The sun., 1916-11-19
HELEN KELLER ENDS
SECRET BETROTHAL
Engagement to Her Secretary
Broken in Response TO Her
Teachers Pleas.
LICENSE EVEN SOUGHT
Denials That There Was a Ro-
nance Follows Mutual De-
cisiOn to Separate.

BosToN. Nov. 1s.-Helen Keller, tbs
famous deaf ana blind woman. whose
development OF the power OF speech
despite her handicaps ha. astonlshed the
world. has refused a matrimonial career
In response to the pleas OF the woman
who taught her to talk, Mrs. John a.
Macy.
Miss Keller was engaged to Peter
Pagan. a young Socialist, who became
acquainted with her when he was a re-
porter for n Boston newspaper and who
vas aftcrward employed by her az Sec
rotary. Romance came into Miss KelIer's
life much against the wishes Of her
mentor. Mrs. Macy. whose opposition to
her pupils marriage was based not upon
s~elhshness but because she believed that
Il would hinder the further development
of a marvellous girl. And 30 the ro-
nance has been shattered.
Mr.. Pagan left tonight for Tampa.
Fla, after adding another denial to the
many made by himself and Mrs. Macy
during the day that there had been any
romance at all. He also realized that II
was best for Miss keller's future that all
VI iflhi tubt w e'''
he denied that 1t ever a been contem-
plated.
DisclOsea the secret.
The fact OF the matter Is. however.
that about n week ago Mr.. Pagan took
into his confidence the editor Of a Boston
paper with which he had been connected
n for which Mrs. Mays husband had
been literary editor. He told the editor
that ne and Miss Keller were deeply In
love with each other and that they de-
sired to be married In secret. They
planned a literary career and Miss
Keller was to abandon the lecture field
In which Mrs. Macy was her necessary
interpreter. Mrs. Macy had made known
her opposition to the romance n they
sought to be married In secret and sur
prise her. hoping that she would be won
over to the inevitable. They thought
that the marriage must be without her
knowledge or not at all.
The editor automatically refused 10
give his aid TO a secret marriage. Mr..
Pagan then said that he Intended to 90
ahead and would give the paper an ex-
elusive story when the marriage took
place. He applied at the Boston City
Hall for a license. the application being
signed by himself and by Miss Keller.
her handwriting being distinguished by
the peculiar printlike letters hat char
acterise blind writer's. He besousht the
secrecy OF the registrar. but It was re-
fused and the story came out. with the
result that the paper which had employ ed
Mr.. Pagan was ~'scooped" on 1t.
stream of DcniaIs.
There Their came from the Keller
household at wrentham a stream OF de.
malls couched In the most vigorous terms.
Miss Keller. through her secretary. char
acterixed the story rs an Outrage" Mr..
Pagan said he had not been at City Hall
n that It was a deliberate lie or a prac-
tical Joke.
A Boston correspondent Of one press
association was reprimanded for sending
cut the story Of the engagement when
the denials were made. The registrar
however. Identified the applicant for the
License as Pagan.
Mr.. Pagan took his departure tonight
on the steamer City OF Augusta for
Tampa to spend the winter with the Rev,
Paul Blanchard. who was to have per-
formed the marriage for the
couple In East Boston. He sailed alone
instead OF taking n bride with him as he
intended. Mr.. Pagan announced that he
had left Miss Keller's employ. Pagan Is
~ years old and seven years younger
than his former fancee,
Miss Keller recently cancelled q lee.
tWe tour because of the illness OF Mrs,
Macy, who has been suffering from a re-
we're cold. 1t Is announced tina Mrs
Macy and Miss Keller will spend the
winter In the South because OF MnL
Mays health.