She Wanted to be a Widow.

Evening Star, Issue 7301, 27 August 1887, Page 5 (Supplement)

She Wanted to be a Widow.

A detailed and interesting account of the remarkable marriage contracted by a young lady of wealth and social position with a poor consumptive printer, for the express purpose of attaining the blessed state of widowhood, is printed by the 'Examiner' of Sun Francisco. The young lady is Miss Lily F. Brown, of Oakland. On coming of age last October she received a fortune of 50.000 dollars from her father's estate. The possession of this money inspired her with a desire to enjoy life freed from the restraint imposed upon young spinsters by social conventionalities. While living at the Brunswick House in Oakland, she proposed to a friend, a widow, also stopping there,, that they take a pleasure trip to the Yosemitc together. The widow assented, suggesting that if they could both travel as widows their enjoyment of the trip would be greatly enhanced. "A widow," she slyly insinuated, "can go about, with freedom, flirt, and have lots of fun ; but a young girl has to be so careful." Miss Brown was greatly taken by the idea, and a doctor was asked to provide a dying bridegroom. " I have just the man," said Dr Du Puy. " Frank M'Kee, a young printer, whom I am treating for consumption, is almost dying. Only your young lady will have to hurry the nuptials, for be may not last two daya." Next day the marriage was

performed at the doctor's office by a Justice of the Peace. After the ceremony the a,!mo3t unconscious groom was taken back home and put to bed. Since then hie bride has been impatiently waiting for him to 1 die. She has even provided sums amcuntmsf to l.OOOdol to defray the expenses "of h?s supposed short remaining I span of life, and" ntfcl of n first-claw funeral when he died. So far from dying he has grown stout and strong, and evidently has no' intention of Immediately departing this vale of tears". Meeting his bride on the B"tre?ts a few weeks ago, he assured her of his abiding love, and expressed a desire that his happiness should be crowned by their living together. To this Mrs M'Kee returned an indignant refusal. Though the unreasonable man insisted upon living in violation of the understanding that he should die speedily, she did not dare to resist Jits appeal for funds. The secret of the marriage was well kept all this time, though a blackmailer had tried to bleed the heiress by threats of making it public. On appealing to counsel, she found that she could do nothing to extricate herself from the dilemma. While her husband lired she was his wife, and, although she could refuse to live with him, she could not obtain a divorce. M'Kee persists in living.