BRIDE OF AN HOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1934, Page 5

BRIDE OF AN HOUR

FORTUNE FROM HUSBAND. More than half-a-century ago Hubert. Scott Maxwell was jilted by Miss Jean Frazer, who had been his sweetheart from childhood, and in mortification he quitted his Troon (Cornwall) to seek forgetfulness in another land. In the region of Antibes he settled down to the life of a recluse and soon became known as the Mad Englishman who hated the sight of women, and carried his hatred to such an extent that no woman was ever allowed inside his house. On the rare occasions when he consented to dine out with friends it was c'n the distinct understanding that no woman was to be at the table. He carried his prejudices to such an extent that it was forbidden to the shopkeepers who supplied his necessities of life to supply him with anything that the hands of women had touched. , , , p It was only under the shadow of death a few weeks ago that he showed signs of a change. On the urgent representations of the doctois he pcimitted the introduction of a woman nurse, but only on condition that she remained veiled in his presence. As death approached he surprised his friends by raising the veil ban, and later surprised them still further by announcing his wish to marry Mme. Marie Laforcc, the nurse in question. The girl was quite willing, and the authorities were asked to speed up the procedure to permit of a rapid mar- ■ riage. , .. I But with the best will in the world they were able to arrange the civil I ceremony only one hour before the death of the bridegroom. It was not possible to arrange a religious ceremony at all. i Subject to a small annuity for the • grand-daughter of his first love, Mr • Maxwell has left all his fortune to his ) bride of one hour, who up to the time I cf the marriage was not even aware 1 cf the Christian name of the man who ■ became her husband. At the time of the ceremony he was

stricken with blindness, which had begun before the nurse was permitted to remove her veil, and thus it is that be was married to a woman whose features he had never beheld. Ills only attempt to “sense” her features was when, in the course of the ceremony, he passed his hands over her face. Members of the dead man’s family are disputing the will disposing of the property, but the French authorities are ranging themselves on the side, of the “widow,” claiming that the man was in his proper senses when be instructed the officials in the presence of a lawyer to prepare the marriage ceremony.