George Ort’s Romance
The Story of a Flirtation, Courtship, and Marriage with a Divorce to Follow.
Ironton, Ohio Newspaper, 18 March 1893
The Columbus State Journal of Friday contains the following interesting news regarding George Ort, a former Ironton, Ohio, citizen:
A unique divorce suit is in course of preparation which has for its antecedents a bit of romance, a secret marriage, a sensational quarrel, and Rosily a humiliating exposure of the “family skeleton.”
Miss Florence Davis is about 20 years old, of the blonde type of beauty, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. DeForest Davis, who resides at 27 East Seventh Avenue. The Davis family is a highly respectable one and the young lady moved into the best titles of North-side society.
Since the Hennetta theater was opened last fall Miss Florence has frequently attended the attractions on the boards there and in the course of her visits a little flirtation was struck up between herself and George Ort, who played a horn in the archeatat, dining winter mouths The filtration led to an acquaintance and the acquaintance ripened to such a degree that the young people took a sly little sleigh ride to Delaware. The date of this apparently innocent amusement was January 11, last.
The date is mentioned because, if later developments are true, this was the wedding day of Miss Florence. The story goes that Mr. Ort proposed to his fair companion while gliding over the glittering snow and was so ardent in pressing his suit that he was not only accepted but was accepted at once. They decided to be united that day and keep their marriage a secret.
A license was obtained at the probate judge’s office in Delaware county and a magistrate tied the knot. The bride and groom returned to Columbus and each permed their daily walks as if nothing had happened. The plan was to go to California in the spring and then be would claim her as his wife.
The secret was revealed to her parents in a remarkable way a few nights ago. Miss Davis had been to some social gathering on the North Side and was being accompanied home by a young gentleman. As they were patting along Ort suddenly confronted them and tersely remarked that he would take care of his wife. He proceeded to do so, and the other escort was so dumbfounded at the announcement that he nearly fell a faint.
When Mr. and Mrs. Ort arrived at her home it appears, she was not in very good humor. They quarreled and her parents overheard enough of the conversation to learn that their daughter was married. When confronted she did not deny the fact. While in a quandary as to what course to pursue the bride happened to visit a lady named Pratt who lives on Washington avenue and was there shown a newspaper clipping in regard to her husband.
The article in effect told about Ort abusing his wife, now dead. The fact that Ort had been married was a surprise to the bride and she concluded that she did not care to live with him After explaining her feelings to her parents it was decided that the best means of escape for their daughter from the galling yoke of matrimony was to secure a divorce, and a lawyer was consulted for this purpose.
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