WEDDING BAN REMOVED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21153, 9 April 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

WEDDING BAN REMOVED.

GOOD NEWS FOR LOVERS. FATHER GIVES CONSENT. It was stated on February 20 by the correspondent of tho Daily Expiess at Leverstock Green, Hertfordshire, that there was an excellent chance of a happy ending to the love affair—(ho storv of which was told on this page last week—of tho vicar's daughter and tho Canadian farmer who was onco her father's gardener. This was brought about by a dramatic development. Tho Rev. Arthur Durrant, the seventy-year-old vicar, it, was understood, had withdrawn his objection to tho marriage of his daughter, Lorna, to her childhood sweetheart, Mr. Frederick Seabrook, who recently returned from Canada, where he emigrated twenty-eight years ago, promising to make good and return to claim Lorna s hand. Mr. Durrant returned to the village on February 18 to conduct a funeral service, and immediately after his arrival ho cycled to the home of Mr. Scabrook's father. Mr. Seabrook, jun., was out, and tho vicar left a message asking him to call later at tho vicarage. When Mr. Durrant returned to the vicarago Mr. Seabrook was waiting for him, and tho two men had a long conversation. Subsequently Mr. Seabrook stated that the vicar had definitely withdrawn his opposition to the marriage. " Mr. Durrant, he said, " told mo that he actually withdraw his objection to our marriage before Lorna was taken to th a nursing home, and ho explained that lie was too busy with church affairs to lot me know. So I think that, after all, there will be a happy ending." Miss Durrant was still in tho nursing home at St. Albans, and Mr. Seabrook said that it would not be possible for her to leave within a month. " I have inquired about her," he said, " and 1 am told sho is going on well. She has asked about mo several times, and tho knowledge that her father has withdrawn his opposition to our wedding will bo a great relief to her, and will help her to get well quickly." Tho vicar had informed thp Bishop of St. Albans that he felt he could not take tho services at the parish church on Sunday, February 21. Consent was given by the Bishop for someone to act as his deputy. Mr.' Seabrook, as stated in last week's story, is a man of 50, while Miss Durrant is a woman of 45. They fell in love with each other when they were little more (ban boy and girl, Mr. Seabrook being then tho vicar's gardener. He emigrated to Canada nearly thirty years ago and having " mado good " lately returned to England to claim his bride. Tho latter has been subject to mental troubles, and at the time to which the story has been told sho was undergoing treatment in a nursing home.