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Beginnings of the romance: as per Leslie Macdougalls’ diary.
The
Meeting:
17 April 1911 – Leslie
took the train from Queenstown to Strahan and to Zeehan in the morning, then at
4 pm the train to Burnie.
- - - - - I was
joined by my old friend Arthur Tregear. He was accompanied by Mrs. Wells and
Miss. Wells, the mother and sister of his fiancée, who were also the wife and
daughter of the Station Master at Zeehan.
They were all travelling together to Hobart.
He at once introduced me to them, and I soon came to the conclusion that
Miss.Wells was about the most charming young lady I had ever met, as she was
certainly one of the prettiest. Many as
have been the charming girls I have at different times come across – to some of
whom I have almost become engaged – I remember none who from the first held me
in thrall as did Miss. Beatrice Wells.
The journey from Zeehan to Burnie has the reputation for being the most
tedious railway journey in the state.
Nevertheless to me it seemed in her presence to pass all too quickly,
and when the train came to Guildford Junction for refreshments I put a few
judiciously chosen questions to Tregear and learned her age, and leaned also to
my very thorough satisfaction that she was “fancy free”. This made me keener than ever to cultivate
her acquaintance as much as possible and it was an added pleasure to know on
reaching Burnie that they were all spending the night at “Oakleigh” which was
also my stopping place. I helped them
with their luggage and we all had supper together before retiring to our
respective apartments.
18 April 1911
I rose at 5.20am
and breakfasted and entrained for Launceston at 6.25am, and had the pleasure of
occupying the same compartment as that wherein Tregear and his ladies were
travelling. I found that my first
impressions of Miss.Wells were intensified on further acquaintance. - - - - - -
- I had previously ascertained that they would be visiting Launceston on their
return and staying a few days in the northern city, so I asked to be permitted
to place my services at their disposal when they did so, and my offer was very
graciously accepted, and Miss.Wells promised to send me a card to notify their
arrival in Launceston.
25 April 1911
To my great
satisfaction I found that there was a postcard from Miss.Wells announcing that
she and her mother expected to reach Launceston this afternoon and remain till
Thursday. I accordingly went to the
Station at 2pm to meet the incoming express with them aboard, and escorted them
to “The Metropole” - - - - - - In the evening Mrs.& Miss. Wells accompanind
me to the Albert Hall where the Launceston Competitions were still being
carried on. Miss.Wells looked more
charming than ever. I had a very
enjoyable evening with her - - - - - - -
26 April 1911 (During their
visit to Launceston Leslie took them to Patterson Street Methodist Church to
see the grand organ, went up the clock
tower at the Post Office to see the mechanism of the chimes, visited the
telephone exchange, and recorded their votes in connection with the great
Federal Referendum dealing with unification and control of monopolies).
27 April 1911
I went along to
the station and bade farewell to Mrs. & Miss. Wells who left by train for
Burnie at 3.20pm. It was satisfactory to me to learn that they would be
remaining in Burnie till Saturday and then proceed to Zeehan, as that was the
day I expected to return home also, and we should thus have another delightful
journey together.
29 April 1911
Mrs.&
Miss.Wells did not disappoint me. They
were on the platform and I managed to secure a first class compartment for the
exclusive use of our party through nearly the whole of the journey. And throughout it I took every opportunity to
become further acquainted with Miss.Wells, to the evident amusement of the
elderly ladies present and to the utter boredom of my dear little sister Gwen.
The Proposal:
8 November 1911
Marriage of
Winifred Alice Wells to Arthur Melville Tregear with Leslie Stuart Macdougall
officiating. The marriage was held at the Station Master’s home in Zeehan.
- - - - - The
bride entered escorted by her father and attended by her sister, Miss.Beatrice
Wells. I have never seen a more
beautiful bridesmaid than Miss. Wells appeared that day, clad in a charmingly
simple white all over embroidery gown and wearing a large black chip hat
trimmed with miniature daisies - - - - - - .
9 November 1911 in Zeehan.
- - - - - My
thoughts were constantly dwelling upon the sweet girl who had been the
bridesmaid at yesterdays wedding and the longing that for weeks and months past
has been becoming within me more and more intense to win her love. Ever since I first met her in the train going
to Burnie last Easter Monday (17 April 1911), and especially on those memorable
occasions where on since then have had opportunity to renew her acquaintance
she has held a place in my thoughts and affections such as no other did, and
though in view of the difficulties at home through my brother Hugh’s illness, I
have for years set aside all thoughts of marriage, her coming across my path
has never the less made all the difference to my views on this matter. My dear old friend Charlie Dugan has been
urging me to “make the plunge” and propose to her, and even went so far as to
threaten calamity if I didn’t “fix it up” during my present visit to Zeehan he
would reduce the value of the wedding present he intended to give me by one
pound.
