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Society gossips are busy over what seems to be a
sensational elopment. At the corner of
Perkins-street and Fulton-avenue has lived for
several years a pretty brunette, with her guardian.
Her name is Metta Sherman. Ever since the death of
her father, Hiram Sherman, of Gates, Metta has lived
in Rochester.
Hiram Doty was appointed her guardian, and the fair
maid has lived beneath his roof all this time. She
is heiress to a fortune of $75,000, which becomes
her own when she arrives at the age of 21. She is
now 19. Besides this which she possesses in her own
name, it is said that her fortune will be double
that amount when her uncle, who is very wealthy,
dies.
She has figured extensively in the best society here
and was generally esteemed a society belle. Her
guardian, Deacon Hiram Doty, whose hair has been
silvered by between three and four score years, has
a son, James P. Doty. This gentleman is well known
in this city, where he formerly resided. For several
years he has lived in the West, with his
headquarters at St. Paul, Minn.He is described as
a commercial traveler, and is 31 years of age. His
course of life is said to have been of such a
character as to bring unmeasured sorrow to his
father. A few years ago he was married, and two
years ago he was divorced. The divorced wife now
lives in Chicago. These are the two characters in
the elopement which now agitates polite society
here.
About a year ago the two began to correspond, and
James frequently came home, so that he saw Miss
Sherman at not rare intervals. The good guardian,
Deacon Doty, did not look with displeasure upon the
acquaintance, but never dreamed of a matrimonial
result, upon which he would have frowned. Matters
came to a crisis on Wednesday last, when Miss
Sherman eloped from her home and took the "flyer"
for Chicago, where she met Doty by appointment, and
the two were married.
A Times representative called today upon Deacon
Doty. In answer to a question the guardian replied:
"On Wednesday afternoon she told me that she wanted
to go to Gates, which is her old home. Her father
lived there for many years. I think she said she
wanted to attend a church social, and would stay all
night with a friend. I gave her my consent, and
thought she went there.
The first thing I learned concerning her
elopement was a telegraph dispatch I received from
Milwaukee, sent by my son, asking that her trunks be
forwarded immediately by express. Then I received a
letter from him saying that she had met him at
Chicago according to previous engagement, and that
they were immediately married there. I suspected
nothing of this kind. I would certainly have
forbidden their correspondence had I known that any
affection sprang up between them. I do not think him
the best husband she could select, and that makes
the blow all the heavier.
People will say that I winked at it; connived to
bring about such a result. But such is not the case.
I have grave apprehensions for the girl's future,
and can only hope that they are groundless. Whenever
I saw them together here they were either quarreling
or saucing each other. They must have been playing a
part to deceive me. She is a distant relative of
mine. Her father is dead. Her mother lives in this
city, on Troup-street, but she is demented. I sent
on her trunks. There was no use of burning the barn
because the horse had been stolen. The girl made her
own choice, and I can but assent, though she is
still under age and I am her legal guardian."
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