BRIDE WHO CAME NOT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 208, 19 August 1911, Page 1 (Supplement)

BRIDE WHO CAME NOT.

Dramatic Postponement of Society Wedding.

Earl’s Sister Changes Her Mind.

(From "" News of the "World, of July Jlli, 1*>11.)

SELDOM if ever has such a startling postponement of a wedding occurred as was the case this week at St. Fetor’s, Eaton-square, S.AV., when Lady Constance Eoljainbe should have been married to the Rev. Hezekiah Astley Kemp Hawkins. All the guests had assembled, the bridegroom and liest man was waiting at the altar, in fact, everything was ready for the ceremony to take place, but the bride tarried. And as the prospective husband and the congregation waited uneasiness made itself felt, and in turn gave place to amazement when it was announced that the bride could not be found, and that the wedding would not take place that day. So bridegroom and guests, in a state of great perplexity, took their departure, and it was not until the evening that the bride was hoard from. Thon her mother received a telegram from her, in which she stated that she h.’d changed her mind. Lady Constance Foljambe is half-sister £o the Earl of Liverpool, and was staying at the Earl’s London residence in Grosvenor Gardens. On the day she should have been married she appeared at breakfast as usual, and wa.s then quite cheerful, and in her habitual good spirits. Some time afterwards Lady Constance left the house, much to the surprise o( her relatives, and nothing further v, as soon of her that day. The wedding was fixed for two o'clock, and by a quarter to two the prettily-de-corated church was filled with a fashionable congregation, including a. hundred and fifty guests.

THE BRIDEGROOM WAS WAITING

in the vestry wearing a buttonhole of flowers, and four bridesmaids — Lady Rosamond Foljambc (the bride’s sister), Miss Foljambe, Miss Evelyn Ponsonby, and Miss Violet Ricketts —in pretty costumes of pink, blue, and mauve, with pages in green and maize-colour, | and a little girl in pale blue, stood at i the west door all ready to w-elcome the bride. Tho bride’s mother, the Dowa-, ger Countess of Liverpool, who was. to have given her away, was there with her sons, tho bride’s brothers. Canon the Hon. R. Adderley had donned his robes in the vestry, and was ready to , perform the ceremony. The clock struck { two. but no bride came. Still, it was ; thought, brides are often late, and onlv smiles of amusement were seen, and there was no hint of the dramatic de- , i-.onement that was so soon to come. < Once a stir of interest passed through tho congregation. Lnt it was only some belated guests. Minute succeeded min-, vto. but still the bride was absent. A subdued hum of conversation arose in > tho news. By a quarter-past two a | growing imnression of uneasiness had 1 ro.aohecf a climax. Scn-o hazarded the I sip'gcstion that the right time for the | tvoddii.g was haif-rast two and not two ■ o’elo-k.' The bridegroom, near the ■ r-.ltar, was |

PALPABLY ILL AT EASE NOW

Jlc sjmke in a low tone to his best man. Dr. Joly, and then the pair held a ccnsti It a no n with Cano.i Adderley. More than once they glanced eagerly at the great door of the church. Lady Constance was still absent. Nor was there any si:<n of the h.ai'l of Livctpool. he - 1 aif-brother, who was waiting at hi-* l ouse »o escort Lady Constance to the e' lui - h. Half-past two came but no bride. The guests endeavoured to conred their astonishment by reading the hrtnns. The service was to have been .bond, and at the entrance of the bride -L< hvmn “ Load us. Heavenly bather, l-. ad iis.” was to have b-en sung, while ILahn 67. “ God bo merciful unto W>, ~ ~s c' n for the time when the e'ler-tv and Hie bride and bridegroom : dviHi-'d to the altar. There was provision for an address and the hymn. " for.' Divine, all loves excelling, wbd-. during the signing of the register the hvmn. “ 0 Voice of the Beloved, u,»-.to ha-c been rendered. The clocx i.oi-Hed to a quarter to three, and tr.‘I rid-: was .-till absent. The pretence ;i l ,f n p was rve’l no longei held. Men looked from their watches to the door, wnm r ent-ried on subdued conversation in whispers. At length two ushers were s. ut in a motor-ear to Grosvenor-gar--1 -w. 'n a few minutes they returned, r-b’s>.er?d something to the little fanilv ’'eiip in the nisi.-. The pale face tb-s b-ideeroom -rew order still, and he staggered a little. Someone put out •_> supporting hand. Tn a whisper the news nnssed through the congregation -b«,f (V.-rc would he no wedding that sy. Tt was within a few minutes of

three o’clock. No marriage could take place after that hour, and it was useless waiting. At first the

