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About The Augusta herald. (Augusta, Ga.) 1890-1908 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1907)
,s)** ' -(k*. ' r '* jKn *‘' '• Wv^§K.v -- : yZ* '. vV ;'-. ' -♦. •H( •. f" "■ ■ If^ir WHAT a relief It la to know that the popular cynicisms of the theatre and music halls —such as "No Wed ding Bella Jor Me,” has fHlled to under mine good, %ld-fashioned sentiment In real life. Here Is the case of It. L- Thomas, the millionaire turfman, who has confessed in those actions that speak louder than words, that no sounds are half so sweet In his ears as the sound of wedding bells. "Oh, those wedding bells for me,” said Mr, Thomas, and he got ’em. But how frantically Mr. Thomas did pursue those wedding bells until finally he came up with them! He dreamed of wed ding bells. The alarm clock that awak cred him betimes for trials at the race track counded a wedding bell note. Wed ding bells saluted his eager imagination at railway crossings while he "looked out for the locomotive.'' Wedding bells pealed whenever a hospital ambulance rattled clanging through the street. Even the Eire Department wagons were equipped with wedding bells for his ears. Oh, how Mr. Thomas loved those wedding bells! And yet Mr. Thomas —following the death “MR. THOMAS FELL ON THE MIN ISTER’S NECK.” \ if • f- I \ wB raattßß\ X ' >• wm&nHSS \iwl • ( iftrfnfTtfH N» '( V. • Miss Irma Trent, Now Mrs. R. L. Thomas. of his wife some years before—had lived to be forty-three years old, and to see his thick crop of hair turn snow white, before giving more than a passing thought to bells of any kind. This was because beautiful Miss “Dimple” Trent, of Washington, D. C., had not jet dashed across his enraptured vision. When the Washington racing season be gan last Fall Miss Trent asked her mother | « •PULLED ONE REVEREND BELL HANDLE OUT BY THE ROOTS.” to be allowed to attend the races, as she bad nev *r yet seen the ponies canter. * • Trent pare her permission, and provide* a chaperon for her daughter- In the grandstand M! Trent’s beau y diverted at . ::tlon from the events on the trade. She Is a young woman of most striking oppenrnneo. Even women In the street turn ns she passes to steal a seconc glance. She Is tall, willowy, and her fig ure is perfect. Her well-rolsed head is crowned with great quantities of midnight black hair, and her eyes arc large, limpid and violet-blue. No wonder that when she entered the grandstand Mr. Thomas, as well as many others, looked at the handsome young woman admiringly, ilut Mr. Tliomua ap- *OH.THOSE WEDDING BELLS~ FORME I* [ 'J'r=,7 \€^M -S “THREW SOME THINGS INTO A SUIT CASE, AND SPRINTED FOR THE WASHINGTON TRAIN.” peared to continue to look at her admir ingly, so admiringly, In fact, that it was many minutes before be< saw that her chaperon wns a warm frith' 1 of his. He was delighted at discovery and hurried over to shake bands with his friend and secure an Introduction to her beauti ful charge. His Intense admiration was expressed In his face as he bowed low, •ns only a Kentucky gentleman <- sah,” over the slim hand that Miss Trc_. placed In bin. 'And as turn about Is fair play. Miss Trent, on her part was Immensely at tracted to the courtly Southern, soft accented gentleman, with his retlued face aud distinguishing, silvery hair. It was, undoubtedly, a ease of love at first sight, and from that time the racing man paid strenuous court to Miss •Hiinplc," and very shortly proposed. She accepted hint with the understanding that his family should know aud like her first and in that event the wedding was to occur In July. Three weeks ago Mr. Thomas ISI ”,r / / It! I (J JQn “‘GREAT SNAKES! 'OES THAT HAVE TO GO IN THE LICENCE?’ SAID MR. THOMAS.” was visiting his fiancee. She seined to him more than usually beautiful and charming. Ever since his engagement he had been keeping the railway tracks hot between Washington and the places where bis ponies were breaking records. And after each brief hour wiith his fiancee he had been dble to bear nothing but wedding bells. Now he could spare time for a longer visit. Each time his gaze rested on the dark tresses of his fiancee ;bey seemed en twined with ornnge blossoms. ' When she spoke her voice held the music of wedding bells. •July! Oh, good gracious!” he ejacu lated. ~. “Very well,” she replied demurely, ‘lf July Is too soon” •‘Too soon! To-morrow would not bo too soon. To-day not too soou. Darling, come, we’ll cut out this watting till July.” “No, dearest. First you must meet my mother and I must meet your people. That was agreed, you know.” So he telegraphed for bis married sister, Mrs. Ireland, of Kentucky, to come to Washington at once. Mrs. Ireland came. She was charmed with Miss ’’Dimple.” She visited Miss Trent’s mother and urged her to let her daughter ftccompaoy her to New York. The Good, Old Fashioned, Hurry-Up Courtship of Millionaire R. L. Thomas, Who Couldn't Wait Another Day, and So Pursued Sixteen Ministers All Over Washington, D. C., Till He Caught “Very well,” said Mrs. Trent. ‘‘lt will he n lined chance for ‘Dimple - to do some shopping.” Shortly Mr. Thomas found it convenient to turn up In New York, too. He spent an afternoon and evening in the society of his llancee and weding hells kept him A awake all night. Bright and early next morning he was at his fiancee's li tel on his knees begging Miss “Dimple” to let him get n license and call in a mmlfter then und there. “No, dearest, I’ve promised that when 1 marry my mother shall be present.” “Au revolr, then ; I’m off to Washington to see mamma. Will you promise to to' low on the next train If she telegraphs. “I promise, you great, big goose,” laughed Miss “Dimple.” Thereupon the ardent lover rushed back to bis hotel, threw some things into a suit case and sprinted for the Washing ton train. Miss “Dimple” was having a glorious chopping orgy. Day by day, hour by hour, her trousseau was nearing the point of perfection, and still the good work went on. In Washington Mr. Thomas rushed straight from the train to the home of his prospective mother-in-law, suit case In hand. Mamma simply had to sny “yes.’’ Whereat Mr. Thomas and his suit case rushed to the nearest telegraph office, and, In mamma's name, wired to Miss “Dim ple.” ‘‘Como home. Consent to Immediate wedding.” Miss “Dimple” was as good ns her word, and while her train was currying her back to Washington, Mr. Thomas did some nec- One Who Had Time to MaKe Beautiful Miss “Dimple” Trent His Wife Immediately! essary business, as well as he could with those wedding bells ringing In his ears. “To-morrow,” insisted Mr. Thomas on the same evening of his fiancee's arrival. “In the evening, here at your home.” Her trousseau being practically com plete. Mis* “Dimple” had not the heart to ask for more time- One more sleepless night, full of wed diug bells, for the eager lover. At nine o'clock in the morning he was in Ills au- JMy- —T % * JtH ip “IN HIS AUTOMOBILE BREAKING RECORDS OVER THE ROUTE TO THE MARRIAGE LI CENCE DEPARTMENT.” tomobile breaking records over the route to The marriage license department. The clerk at the window listened to Mr. Thomas’s names and other facts concern ing the contracting parties and then de manded: “Name of officiating clergyman?” “Great snakes! Does that have to ?° !n the licence?” said Mr. Thomas. “Certainly. Clergyman’s name, please. "Dashed If 1 know,” and then, as i' ie clerk was filming wearily Rway from the window, “hold on, young man. Stay right where you are. Don’t do a thing till you sec me." And Mr. Thomas rushed off to And a minister who wns not otherwise engaged. He was In a hurry. The city directory furnished him with half a dosen names, whose -owners dwelt not too far away. So. Jumping Into his machine, away whirled the prospective grooui to the near est rectory, tin Inquiring of the trim maid who answered the hell, for Hie llev. Hr. Wilson, bo was told that Dr. Wilson’s wife wo til- and that the minister could not leave I H,rk into the nutomotdlc and whiz around the corner three blocks to the llev. Ciaron o Smith’s. “llev. Mr. Spilth out.” Again into the auto and five block fur ther on to the Dr. Eaton’s, only to learn that the reverend doctor was attending an Important church conference and could not leave. Back Info the automobile scrambled the disappointed millionaire, the chauffeur put on extra power and scudded across town to another chut\b and Its adjoining rectory. "Just retired\fter being np all night with a sick parishioner and left strict orders not to be disturbed," was all the satisfac tion Mr. Thomas'"keelved there gj§p "WHEREAT MR. THOMAS AND HIS SUIT CASE RUSHED FOR THE NEARESTTELEGRAPH OFFICE.” Again on the maddening search. Dr. Thomas proved to he the name of the next minister. Millionaire Thomas, with all the superstition of a race-track man, decided that the slmLlarlty of names must surely be a "hunch,” and that Rev. Mr. Thomas wns awaiting him with the prayer book open. But the "hunch” failed, utterly and mis erably. Dr. Thomas had the prayer book open, hut not at the correct place, for he was in the act of conducting a christening in a distant part of the city. The now more than disappointed million aire re-entered \he automobile disconsolately enough, and in a heart-breaking voice bade the driver to crapk and spark once more and go to another parsonage.* "Very sorry, indeed, sir,’’ politely replied the servant at the next stop, “but Dr. Butler left this morning for Jamestown.’* Two more ministerial homes were visited with no better success, and, thoroughly dis heartened, Mr. Thomas directed the chauf feur to return to the City Hall. Once there he explained his fruitless quest to a sympathetic but amused lot of clerks, one of whom consented to accom pany Mr. Thomas on a still further search for a parson. The start was made bravely enough, but not until eight more parsonages had been visited and Mr. Thomas had pulled one reverend bell handle out by the roots did success crown their efforts. The sixteenth rect-»ry was that of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, and at last—at last!— they had found one rector who was at home aud available! Mr. Thomas explained the situation to the rector, Dr. Wallace Rad cliffe, who agreed to wait at the rectory until Mr. Thomas could get a carriage and fetch Ills charming bride. Mr. Thomas fell on the minister's neck. When he arrived at his prospective wife’s home, at No. 61 New York Avenue, N. A, he found her in bridal array and very much alarmed at his prolonged absence. As they entered the carriage Mr. Thomas told the driver to exceed the speed limit If neces sary, for ho did not want “the only minis ter In Washington City to get away.” The ceremony was quickly performed and Mr. Thomas and his new wife left on a late afternoon train for Shcepshcad Bay, where a few days later he celebrated his marriage by winning $50,000. Robert I-ee Thomas Is rated well In the millions and is represented throughout the State of Kentucky by large lumber Inter ests. lie Is passionately fond of horses, and is a shrewd horseman enough to keep a large stable and make It pay. His string consists now of twenty-six horses. One of the best known is, perhaps, Harcourt, named In honor of his first wife, a Miss Ilarcourt, of Lexington, Kentucky. The first Mrs. Thomas died about three yean ago. She did not leave any children. Irma Trent, now Mrs. R. L. Thomas, was horn In Atlanta, Georgia, and Is twenty three years old. Shortly after her blrtt the family moved to Lynchburg, Va., and It was there that she received her •due*
