The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-06
SECRET WEDDING
 HAS LEAKED OUT Young Man Wins Daughter Of
 Wealthy Lumberman NEEDED TWO YEARS AGO
Bridegroom Has Been at Work For Ills Wife's Father All This Time and Secret Was Found Out
 only Recently.

Meridian. Miss, January 5-(Special)- The leaking out of the secret marriage of Miss Florence Thompson, the young daughter of Millionaire c. F. Thompson of Chicago. to Frederic Mitchell. young clerk in the office of MT. Thompson at the Mississippi Lumber company at Quit man, MT. Thompson being the secre- tary and treasurer of that company. has created one of the most profound sen sations in this section for years. The marriage took place more than two years ago in Mobile and the details read more like romance of fiction than of fact.
 A little more than two years ago young Fred Mitchell and Miss Thompson were close friends and sweethearts in the city of Chicago. where they both lived The wealthy father of the girl seeing the growing fondness of the couple for each other decided that 1t would be wise if they saw less of one another. MT Thomp- son spent a great part of his time In the. south-in Mississippi at the great lumber plant of which he is the secre- tary and treasurer. He concluded. so the story goes, that he. had vacancy in his office down in Mississippi that could be filled by young Mitchell
 The place was offered the young man. who wanted to make his mark in the world so that he could claim the lass of his choice He accepted. He came south and entered upon his duties. He was popular with all with whom he came in contact and soon won praise from his employer in spite of the fact that he was virtually kidnapped. While he was learning the ropes in the office of the great lumber plant his sweetheart in the distant western city was at school. being only Is years of age. When vaca- ton time came following the departure of young Mitchell Miss Florence came south to pay visit to her father at Quitman. She was again thrown with her sweetheart of the windy western city.
 During her stay in Quitman she was frequent visitor to Mobile. the beautiful, picturesque Gulf City, and on one of these occasions she met her sweetheart young Mitchell. They decided to get married and keep the marriage secret until such lti1lC CS lAACg lAAtd6Aib RAORNA W their union to the world.
 The marriage was performed. so the story goes, and immediately thereafter they separated, the bride returning to Quitman where she fingered for a short time and then returned to her home and her studies in Chicago. Her husband re- turned to his desk in the office of his father-in-law, determined now to re- double his efforts in pursuit of the golden goddess of finance in order that he might place himself on a proper footing to claim his own and announce to the world that he had won one of the fairest, dearest women in all the land.
 For two long years he worked side by side with the father of his wife, the man who, in order to get rid of him had given him the opportunity that his am bition craved. and never a hint was given of the relationship that existed.
 A few days ago Mir. Thompson had an occasion to go to Mobile and while there he, by some means not yet made public. discovered the truth: that his daughter had been a wife for two years and that her husband had been his right hand man in the great industry that he loved so well.