BRIDE’S VAIN WAIT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1079, 25 March 1913, Page 4

BRIDE’S VAIN WAIT.

Elaborate arrangements were made in the Coley district of Reading for the wedding of a wellknown couple, but as the hour of the ceremony drew near the bridegroom could nowhere he found, and eventually the marriage had to be abandoned. The marriage was arranged to take place at St. Mary’s Parish Church, and in due time the wedding carriages arrived at the home of the bride, but of the bridegroom, Albert Joseph Birch, aged 32, a fireman, there was no sign. The bride, Miss Florence Matilda Buckner, had arrayed herself in her wedding dress, the breakfast had been laid, the wedding cake was on the table, and the family and friends had gathered, ready to proceed to the church. At first the absence of the bridegroom did not give raise to any alarm, but as the time wore on and there was no sign of his appearance, enquiries were made, but no one had seen anything of him for three hours. After a long wait, add when theie was no news of the missing man, the bride was overwhelmed with grief. Eventually the carriages were sent away and the breakfast table cleared. Meantime the Rev E. P. Hogg, who was to have conducted the ceremony, was waiting at tbe church, wondering what was the cause of tbe non-appear-ance of the couple. The missing bridegroom, who had previously resided in Reading, arrived in the town three nights previously, and stayed within a few doors of the bride’s home. At Christmas he appeared in the best of spirits, and spent the evening with his fiancee, the couple being on the best of terms with each other. On what should have been his wedding morning Birch got up and had his breakfast, and then, without saying a word to anyone, disappeared, and no trace of him has since been found. The couple had been keeping company for a number of years, and there is no known reason why at the last minute the man should disappear so mysteriously.