An Unfortunate Marriage.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7214, 19 May 1898, Page 4

An Unfortunate Marriage.

Letters received by the last American mail contain full reference to a strange divorce case in the Massachusetts Divorce Court. The evidence for the petition showed that the mother of the petitioner some 25 years ago was left a widow wiili three young children. One day, after a prolonged visit to another town, their mother brought home another baby, whom she introdnced to them as their cousin, and so the child grew up, callinz the '• aunty," and looking upon the other children as cousins. Among these was a boy, who was nine years older than his little "cousin,'' but despite the disparity in their ages, they were always warmly attached to each other, and showed a marked preference for each other's company. The girl was sent to the best cf the private schools, receiving a good education there until sue reached the age of 17, and she returned borne. The other children had now grown into manhood, and, with the desire to seek their fortunes elsewhere, bad scattered over the world, the boy selecting America as his future home. The mother's heart yearned for her son, and one day she proposed to the cousin that they should visit him in America. The cirl gladly accepted the offer, and a month later they arrived in Massachusetts, where the young man was in business. Here the old intimacy between the children grew into a deeprooted love, but though the mother saw all. she uttered no protest. After a brief visit the two women returned to England but it was on the understanding that the younger would shortly go back to America and become the wife of her " cousiu." After the marriage the young couple settled down to a happy and contented life in the flat, keeping up a regular correspondence with " aunty " at home. Nothing cama to mar their hspuinness until September, 1896, when the'husband received a letter from an aunt, who had been apprised of his marriage, and who wished to see him, as she was very ill. After a lictlo hesitation he decided to take his wife with him, and on arrival announced his marriage to his aunt, introducing his wife at the same time. For some time the sick woman could not speak, but then, raising herself on the bed, exclaimed, '' You two had no right to marry." "I don't see why. replied the young wife, "surely T have a right to marry my cousin." "But you are not cousins ! Ton are brother and sister !"' For a while the young couple were stricken with horror at the disclosure, but when they fully realised their position, they drew up an agreement to separate, and the young wife decided to take up the battle of life and earn her own living, only asking to be allowed to forget and to be forgotten. But she did not neglect to delve into the past and learn the truth about heiself. She had been made to believe for a time that her father was a wealthy physician, who would not publicly acknowledge her as his child, although pajing for her maintenance and education. Her husband made a trip over to England after the disclosures and ascertained their truth. On his return he told his wife that the paper she had signed did not set her free, so ahe immediately applied to the Courts to have the marriage annulled. Recently the unhappy young ttoman received word from England that her father is a titled personage, and ic was on account of his high position in society that her mother withheld his name. The case will shortly come before the American Court again.