The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-20
ON BRIDAL, DAY
TELLS FRIENDS
SHELLNOTWED
Miss Sprague Calls Guests to
Home 10 Announce That
Marriage Is OF
WHEN MINISTER CALLS
PLAYS AND SINGS TO HIM
And South Norwalk, Conn, Is
Full of RumOrs, But Mys-
terry Is Unexplained

SOUTH NORWALK, Dec. 90
While many OF those invited TO the
marriage OF Miss Ethel Adelaide
Sprague, daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs,
George w. Sprague, of No. 20 Belden.
ave, to George Leonard Gale were
preparing TO attend the ceremony, they
received an urgent message from the
bride-to- be TO call at the home imme-
diately. No reason was given for the
summons, but many thought Miss
Sprague or Mr.. Gale had fallen Ill.
In a furry OF excitement those who
had received the peremptory message
hurried to the house Outof-town
guests already had arrived All were
ushered into the library, which was
filed with wedding gifts. All had seen
the presents, but 10 hide their agita-
ton they pretended to admire them.
1t was a feeble attempt TO disguise
their feelings and soon they all
grouped themselves in a corner, where
for few minutes they talked in whis-
pers.
aMy Marriage Will Not Take Place"
The tension was broken by the
opening of the folding doors and the
appearance OF Miss Sprague. Her
face white as the lace collar around
her neck Her eyes We're red and
swollen, she picked at a handkerchic.
with trembling fingers. For a mo-
ment she regarded her anxiously.
waiting friends, with grave, wistful
eyes. Then dashing away the tears,
which were yelling up, she said calm
~: EkHf NE
IT asked you to come here merely
TO announce that my marriage to Mr..
Gale will not take place."
Without another word she turned
and walked slowly through the fold
ing doors, which were closed behind
her. But as they shut her from the
view OF the astonished group. there
was sob which all heard plainly.
For several seconds there was a
hush. Then several women gasped.
while others stified sharp cries OF dis
may. A few tried TO speak, but the
words were choked by sobs. All left
the house as silently as the bride-to-
be had withdrawn from the room after
making her startling announcement.
Mr.. Gale is relative and ward of
Mre George Clarke, widow OF the
notttP bctbr, who died in his home
here four years ago. He lived in her
home and had, automobiles and horses
at his command. Presumably he was
Mrs. Clarke's sole heir. All she would
say; was:
The ceremony has been annulled."
No explanation can be obtained from
any source. There are scores OF ru-
iaors. but all are mere speculation.
All Was Ready for the Ceremony.
The hour set for the ceremony was
o'clock. and the house had been
deliberately decorated II so CHANGED
that in the excitement no word had
been sent to the Rev. Lincoln II. Cas-
well, pastor OF the Norwalk Methodist
church, who was to officiate, and he
arrived a few minutes before the
hour. She told the clergyman how
affairs stood He started to bow him
self out, but she called him back =
He remained an hour, during which,
It Is said, Miss Sprague, who is an &C
complished musician and singer, play
! ed the piano and sang for the min
ister. As he was leaving he said:
She is a wonderfully spunky little
miss and bears up WE'LL
He added that be had no idea why
the plans for the wedding had been
altered.
b Miss Sprague, who IS comely
young woman, made her debut in So
ciety last season, and is one OF the
most popular girls here Gale could
not be found