Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-10-24
MARRYING FOR MONEY.
BY PEARL LEONARD

ror with the creamy folds Of hor satin
wedding. dress falling about her. A
cloud Of yellow lace fell from her
uueenly head and touched the hem Of
her sweeping robes.
She was a. fair q bride Is the sun
e'er shone on. There were diamonds in
her ears, and diamonds on her breast,
and diamonds on her white arms--yes,
and they were even in the bows Of her
satin slippers-and all the gift Of him
who had won her, for he counted his
wealth by the millions.
Edna Whiting was marrying for
money. She had sold herself to the
CHEST bidder, and now she stood ready |
for the, sacrifice, glorying In the proud
position and the vast wealth that was
soon TO be hers. She had longed all her
life for this triumph. and now her
ambition was soon TO be gratihed.
"For the last Time" she said, look
ing ut the bright vision reflected In the
mirror" for the last time"
But there was no tremor on her lips
for the gir!hood passing away, NO fear
| for the future soon to be hers.
at Is the last act" she said, viewing
the radiant reflection with flashing eyes,
and it seemed fitting finale TO her long,
years she had reigne1 belle supreme,
and no ono had dared to dispute her
claim to being the most beautiful of all
the bellies VI society. Her life had been
but succession of triumphs, and now
society applauded her tor this closing
scene in the drama.
At last her toilet WAS completed. Her
mai had fastened the last jewel In her
lhair, and pinned back the creamy veil.
Then her mothers kiss fell on her
brow.
AZ hope you will be happy. dear"
The mothers eyes were full OF tears,
and she said the words softly. She had
always been half afraid of this bril-
liant daughter of hers who was 80 self.
willed and imperious, 30 proud and
, beautiful. Yet she coHld not help q
: thrill of pride as she looked upon her
where was there another daughter NC
, luueeuly, no lovely? And WAS she not
) IN making the most brilliant match of the
b season? All the mothers with marriage.
2 able daughters were envious, for Edna
! ! Whiting was carrying of the prize.
"The carriages are waiting, dear
/ and your future husband is here.
Your husband 70 The words mo
mentarily Jared upon the girl. and sh'
looked around on the room she wa
leaving forever. Here we're centeret
the memories Of her girlhood-here sh,
D had laughed over the cong uests she hal
It made. and made merry with her CIR
y com panions over their mutual pleasures
II here she had written the letter OF refusa
n to the man she loved, and the one o
ID acceptance to the man she never coult
= love. though he was soon to be her hus
x band. But she put the thought ava,
\. with smile of scOrn. 1t WAS too lat
r. for them now. And she had no regret
to for the choice she had made. She LEI
3 the folly of love behind her.
~ A moment more and she stood befor
- Philip Martin. He was handsom
n man, many years her senior, but ther
was that look upon his facs which n
"a woman could respect. He had loved
Dis dozen women before her, and his mora
Ia record was not free from blemish br
az his millions had effaced all memory
the past. Society received him wilt
VI open arms, and envied the woman wi
an was to share his palatial home.
nd For q second he locked at her
Lei dumb wonder. She WAS so superb
'us beautiful, he knew all men must eny
nv him. She was fitting queen to reie
I In his magnificent establishmen
=. With q smile Of triumph upon his cyr
: cal features, he led her to the carl
In age. -
Ire Edna Whiting entered the churt
mt, with queenly tread. 1t was PACK
n to OVERLOOKING with wealth and fashio
:, n. and she knew that thousands OF critic
Ing eyes were upon her.
old She walked through the gates
sy. flowers and stood under the bridal ar
est from which tho white wedding. b
'tee hung without q tremor. Only the love
. knot over the altar seemed mockel
us The ceremony was short one.
ond was soon over, and the plain gold Giro
ose upon her finger which made her
ri bride of Philip Martin. Then
m solemn tones of the organ sounded
- sweet strains of Mendelssohn's W.
w ding March, and she walked SLOW
%" Or. down the aisle, leaning upon the q
lars of her husband. -.
No. Half way down the aisle she lif
II her eyes, only TO look upon face Il
sv made her SILVER. Strange, that Out
rner all that vast ASS am blage, she should
and only that one. Upon it WAS write
will dumb, white despair.
IT. Once she had said she loved h
~ Then she had laughed at his folly,
Err. accepted the riches which were profile
anu u6T. NO WOuoOl ohoAo 700 49, ~
re q ness of thousand deaths in his ht
;. r as he looked at her.
edD1, Now his eyes met hers with !
49, t. at made her shrink back and
ms more heavily upon the arm OF her !
.ter band. In that moment sidney u
!, - seemed immeasurably above her,
~, some proud, silent king whom sne
OF unutterably wronged. The nobility
. on his face was q bitter CONTRAST 10
~ cynicism upon the one at her
The terrible reproach in his dark
brought back to her the short, ss
Del. days of her loving-it seemed q for
,;, den paradise to her now.
,ncS She turned away with a sudden pi
al On In that moment she had indeed TO
2ot she had heart whose beatings VIC
- not be pushed.
RES But her step did not falter, her
i iaar did not pale. The eyes of tho W
Iii were upon her, and she WAS proud
= her triumph.
ORE, .It was FOOLS paradise" she
a !, Se to herself, and her step grew I
". En- hauphty, her color more brilliant.
After all, 1t was glorious to be
GAN cynosure OF all eyes, and the envte.
ckson less fortunate women. Edna VIM
Isl. was n woman to whom homage WA
-r1JN elixir of life.
ONO Once inside the carriage, Philip
tin drew his bride in his arms.
E RE. my queen ~ he cried, but she
20 for not meet his eyes. The very
n00s fr,,v,, this man and