOUND HIM AT LAST.
Bride Located Officer Through
State Journal Society News.
Nearly Midnight When the Knot
Is Tied.

Love may laugh at locksmiths but the
laugh if it occurs at all is generally
hours if not years after the love and
locksmith affair. The former is trus
in the case of Howard T. Waters, aged
2i years and "a days. and Gertrude Ollie,
aged Is years and few months. a Kan
sas City couple who journeyed to To-
peka to have the matrimonial knot tied.
The trip to Topeka was not intended
in the first place as the lovers had in
tended to have the ceremony performed
at Excelsior Springs and missed their
train in the confusion at the Union de-
pot in Kansas City. The Union Pacific
train Just about to leave for Topeka and
a happy thought struck the couple sim
uitaneously; they would come TO To-
peka and be married there.
1t was late in the afternoon v hen
they started for Topeka and consider-
ably later when they arrived in the city
and wended their way to the court
house: Straightway they sought the
recorders Office but it was closed as
were all other offices in the building but
a kind-hearted janitor started them on
their way rejoicing when he directed
them to the home of Probate Judge
Schoch. They tarried and had supper
and that started trouble for them
1t was past s o'clock when they reach
ed the Schoch home and rang the door
bell. There was no response although
there were lights in the house and they
seated themselves on the porch to await
the return of the much sought probate
Judge. They waited and waited but
Judge Schoch did not return and they
went to the home of James King and
there was no one there but the maid a
recent recruit from Sweden to whom
they could not make their wants known
Then they wandered to George Burg
harts home and asked for directions
for locating Judge Schoch. Here they
were advised that Mr.. and Mrs. Schoch
might be al the home of the latter,s
mother, Mrs. <. Bates $40 West Sixth
avenue, and thence they journeyed only
to find that they were again foiled. They
were in despair for they were strangers
IN a strange city and not yet married
and in sheer desperation they returned
to the Schoch home where they intended
to await the return Of the much wanted
judge If the wait lasted until morning
Here the bride-to-be picked up a copy
of the Topeka State Journal and turned
naturally to the society column. There
was joyous cry of exultatfon for did
not the society column include in the
list of husbands who were being enter
tained at Mrs. Eli G. Fosters home the
name of the very man they sought. Pro-
bate Judge Schoch.
Once more the couple resumed their
journey and were rewarded by locating
the judge who was having poor luck at
the game and who was glad of an eSs-
cuse to leave. The judge and the groom
to be went to the court house where af-
ter satisfying himself that the affair
was not of the elopement variety a mar
riage license was issued. the bride-to-be
in the meantime remaining at the home
Of Mrs. Bates. where she was promised
a home for the night in case any more
bad luck was encountered
The troubles of the couple, however.
were nearly at an end as the Judge and
happy youth soon returned and Judge
Schoch tied the knot which ought to
hold them for a while at least. 1t was
near the midnight hour. however be
fore the happy couple left the Bates
home as man and wife to take up the
life of husband and wife. for better or
for worse.