The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-15
Grandmother, After 25 Years
Of WidoWhood, Becomes
Bride Of Sunday
School Pupil
She Braves Storm Of Objec-
ton from Her Son, and He
Laughs Away the Remon-
strances of His Parents.
"Perfectly Happy, Says
the Elderly Bride AS Her
Wrinkled Features Relax
Into Coy Smile.

New Milford, Conn, April 16--NIrs.
Estelle Bragg, widow for 25 years,
whose shoulders are bent and whose
bride on Monday night last, under
every precaution of secrecy, of Fred
erick w. Hartwell, Jr., rosy cheek
ed, blue eyed farm lad who for 10
years has been the leader of Mrs.
Bragg's Sunday school class in the
First NJ E. church here.
The news Of their marriage which
became generally known here yester-
day. created a sensation. While 1t
mad been town gossip from time to
time that the son of Mrs Bragg, ana
the parents of young Hartwell. had
taken exception to the familiarity OF
their relations, it was only within a
few days that the suspicion of their
matrimonial plans took tangible form
Mrs. Bragg was fforewoman at the
leading hat manufactory Of the town
for several years. A fortnight ago
she resigned her place and to those
who knew her best she confessed coy
ly that she had to leave In order TO
prepare her trousseau. This infor-
nation was given under pledge OF
secrecy however and even the ia
vored few who knew of the approach
ing nuptials were not entrusted with
details as to the time and place.
Young Hartwell comes of one of the
oldest families of Litchfield county:
His people are violently opposed 10
the match, and they are reported to
have gone SO far as to declare that
Mrs. Bragg has exercised an influence
almost hypnotic ~over the youngster
in order to effect their marriage. This
is not in keeping with the statement
of Rev. r. Elbert Honnold, pastor OF
the First M. E. sc.7urch., who declares
both people were in full possession Of
their senses when they asked him to
marry them, last Monday night.
Young Hartwell Is just turned q.
Mrs. Bragg confesseS to 81. Mrs.
Bragg has a son considerably past 30,
and a grandson seven years old. She
has been widow for 25 years. longer
than HartweH has lived. Time has
dealt none too kindly with the bride,
for she plainly shows her advancing
years. In striking contrast to her
time worn appearance is that of young
HartweH whose cheeks are aglow with
the blush of perfect health and whose
big blue eyes enhance his appearance
of ingenious boyishness.
The love motive made itself heard
in the romance Of the oddly mated
pair about a year ago. Until then
young HartwelIs devotion to his
teacher was regarded merely as the
admiration of the pupil for his pre-
ceptor. But when he began to walk
home with the teacher after the
classes, and when at the church sup
pers he was seen ever at her side, the
church folks began to speculate vague
ly as to what the outcome would be.
Hartwells father, William Hartwell,
is one of the pillars of the church. the
superintendent of the Sunday school.
and as such was the superior of the
widow Bragg. Some time after gos-
sip began to circulate about the pair,
Mrs. Bragg quietly dropped out of her
church activities. She gave up her
Sunday school class. 1t was said
that the elder Hartwell was respon-
sible for this change Of conditions,
that he was determined to put a stop
to the romance at any cost.
Parental objection however, had the
usual result Hartwell became a more
ardent wooer than before and his at
tentions became so marked that the
i'll feeling between himself and Albert
Bragg, his prospective stepson, about
eral occasions to take violent express
sion.
Hartwell is one Of five children. His
the finest in this section began to lose
its attractions for him when the fam
lily kept badgering him about the
widow Bragg. A few weeks ago he
set about quietly to get a home for
his prospective bride. The Oliver
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