Chapter 6

           When,sixmonthslater,theengagementofMissHildegardeMoncrieftoMr.BenjaminButtonwasmadeknown(Isay"madeknown,"forGeneralMoncriefdeclaredhewouldratherfalluponhisswordthanannounceit),theexcitementinBaltimoresocietyreachedafeverishpitch.ThealmostforgottenstoryofBenjamin’sbirthwasrememberedandsentoutuponthewindsofscandalinpicaresqueandincredibleforms.ItwassaidthatBenjaminwasreallythefatherofRogerButton,thathewashisbrotherwhohadbeeninprisonforfortyyears,thathewasJohnWilkesBoothindisguise—and,finally,thathehadtwosmallconicalhornssproutingfromhishead.

           TheSundaysupplementsoftheNewYorkpapersplayedupthecasewithfascinatingsketcheswhichshowedtheheadofBenjaminButtonattachedtoafish,toasnake,and,finally,toabodyofsolidbrass.Hebecameknown,journalistically,astheMysteryManofMaryland.Butthetruestory,asisusuallythecase,hadaverysmallcirculation.

           However,everyoneagreedwithGeneralMoncriefthatitwas"criminal"foralovelygirlwhocouldhavemarriedanybeauinBaltimoretothrowherselfintothearmsofamanwhowasassuredlyfifty.InvainMr.RogerButtonpublishedUsson’sbirthcertificateinlargetypeintheBaltimoreBlaze.Noonebelievedit.YouhadonlytolookatBenjaminandsee.

           Onthepartofthetwopeoplemostconcernedtherewasnowavering.SomanyofthestoriesaboutherfiancéwerefalsethatHildegarderefusedstubbornlytobelieveeventhetrueone.InvainGeneralMoncriefpointedouttoherthehighmortalityamongmenoffifty—or,atleast,amongmenwholookedfifty;invainhetoldheroftheinstabilityofthewholesalehardwarebusiness.Hildegardehadchosentomarryformellowness,andmarryshedid....