During the
evening I seized an opportunity for conversation with Miss. Wells while she and
I were alone. I invited her to go for a
walk with me on the morrow afternoon, which to my great delight she graciously
consented to do. I returned to the
parsonage for the night, fully resolved that during our walk together on the
morrow I would entrust my life’s happiness to the issue of one great question.
10 November 1911
The day was
inclined to be somewhat stormy, but with intermittent sunshine. Hardly a promising day for a most enjoyable
walk with an exquisitely beautiful young lady - - - - -
At 2 pm sharp I
presented myself at the Station House and Miss.Wells, looking more radiant than
ever, was ready and we set out together for an afternoon ramble that I suppose
neither of us will ever forget till our last hour. We made our way across the Little Henty River
and along the beginning of the overland track towards Queenstown for about one
mile and came to an old abandoned mining claim where there some odds and ends
of timber lying around and a rough humpy erected for shelter. Here we sat for the greater part of the
afternoon discussing matters of great moment to both of us, and at last, taking
my courage with both hands, I told her of my love for her and asked her to be
my wife. How shall I record the delight
I experienced when I found that my sentiments were reciprocated and that she
was willing for better or worse to join her lot with mine!
We came back to
Zeehan light hearted as a couple of school children and my happiness was great
indeed. Unfortunately a prior
appointment hindered me from taking tea with her so I bade her a temporary
farewell at her house and went on to the house of - - - - -
As soon as
convenient after tea I took my departure and hurried back to the home of my
beloved, and took the earliest possibility of aquainting her father of my
desire and securing his consent which he was good enough to give very
heartily. We then had a delightful
evening together: one of those evenings that defy description in cold
matter-of-fact black and white. I
returned for my last night at the Parsonage in an ecstatic state of bliss - - -
- - .
11 November 1911
I rose at 6am
and went to the Station to leave by the 8am train for Strahan. Beatrice was down to see me off. I bade her farewell all too unwillingly, but
consoling myself with the hope of seeing her again at the Flower Show at
Strahan.
29 November 1911
- - - - - - On
her finger there glistened a beautiful 5 diamond engagement ring that I gave
her yesterday to seal our compact. We
went for a walk and it was bliss all the way.
- - - - - - - We
returned to her home shortly after 10pm and had a delicious time together in
the conservatory. (Engagement ring cost thirteen pound ten shillings – Leslie
received ten pounds stipend per month.
Dawn has the engagement ring and it will be given to Susan). Note:
Leslie started calling Miss.Wells Beatrice after they became engaged.
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| Old mine at Zeehan where Leslie proposed to Beatrice on 10 November 1911 |
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| Leslie and Beatrice celebrate their 1st anniversary of meeting (on the train between Zeehan and Burnie on 17 April 1911) |
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| Beatrice Wells 17 April 1912 |
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| Beatrice Wells 17 April 1912 |
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| Beatrice Wells 17 April 1912 |
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| Beatrice Wells 17 April 1912 |
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| Beatrice Wells 17 April 1912 |
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| Beatrice Wells 17 April 1912 |
Sarah Macdougall (Leslie's Mother) wrote a letter of welcome to Beatrice Wells 20 November 1911
November 20th 1911,
C/- Mr. Lithgow,
Charles Street,
Launceston.
Dear Miss Wells,
Leslie has
written to let me know that you have each met your fate or in other words, have
found out that you care for each other enough to marry and plan your lives
together. Leslie enclosed me a photo of
you and I must say I like the face very much of my future daughter and I hope
dears that you will have a very happy future before you both. I hope some day to see you. I told Leslie sometime ago, that I had my
suspicions about him when he told me about a very nice young lady he had met on
the train at the time Gwen went to Queenstown.
Well time has proved I was right I am glad he had decided to marry as he
is not getting any younger and it is not wise to loose the best years of ones
life by..........excuses………much.
I have not been
well for some weeks, a bad cold on the chest and with that and the constant
anxiety I am undergoing on account of Hughies illness. Most likely Leslie has told you I have been
away from home over two years so that I can look after him and see to his
meals. He’s been in this hospital so you
will understand I am not very cheerful being parted from my family and home,
but I could not think of leaving my boy with no one to look after him. They are very good at this hospital. They let me go to him and sit with him every
day for which I am very thankful.
I know my dear
Beatrice for I suppose I may call you that.
I am going to write Leslie a few lines so will close, with kind regards
to your Mother.
Believe me,
yours sincerely,
S.McDougall.
If you wish to contact the author Joy Olney, please email: joyolney@gmail.com
