Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-26
HER RACE HER FORTUNE.
A Pretty Faced Actress Becomes a
Millionaire'S Bride.

New York, Sept. 22-The World S
Guatemalan correspondent telegraphS
that Friday night in that Central
American capital there was a wedding
so splendid every one is talking about
it. The bride was an American act
reSS, Charlotte Nelson, and the bride
groom j. II. Neil, many times a mil
lionaire He gave his bride $4,000
pearl necklace as a wedding gift, be-
sides settling an Independent fortune
upon her.
Less than three months ago Char
lotte Nelson Was living obscurely in
New York city, looking for a position
on the stage. She went on the stage
three seasons ago, getting a place in
''The Crust of Society company,
rather because of her beauty and her
graceful manners than because of any
ability as an actress. Two seasons ago
she was playing in a stock company
in louisville. There she met Il. D.
Frawley. the theatrical manager, in a
purely casual way. But she was so
pretty and had so much personal mag
netism that Frawley remembered her
1t was this chance that made her for
tune
She did not get on we'll last season.
1t was a poor season all through, and
she could not find a permanent place.
1t was a hard season for her. She
had no money, and her friends had no
money either. Her wardrobe grew
less and her heart heavier and heavier.
She had answered many theatrical
advertisements and had haunted the
agencies. There was nothing for her.
One day late last spring she read in
one of the dramatic papers that Man
ager Frawley, who had a stock COM
pany in San Francisco, wanted a
young woman to play small society
parts. AS a desperate last chance she
telegraphed Offering to come if he
would send her the money.
If Fra,wley had not remembered her
name he would never have taken this
chance But remembering the name,
he telegraphed the necessary money.
Miss Nelson. not a little aStoniShed at
the change of luck. packed a few be-
longingS and set out and in due time
arrived She went straight to Fraw-
ley. and then her troubles began again.
The main point was that Miss Nelson,
in order to play the various society
parts properly. must have many
gowns. Now. she had practically no
gowns at ALL Frawley looked at the
little trunk and turned away dis
gusted.
81 have no money" said Miss Neil
son. Il can not buy them
81 can not afford to pay for
costumes" replied Frawley. 1T seems
to me have done enough for YOU"
So they could not agree, and Miss
Nelson, sick at heart over the scurvy
trick fortune had played her. tele-
graphed to all her friends in New York
and managed to just raise the money
for the return trip. When she set out
she had in all probability never been
so utterly cast down in her life He1
face showed plainly that she was be
set by legions of ''blue devils"
Near her in the sleeping car sat q
man whose skin had been tanned al
most black by Central American suns
But it seems that the same fire had
also melted his heart. He watched the
young woman with the pretty, sac
face, and finally offered her some re
spectful attention. He was J. II. Neill
and until ten years ago he spent all his
time in getting used to the frowns and
curses of fortune. So when Miss Neil
son told him her story he understood
her perfectly. The first day he was
admiring, sympathetic, interested. The
second day he was in love. The thirt
day he was so far gone that he t1lt
her about it and asked her to marry