BRIDEGROOM DECLINED TO LEAVE

the church, but it was pointed out to him that three o'clock was striking, anil the wedding could not possibly take place that clay. As he stood at the top of the aisle lie was surrounded by his friends, who extended their sympathies to him. In the meanwhile the guests were slowly dispersing. The two little pages were led to the door and taken home by their mother. The surpliced choir filed out. Motor-cars and carriages were hailed, and the people who had come to witness a society wedding drove home. At length the bridegroom was persuaded to leave, and drove with two friends to the Grosvenor Hotel, where he remained all the afternoon and evening. At Itord Liverpool’s house there was also consternation.. No one had seen Lady Constance leave, and the first news of her disappearance was at a quarter-past 12, when a maid who went to her room found that she was absent. A hurried search was made, with no result. Then another servant said that she had seen Lady Constance nt Victoria Station shortly after midday. At the house, as at the church, all was ready for the celebration of the wedding. The wedding breakfast was laid and all preparations were complete for a joyous gathering on the return from the church. But instead of laugh-

ter there was gloom, and a dreary silence reigned over the household. Lord Liverpool, who had been waiting in the house to take Lady Constance to the church, and the Dowager Countess of Liverpool caused a search to be . made in every direction. A constant stream of visitors arrived at (Srosvenor- | gardens to offer their help, but all efi forts resulted in nothing. Inquiries were even made at the hospitals, for it i was thought Lady Constance might have boon injured in a street accident. They wore fruitless. “ Wo know absolutely nothing,” said'Lady Constance’s brother “We cannot make any state. ; ment, as we do not know -where she ! is ” Mr. Hawkins was much affected, i and he, too, was unable to offer anv explanation. He refused to be seen by anvo.no except his near friends. All , doubt that ill had befallen Lady Con- ' stance was set at rest at night, when it was stated that Ixird Liverpool had received a message stating that she was , quite safe and sound, and that she had simply changed her mind and I DID NOT WISH TO BE MARRIED.

It is also stated that the Dowagei Countess of Liverpool received a telegram from Lady Constance in which she asked to be forgivten for the anxiety her action had caused. After the receipt of these reassuring telegrams, the description of the missing bride which bad been furnished to the police by the fnmilv. with a request that it should be circulated, was withdrawal. The news that his bride had been found was natinallv received with much relief by Mr. Hawkins. It is stated that Lady Constance has since expressed her regret to a number of guests by letter, and that also communicated with the bridegroom. A number of handsome presents had been received, and some of those to the bride had already been marked with the name " Lady Constance Hawkins.” It is understood that I.adv Constance left London by train on the morning of her wedinc day. but in which direction is not quite clear. 0:16 theory, that after doing some shopping she went to King’s Cross Station and travelled northwards, is supported bv a statement that in the evening the daughter of the signalman at Kirkham Abm-v told her father that she had seen Li'dr Constance, whom she knows very veil, sitting in the dining-car of an CTmess which passed through to ScarhoStnigh. The signalman argued that it was impossible, as that ws« I adv Constance’s wedding dnv. hut the little girl firmtv adhered to her statement, declaring that nothing could convince her to the contrarv. At the t>rne the signalman was unaware that th" wedding in Txindon had net t-1-"n nlace. Kirkis a, nine" w : tb on’v about 50 inhabitants. and orc— oUl’rl in th", vilArnows T n Av Con’t-ncO bv Sight. TS.cri anvo-rs tn bn no nwena to Jo-tot. was Ip enmnany with other fashionably-attired ladies driving Scarbornngh in a lururinnslv-..nn/>in,-pd motor-car on the night after

she should have been married. She was then making purchases at leading business establishments. _ The goods purchased have been delivered at Kirkham Hall. Three days prior to the wedding day Lady Constance was in Scarborough, whither she went alone to try on the wedding gown, made "of ivory crepe de chine, and trimmed with old Limerick lace, which was sent to the Earl oi Liverpool’s London address fjy Lady Constance’s directions. "Wherever Lady Constance may be at the moment, it- Li stated that numerous telegrams have been exchanged between her and a few intimate friends, who, however, maintain tho strictest reticence. Replying to an inquiry, Lord Liverpool ivrote:

I regret that I have no information that 1 can give beyond saying that I and every member of my family should be very Kind if tlio matter could be allowed to rest. It is only giving intense worry to us all. _ The subject is solely one of private interest.

Ir may be that there is

STILL HOPE OF A HAPPY

TERMINATION

to the affair. One of the clergy at St. Peter’s, Eaton-square, stated with reference to the announcement that the wedding was not cancelled, but only postponed, that no arrangement had been made yet for fixing another day for the ceremony. The banns would hold good for the wedding to take place at any time within the next, three months. Unaware of the dramatic postponement of the wedding, merry peals of bells were rung at Whitwell-on-the-Ilill, Yorks, at the time fixed for the vicar’s marriage, for Mr. Hawkins, who has been over eighteen years vicar of Whitwell, is very popular in the district. Indeed, the villagers were celebrating the marriage in whole-hearted fashion. The Union Jack floated from the church spire, and there were pretty decorations in the village. The nervs of the nori-appearance of the bride aroustd the greatest consternation in the village, as well as through the district around Malton and York," where both parties were we.'l known, and general sympathy was expressed for the vicar. Sc-mo light is now thrown on Lady Con-

