The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-08-24
A Blank Marriage
Certificate
1t Turned Up a Valid One
After Twenty Years
By F. A. Mitchell
By F. A. Mitchell

mand more and more stories illustrate
ing what is happening among them. I'm
probable happenings are tabooed. New
ertheless stories written many years
ago, based ON what was then "A more
or less common occurrence, are still
read. The novel Jane Eyre by Char
lotte Bronte is one of these fayorites.
This story is based ON u mock mar
riage. A century ago British swells
seemed to have no conscience In prey
ing upon women Mock marriages
were by no means uncommon. But to-
day we never hear Of n mock marriage
THIS is due largely to a change in the
times. Formerly formal certificates
We're required ii marriage. Now any
man and woman can acknowledge he
fore witnesses that they are man and
wife and the law recognizes the mar
riage.
During the early part Of the nine
teenth century there was noted
case of mock marriage between n Brit
fish noblemnn and an American girl
In those days America was new
country, and ,Enelishmen who came
over here were prone to look down on
Americans. Nevertheless there We're
descendants, In the eastern states es-
pecially. Of the younger sons OF for
eign noblemen, who settled on the
American coast when the country was
being occupied from abroad, dispos-
sessing the Indians.
Edith Van Wyck, whose progenitor.
Huileger Van Wyck, came from Hol-
land, where Philip II. Of Spain was per-
scouting the Professionals, was comely
young woman, In excellent standing
socially In New York. Lord John Turn
bull, son Of the Duke of Averton, Wis
tied America. met Miss Van Wyck and
fell IN love with her He did not con-
slider a marriage with one who had
neither fortune nor title, but, desiring
to possess her. resorted TO device
which was common ut the time that
is, he married her, prearranging that
she should not be nble to prove herself
legal wife,
In those days the elite Of New York
lived on the southern extremity Of
Manhattan Island, the Van Wycks
home fronting on the Battery Young
Lord John c0urted Edith in the space
surrounding the fort that gave the
name to It's location, for 1t was called
the Battery from the guns mounted on
It, He was a charming man ~ every
thing except morality, and the Young
lady fell al easy victim to his wiles.
When they We're married the groom
handed the officiating clergyman pen
which he dipped into a gold ink horn
that bore the crest of his family, say
ing that for generations marriage GER
tificates OF members of his family had
been written with Ink from this heir
loom No one thought to ask why the
young lord had brought such relic to
America There was not the slightest
doubt that he was acting In good faith.
Lord John remained in America three
months after his marriage, when he
returned to England without his wife.
He told her that there would be great
objection on the part OF his family to
his marriage with an American com
moner and he must prepare them for
the event. Unless he could win his
mother over to his side and through
her influence his father the latter, who
owned large, unentailed fortune.
would disinherit him.
Edith consented to his departing
without her. he promising to return to
her as soon as he obtained his fathers
consent to receive her. He set sail In
a British ship, and his young wife tear
fully watched the vessel from her win
dow as It sailed down the bay.
A month was required to make voy-
age to England In those days, and
when another month had been added
to the first Edith began to look for
letter from her husband. A month
more passed and no letter came. Sew
eral more passed and stiIl no word
from her husband. At last the poor
woman began to realize that she was
deserted She believed that her hus-
band had failed to win his fathers
NOhncHt W anu WI
Guided not to announce it; but, being
married to him. she hoped that at some
future day she would be acknowledged
as his wife.
Meanwhile the Duke OF Ayerton died
and his son, John Turnbull, inherited
the title. Then, since his record seem
ed all right, he was considered a great
catch by young women OF the nobility
One day Edith received shock
that bllghted her life. a London pa
per came to America in which there
was an announcement OF the marriage
of her husband TO Lady Gladys Arm
strong, daughter of the Duke OF Mil
ford. That her husband had deserted
her was Blow that he had committed
hlGany was crushing.
Fer family, not being willing to sub
mit to such treatment, took up the case
intending to prosecute Lord Averton
for bigamy The attorney they EN-
ployed called for the marriage certif-
rate. Edith took 1t out OF a desk IN
which It had lain since the marriage
and before turning II over to her father
looked at It. What was her astonish.
ment. her horror, to see that the paper
on which It had been written was a
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