St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-08
MARRIED FOR MONEY.
The Brilliant Career of an Old
MANS Darling.

the couple took possession of their luXur-
liant home, Mabel again congratulated her
self upon the brilliancy of her fortune. Her
brightest dreams were meeting with fulfill
ment. She entered into her new life with
all the Zest of her fresh young spirit, glory
ing in the beauty that had purchased her
pleasures, and leaving nothing undone that
could enhance her loneliness.
Time wore on, and not even the shadow
of WEAKNESS appeared to cloud the young
wife's spirits. No gayety was proposed
which did not tempt her participation, and
no temptation met with resistance.
''We have been married almost three
years, Mabel" he said to her one evening,
land in all that time / have been but
q slave at your bidding. 1t is true | am
more than twice your age, but l be-
came your husband fondly believing that
in your love my heart would regain its
youthfulness, and that you would ind COM
fort and happiness in being an old mans
darling. That have been disappointed
freely acknowledge; that you have been /
can but infer. realize now the vanity of
the hope which led me to unite old age
with youth, since our tastes are so disSimi-
lar. What l have to say to you, however,
is thiS-that desire you to TelinquiSh, in
a measure. those frivolitieS which are sepa-
Mabel looked for a moment into his face,
and said:
Suppose I do not desire to renounce
those pleasures which you seem to condemn
so heartily"
''Then | shall resort to that authority
which, as your husband, is vested in me-"
''And if L do not choose to submit to that
authority"
That is not question to be discussed
between usI' he exclaimed emphatically.
now thoroughly aroused. Il am master
OF this house, as you will find to your cost
That you have never cared for me, except
as the representative of the wealth which
purchases your pleasures, is too plain a
case to admit of argument. But there is
one thing of which you may rest assured:
Whilst you bear my name it must remain
as unSullied as when you received it! | do
not wish you to regard me as brute, nor
yet as tyrant, but this continual dissipa-
ton must cease! You may retire now if
you please?"
''Thank youfo the privilegew she re-
turned sarcastically. Il shall not retire,
however, until this question is definitely
settled! That 1 do not love you, Col. Hol-
beck, you seem to be well aware. l mar
ried you because [ was dazZIed by those
visions of splendor which you placed before
my eyes, and l sighed for them as those
who travel in sandy deserts thirst for wa
ter. Fashion and society are my idols.
shall not give them up without struggle,
you may rest assured. Good mighty" she
added, turning from him, leaving the room
with the air of an empress.
Col. Holbeck, stunned by her profession.
buried his face in his hands.
''She shall have her own way" he sud
denly stoically resolved. ''If she married
me, as she says, for my wealth, she shall
not be cheated in the bargain. She shall
enjoy her freedom unmOlested while live,
and my wishes shall hereafter remain I'M
told"
-Four years passed away, and then the
end of it all came. Mabel was sitting alone
in her eleg ant drawingroom, whence a
hundred guests had Just departed. when
Col. Holbeck entered hastily and drew a
chair to her side. She gathered her trail
ing robes of amber satin more closely about
her, as if fearing contamination. He no.
ticed the movement and exclaimed apollo
getically:
81 vowed years ago, Mabel, that never
would again, by word or look, detract from
your happiness, and faithfully, until now.
have l kept that VOW. This, however, is a
pOlllOuo 1hOlHCllO lOl UOUll VI Us. anu lluSU
account for this intrusion. l have a com
mmication to make which will startle you.
l am bankrupt, Mabel-a bankrupt
"a bankrupt" she exclaimed, hoarsely.
care you in eanest?'
Eyes, in terrible, terrible earnest, as to-
morrow'S proceedings will show. For your
sake, regret it. You worship wealth and
position, you told me once, and have never
forgotten it. God knows L pity you!"
''What are we to do?" she asked bro
kenly; for, try as she might, the tears would
not be depressed.
Il do not know" he answered vaguely.
1.-The tidingS reached me but a few hours
ago, and since then have thought of moth
ing but how should tell you of it without
breaking your heart. You will doubtless
reproach me for not having provided against
this contingency when we were married:
but L did not know then that you sold YOUR
self to ME! thought that you loved me a
little Notwithstanding the disparity of years
between u.s."
He ceased speaking and abruptly left the
room. Mabel assembled to her chamber and
sank into an easy chair which stood before
the fire. She folded her white ieweled
hands in her lap, and Ethought over the
events of the past few years.
What vain, protitleSs life l have
lived" she murmured regretfully. ''Who
has been benefited by it? Not even N.Y.
self. And with the abundant means have
wasted how much good L might have
done"
''It is not too late to retrieve myself. and
/ WILL" she added resolutely. 81 cannot re-
call the past, but can at least prove to nv
husband that 1 am not dead to all sense of
honor and shame"
Col. Holbeck was not present at the IA
BILE, and to the servant who waited upon
him he said: Excuse me to your mistress.
and bring he cup of coffee. l wish moth
ing else"
81 will carry it to him myself" said
Mabel, when she received the message. and
few moments later she entered the Ii
brary where he was sitting. Can | not
assist you?" she said, softly, as she depos-
tied the unique silver breakfast service at
his side.
He had not noticed her presence rbefore.
He glazed hastily into her face, and the
tears stood in his eyes"
81 do not know whether you can or
not" he replied, almost wildly. 'sMv
brain is in whirl. These paperS'-point-
ing to the heaps upon his either hand
represent all 1 possessed. 1 have been
here all night, Mabel, and my conviction.
after thorough investigation, is that we
are almost beggars."
''You must rest now, at any rate" she
said gently; land when you have drunk
your coffee we will talk our misfortunes
over"
She turned off the gas, which still burned
brilliantly, and, throwing aside the heavy
curtains, admitted the sunlight into the
room.
Not until then did she observe the change
that had taken place in her husbands ap-