i stance Eoljambe’s sudden resolve not to ! appear at the church and be married The family, it is said, were for a long > time opposed to the match owing to the disparity m the ages of the bride and i budegroom, but eventually the engagei incut was recognised. The lining of i Whitwell is not a very rich one, and it • was arranged before the wedding wes i to have taken place that a more suit- ■ ' t bio position should be found for Mr. i Idawkins, and he recently accepted that i of Stanton St. Quentin, in the diocese I of Bristol, where he would have taken 11 over his d.ities in a few weeks. It was i no secret, hon ever, that he did not care ! i.o leave Whitwell, to the beautiful sur- ! foundings of which he had become greatly attached. Lady Constance had interested herseT recently in the death of a young .man in the neighbourhood, named Arthur Carr, and the inquest was to have been held on Monday next, and she was io have attended as a witness. Whether she will do so has caused much cariosity in the -district. AN ANCIENT FAMIfY.

The Foljambes are an ancient Yorkshire family, having ancestral -associa nous with the Norman period. They held considerable possessions in York shire in the time of Henry 11. The tame of Foljambe figured prominently in tho land s-ven •.••••"tnrios ago, and their blocci runs in the best Engli-h families. Another branch of the Foljarnbes is prominently associated with Derbyshire, where they have been sheriffs of the county from one generation to another. ’ Lady Constance Blanche Aletfiaa Mary Foljambe was born in 18S >, and is the fourth of five sisters. She is a young lady of individuality and courage. Indeed the description, “ Something of a tombov.” has been frequently applied to her. 'in September, 1 !)0f). accompanied bv Miss Octavia Goyley and Miss Nellie Berl. Lady Constance created a sensation bv climbing the spiro of the church at Whitwell. 'iorks. The spire, which had been in the hands of steeplejacks, is rather high, and the daring of the young ladies amazed tho villagers. The enterprise was the outcome of a joking challenge when it was noticed that repairers had left ladders attached to the spire. Ladv Constance was known as an accomplished vocalist, and only recently sang the soprano solo in Mendelssohn’s “ Hear My Prayer ’’ at a Maiton concert. She had also sung at concerts in lock, at which she created a favourable impression.

HER LADYSHIP Id AN EXCELLENT ACTRESS,

and frequently took part in local theatricals ; while she is verv fond of athletics. and has taken part in cricket matches among ladies in the Whitwrtl district. While she has taken nto to th'- o'oet’e* of the London season, in common with other members of her family, she has frequently expressed a preference for a country life, and eon.

sequently the prospect of a career in a quiet country parsonage seemed by no means displeasing. The engagement, which was announced 12 months ago, seemed a most happy one. Lady- Constance’s eldest sister, Lady Edith Foljambe married Major D’Arcy Legart!, of the 17th Lancers, in lbby, and another sister, Lady Mabel Foljambe, married Dr. Wm. Woodburn, of Theale, near Her elder brother, the Hon. Gerald Foljambe, who served in South Africa and as A.D.C. to the Governor of Bombay, married a daughter of Mr. John Holden. The head of the family, the Earl of Liverpool, is Comptroller of the King’s Household, and was married in 1907 to the Hon. Annette Monck, daughter of Viscount Monck. He succeeded to the title in 1907 on the death of his father, who was better known by his lorniei title of Lord Hawkesbury, and for whom the title of Earl of Liverpool ivas revived in 1893. The Earl is a collateral descendant of Lord Liverpool, the famous Prime Minister, and is the fifth holder of the title. He was born in 1870, and educated at Eton and at tho Royal Militarv College aiSandhurst. He entered tLe*Rifle Brigade in became captain in 1897, and major m 1907. He i«-as A.D.O. to Earl C-adogan when the latter was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and was State Steward and Chamberlain to tho Earl of Abeideen during the latter’s tenure of the Lord-Lieutenancv of Ireland.

THE BRIDEGROOM,

the Rev. Hezekiah Astley Kemp Hawgins, who is 48, was educated at Chichester College, and was ordained a priest in 1886 in the diocese of Southwell. Ho was a curate at Sntton-in-A.shfield. Nottingham, from 1885 to 1888, and Chesterfield, Derbyshire, from 1888 to 1892. Since then he has been vicar of IVhitwell-on-the-Hill, a village with a population of 171. the gross income of the living being £lB2. Whit-well-on-the-Hill is near Kirkham Abbey, the residence of the Dowager Countess of Liverpool, Ladv Constance’s mdther, Mr. Hawkins had only recently accepted the living of Stanton Stj Quentin, in the Bristol diocese, where he and his bride-elect intended to take up their residence. Air. Hawkins Yvas an ardent church worker, and. being an excellent musician, plaved the church organ, besides conducting the service. He also played the viola, and formed an orchestral party, of which Lady Constance Yvas a member. Only a week l>eforc the day fixed for the wedding tho parishioners made Mr. Hawkins a hand- • some present in connection with his approaching marriage. Air. Hawkins ts now staving at CTrnstevfield. with Mr. G. F. Barnes, whose children were to have officiated as Hain bearers at tho wedding. Mr. Howl-ins woo nt one time curate at Cliestorfiold parish church, p.nd has manv friends in the town.