Evening journal., 1896-12-24

600, 600 was bequcathcd TO these three,
but with all this wealth the family did
not move IN the oldest and most exclusive
circle Of Philadelphia society.
I'm time the Wheelcrs went abroad, and
after travelling a number Of years Mrs.
Wheeler built magnificent residence on
the Isle of Wight, where she lived with
the two girls In 1889 Mary Wheeler mot
Count Pnpponheim at a seaside resort near
Brighton. The noble peer OF the house Of
papronhoim courted tho American heir
PISS. ho proposed and was accepted, and
Mrs Wheeler favored the match.
She Is an ambitious woman and readily
saw that title would open the doors of
nobility abroad and break down the icy
barriers Of social exclusivoness in this
country. Mrs. Wheeler therefore readily
gave her consent, and the wedding took
place in Philadelphia the following year.
This marriage was one Of the grandest
affairs ever seen In the Quaker city, tho
wedding Of the countess being talked Of
even unto this day. Soon after the nup-
tials the count and his bride went TO Bn-
yaria to live For three years they dwelt
in the counts ancestral castle at Oboram-
mergau, and then the countess left her no.
bic husband He had no money of his
rensive, particularly those relating to the
gaming table.
Paid Him an Allowance.
At tho outset Of their Wooded career the
countess allowed her spouse SG 600 year
pin money. This sum he accepted and
used for period of two years, but his OK
peuscs had grown in the meantime, and
be wanted moro. Tho request for a larger
allowance met with a fat refusal from the
countess, who said she did not want her
patrimony squandcred. still she did not
withdraw the So 600 annuity. This sum
was offered the count for the third year,
but he refused TO accept the pittanco.
The countess openly expressed herself as
being tired of paying gambling debts, and
,his, with her refusal 10 increase the al
lowance led to Misunderstanding
IN order 10 marry the American heiress
the nobleman had sacrificed his own
chances Therefore the repudiatlon Of the
lG, 600 per year loft him in embarrassed
circumstances, which werc not improved
when the countess left him and returned
10 America Even at the time of the sepa-
ration his debts were on tho incrcase until
the scion Of tho house of lappenheim was
on tho verge Of being swamped. It was
hoped that the birth OF the last child
would bring peace TO the troubled house
hold and induce the count TO lead a more
domestic life, but he did not change his
habits, and the pair parted.
At that time the count threatened 20
sue for divorce, and the troubles of the IL
He'd couple became gossip on both sides Of
/ tho water. IN fact no great effort was
made 10 keep the separation secret The
countess simply stated that the gambling
/ icbts had como between her and the count,
md that sho would have no more OF them.
At FIRST the Wheelers did not desire di-
vorce Ihoy thought that the count would
/ lo led TO see the error of his ways and set
ie down But he would not conform TO
.ho wishes Of the family Instead, he ex-
pressed great indignation at being desert
ID and left 70 care for himself, and now
hc has carried out his threat and insti-
,uted proceeding
The property interests Of tho countess
are all on this side, invested in various
ways, so that the husband will get moth
ng but the separation.