Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-05-01
A Blank Marriage
Certificate
1t Turned Up a Valid One
After Twenty Years
By F. A. Mitchell
By F. A. Mitchell

Every day the readers of fiction de-
mand more and more stories illustrat-
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 favorites.
This story is based on a 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 a mock marriage
This is due largely to a change in the
times. Formerly formal certificates
We're required in marriage. Now any
man and woman can acknowledge be-
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 a noted
case Of mock marriage between a Brit
ish nobleman and an American girl
In those days America was a new
country, and Englishmen who came
over here were prone to look down on
Americans. Nevertheless there were
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 prcgenitor,
Huileger Van Wyck, came from Hol-
land, where Philip II. Of Spain was per-
scouting the Protestants, was a 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 marriage with one who had
neither fortune nor title, but, desiring
to possess her, resorted to a device
which was common at the time-that
is, he married her. prearranging that
she should not be able 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 courted Edith in the space
surrounding the fort that gave the
name to it's location, for it was called
the Battery from the guns mounted on
1t. He was charming man In every
thing except morality, and the young
lady fell an easy victim to his wiles.
When they were 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.
tifcates 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 tc
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 tc
his marriage with an American com
moner and he must prepare them fol-
the event. Unless he could win his
mother over to his side and through
her influence his father the latter, who
owned a large, unentailed fortune
would disinherit him.
Edith consented to his departing
without her, he promising to return tC
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 8
letter from her husband. A month
more passed and no letter came Sew
eral more passed and still 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
consent to his marriage and had con
cluded 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 Averton died
and his son, John Turnbull, inherited
the title. Then, since his record seem
I'd all right, he was considered a great
catch by young women of the nobility
One day Edith received a shock
that blighted 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
bigamy was crushing.
Her family, not being willing to sub
NIT to such treatment, took up the case
intending to prosecute Lord Avertor
for bigamy. The attorney they EN-
ployed called for the marriage certif
cate. Edith took it out of a desk IL
which 1t had lain since the marriage
and before turning it 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 6
blank!
The poor woman then knew that sht
had been tricked. She delayed turning
the paper over Or saying anything
about it till she had time to think. A
little boy had been born to her, and
she dreaded the fact of his standing
being known to the world. After de-
liberation she put the paper back where
it had been before removal and refused