AN UNFORTUNATE MARRIAGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 291, 21 May 1898, Page 5 (Supplement)

AN UNFORTUNATE MARRIAGE.

A Strang k divorce case has been determined reoeatly in the Massachusetts Divorce Court. The evidence showed that the mother of the petitioner some 25 years ago was left a widow with three young children. One day, after % prolonged visit to another town, their mother brought home another baby, whom she introduced to them as their cousin, aud so the child grew up, calling the widow " aunty " and looking upon the other children as cousins. Among these was a boy, who was nine years older than his little " cousin," but despite the disparity in their ages, they were always warmly attached to each other, and showed a marked preference for each other's company. The girl was sent to the best of the private schools, receiving a good education there until she reached the age of 17, and she returned home. The other children had now grown into manhood, and with the desire to seek their fortunes elsewhere, had scattered over the world, the boy selecting America as his future home. The mother's heart yearned for her son, and one day she proposed to the cousin that they should visit him in America. The girl gladly accepted the offer, and a month later they arrived in Massachusetts where the young mau was in business. Here the old intimacy between the children grew into deep-rooted love, but though the mother saw all she uttered no protest. After a brief visit the two women returned to England, but it was on the understanding that the younger would shortly go back to America and become the wife of her " cousin " After the marriage the young people settled down to a happy aud contented life in a flat, keeping up a regular correspondence with " aunty " at home. Nothing came to mar their happiness until September, 1896, when the husband received a letter from an aunt, who had not been apprised of his marriage, and who wished to see him as she was very ill. After a little hesitation he decided to take his wife with him, and on arrival announced his marriage to his aunt, introducing his wife at the same tittle. For some time the sick woman could not speak, but then raisiug herself on the bed, exclaimed " You two had no right to marry." " I don't sec why," replied the young wife, " surely I have a right to mirry my cousin." " But you are not cousins ! You are brother and sister ?'' For a while the young couple were stricken with horror at the disclosure, but when they fully realised their position they drew up an agreement to separate, and the young wife decided to take up the battle of life and earn her own living, only asking to be allowed to forget aud to be forgotten. But she did uot neglect to delve into the past and learn the truth about herself. She had been made to believe for a time that her father was a wealthy physician, who would not publicy acknowledge her as his child, although piying for her maintenance and education. Her husband made a trip over to England after the disclosures and ascertained their truth. On his return he told his wife that the paper she had signed did not set her free, so she immediately applied to the courts to have the marriage annulled, Recently the unhappy young woman received word from England that her father is a titled personage, and it was on account of his high position iu'.society that her mother withheld his name-