Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1889 — WEDDED TO BE A WIDOW. [ARTICLE]

WEDDED TO BE A WIDOW.

Mrs. McKee Was Disgusted Because Her Husband Did Not Die on Time. Another matrimonial event booked for the near future is given unusual interest by the bride’s former marriage, ■which created a sensation at the time. The lady’s name is Frankie BiownMcKee, the daughter of the late Hiram Brown, who was a wealthy resident of Oakland. Upon the death of her father Miss Frankie fell heir to $50,000, and she immediately started in to enjoy life at a rather rapid rate. Among her throng of acquaintances was a dashing widow’, who became the bosom friend of the young heiress. Frankie admired the ways and manners of her friend, and thought that if she could only become a widow herself she would possess,, all the attractions which she so greatly envied. She sought the advice of her friend, Capt. Bichard Apgar, who has since died. He told her to marry some man who was dying and offered to secure such a bridegroom. Frankie Brown assented. Capt. Apgar’s friend, Dr. Anson A. DuPuy, was treating for consumption a young printer named McKee. The young man was informed of the young lady’s desire, and also of her offer to pay his expenses until he died and to provide for his funeral. The printer w’as dazzled by the glittering offer and lost no time in consenting to the marriage. Miss Brown called upon McKee, was satisfied with the deathlypallor of his cheeks, and married him. Then she hied her to a dressmaker’s and ordered an elaborate funeral trousseau.

The printer lingered long—too long, his From time to time word was brought to her from the sickbed. The reports which told her that her husband was fast nearing his end were encouraging, and they were usually accompanied with little bills for attendance upon him which she promptly paid. Finally she decided to satisfy herself by ocular demonstration that McKee was not going to repudiate his contract by living. She was proceeding down Broadway, Oakland, one day, with the intention of visiting her husband in this city, but as she was about to board a train a hand w r as laid upon her arm. Turnirg her head, her eyes rested upon a well-built, broad-shoul-dered young man, with the glow of health in his cheeks and a well-round-ed stomach that betrayed great intimacy with the good things of life. It was her husband. She nearly fainted, but recovered quickly and upbraided McKee for not dying on schedule time. She emphatically announced that she’ w’ould not live with him, whereupon he demanded a cash settlement. Frankie honored his demands and they were renewed. The strain was too much for her purse and she fled to Europe to escape her husband’s importunities. When he saw’ that he had lost her McKee took to drink and in about six months died in a blissful state of intoxication.

Then his widow quit hobnobbing with foreign potentates and returned home, taking up her abode in San Francisco. It was not long before Arthur Newton, better known as Arthur Bascombe, an actor, dawned upon her vision. He was fair to look upon, an Englishman, thirty years of age, tall and well built, his blonde curly locks making a nice contrast with the -vidow-bride’s auburn ringlets. Newton belongs to a good family, and since Frankie Brown-McKee has consented to become his bride he has abandoned the stage and now represents an Eastern manufacturing house. The lady will soon fly towards the rising sun, where the nuptials will be celebrated, after "Which she and Arthur will visit, the Oriental countries of the far East. —San Francisco letter.