Two Brides Come Into Church To Be Married

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 496, 27 October 1928, Page 13

Two Brides Come Into Church To Be Married

C lergyman’s Dilemma When Second Appears ASTOUNDING HALLUCINATION It is almost beyond believing that a normally sane woman could be seized by such an hallucination as that which impelled a certain well known woman to present herself as an uninvited guest at - the wedding of hn equally well known clergyman, writes a London exchange. All the parties concerned belonged to the upper classes of English society, and the marriage took place at a fashionable West End ebureh. One can figure, therefore, tbe formal dignity of the scene when the officiating clergyman put the formal question: “If any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter hold his peace.” Then, before there was time for a response, a commotion was heard at the back of the church, and up the aisle, leaning on the arm of a taxidriver, came another bride, robed in silk brocade, with a tulle veil, and carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. As she came near the altar a Verger interposed, and asked .her if she bad not made a mistake. The directness of tbe question seemed to unnerve the woman. In a half-dazed way she muttered some reply, and then allowed herself to be Igd into tbe street, where a policeman questioned the driver, and then told him to take the lady home. Later investigation resulted in an explanation of this strange incident from a lady at whose home in Earl’s Court the would-be bride had been living. “Ready— Aye, Ready” It transpired that, like all other spinsters, she had long cherished the thought that one day she would be led .to the altar by tbe man of her choice. With this idea in view,, she had bought a bridal dress from a West End dressmaker, and it had been her frequent custom to don it in the privacy of her own room, and to rehearse in front of a full-length mirror the part she would some day play in church. On this particular morning the lady, who is possessed of considerable means, was out shopping, when in glancing, at a newspaper she observed a notice that the aforesaid marriage was to take place that day. Promptly hailing a, taxicab, she drove home, and, telling the driver to wait, hurried upstairs, emerging half an hour later arrayed as a bride. Then, giving the driver a buttonhole to wear, she asked to be driven to tlie church, and there made the additional request that he should escort her up the aisle. He demurred at first, but tbe _ promise of a big tip satisfied his scruples, and, with great dignity,, he carried -out. the lady’s wishes. A more amusing instance, perhaps, of a case of mistaken identity at a marriage occurred at a West End registry office. Here the man in question was a weii known professor, whose name is often prominently before the public. He had arranged to marry a lady who was an associate with him in many of his scientific experiments. It was to be a quiet affair, with no .attendants; for witnesses, the couple were relying on the professional witnesses that are always t.o be found around a registry office. Now, a series of coincidences and mishaps took place which led to a most comical sequel. First, tlie professor—who is dreadfully absentminnded—forgot the time of the ceremony, and arrived half an hour too soon. Secondly, en route in a taxicab he broke his glasses, which left him half-blind. In a flurry he rushed into the registry office, and saw what he thought was his fiancee awaiting him. In actual fact, the lady before him was awaiting another man altogether, who, as it was learned later, had been taken ill in tbe streets and removed to Charing Cross Hospital. Meanwhile, his fiancee—who out of vanity had doffed the strong glasses which she normally wore—thought she recognised in the profesor her tardy bridegroom. With a muttered apology for being late, the professor took his place by her side, and tlie registrar proceeded. When the names were read out, the lady suddenly shrank back panic-stricken from the bridegroom, with the cry: “Oh, no, it s wrong this is not the gentleman I’m going to marry.” On hearing her voice, the man agreed with her. Explanations followed, and the professor, robbed of one bride, settled down patiently to wait for the next!