Romantic Tale.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5660, 19 October 1889, Page 3

Romantic Tale.

The London edition of the New York Herald publishes a story about the marriage of Mrs. Frankie Brown Mckee ajid Mr ArtUur Branscombe, who is said to have a wifo and, child in New Zealand. The lady is a fascinating widow with some amount of money, and a touch of romance in her career. It appears that when her father died she found herself iti the possession of £10,000. This, together with her persoual attractions, sufficed to make her one of the belles of Sau Francisco society. But her jealousy was aroused at the siffht of a handsome and dashing young widow who received what seemed to her female friends to be an uafair share of the admiration of the eligibles amongst the sterner sex. It seemed to the envious mind of Miss Brown, as she then was, that if she too were a widow she might compete with her rival on something like terms of equality. So, through the offices of a mutual friend, a marriage was brought about between herself and a man named McKee, who was understood to be far advanced in consumption. The lady undertook to keep him in comfort, and to supply him with that little which man wants when here below, alwaye assuming that ho would not want that little long , . It was understood that McKee, on his part, would do nil that could reasonably be expected of him to bring about the speedy rimlisation of his wife's desire to don the widow's weeds. But " men wen deceivers ever," and no sooner had McKee wedded the heiress than ho commenced to get better, rapidly approached a state of robust health, aud intimated his intention of living on his wifo. The latter, in disgust, got what remained of her fortune together and fled to Europe, while her husband went into a genuine consumption, the consumption, nnmely, of strong drink, which soon brought liiui to his grave. When the welcome news was cabled to his disconsolate relict she at once returned, but not so much from a desire to shine in the society of the Califoruian capital, as because she wanted to find Arthur Branscombe. Arthur Branscombo, to quote the simple but forciblo diction of tho New York Herald's descriptive phrasemonger, is, or rather was, a barn-storming actor. At the time Frankie (tbis is tho Yank's p-ilHe way of indicating the lady) was waiting in expeotation of soon becoming a widow, he j appeared in San Francisco from Australia, i For a time ho worked as a reporter on the Alt* California, and while thus employed met Frankie. The two fell desperately in lovo with each other, and it was agreed between them to marry after Moßoe s death. Later on Branscombe joined a travelling theatrical company, and with it made the Pacific Coast tour. It is believed that he and Frankie have corresponded ever since their first meeting. He is a handsomo fellow, with light curly hair and ploasant address, and is the only son of an English clergyman who, before his death, lived in Kent, where it is said the family still resido. Young Branscombe drifted out to Melbourne several years ago, and there became an actor. A theatrical friend who was acquainted with him in Australia confirms the story of his having a wife and child in New Zealand, and euys he does not blame Briinseombe much for running away from his Now Zealaud wife, as ho is from a " way-up family in England, and his wife is rather on the washerwoman stylo." Mr. j F. W. Kinne. who was uigut editor of the i Alta California when Braucombe was a reporter upon it, says:—l Know that he has a wife in New Zealaud, and J. was thunderstruck when I heard of his marriage to Frunkic Brown McKee. Branscombe told mo that ho would never return to Australia. Tho impression prevailed in San Francisco that ho wus the second son of an j English lord. I never looked upon him as an adventurer, as he was a hard-working reporter. The New l'ork Herald is inclined to assume that them may bo trouble in the ( future awaiting Briinscorabe and his eocentrio and dashing young wife. One of hie friends Bays it ia barely possible that ■ Branecoiubo had secured a divorce from his New Zealand wife, but ho did not think such was the case.