The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-07-23
EVIL GOLD.
THE SALE OF A WIFE.
Extraordinary Story Showing How
III Gotten Gold Brought Ruin.

NGtaOTGI KecOTOeT.
Here is story of real life with more
tragedy and romance in it than can be
found in half dozen novels. So I'M
presslye is it that it has stirred all Ger
manv. where the scene is laid. Thou
sands who never read novel with a
prrpose have heard of this lamentable
story. and have learned therefrom sal
utary lesson which no novel could
teach them with such efect-the les
son, namely, that, according as a man
sows so shall he reap, and that the sins
of the father shall be visited upon the
children even unto the third and
fourth generation.
There lived in Berlin some years ago
4 we'll known brewer who had an I'M
usually pretty wife. The brewers
name is an open secret, but it Is not
divulged and ne is only referred to as
H-Tho pretty vito fa1t indiePosed
one Jay, and servant was sent for q
physician. DIR. S. who Iyed close by,
responded to the call, and the remedies
used by him were so effec+ aal that Mrs.
III. was soea as welr as ever. The ply
sscian, however, kept ION calling, and
It soon became evident that he and
tho brewers wife had become warmly
attached to each other. The physic-
Ian was unmarried, and the only appar-
emit bar to his happiness was the rigid
fact that the adored one was already
the wife of another. DR.. s. pondered
the matter deeply, and finally took a
bold step. Going to the brewer he
asked him point blank on what terms
he would surrender all claims to his
wife-in other words how much he
would take for her in solid cash. To
this question the brewer gave q
prompt answer. Knowing that his
wife Logged the physician and cared no
moro for him, he expressed his wiling
ness to dispose of her for 10000 marks.
This offer was accepted. The physic-
ian paid the money and married the
wife, and the brewer continued to live
alone with his only child, boy.
Evil days, however, were oawnlng
for the brewer. He fancied that he
could live at ease on the interest of
the money obtained in this infamous
manner, and SO he disposed of his bus
mess and began to live like a gentle
man of leisure. But this lite did not
suit him, and craving excitement of
some kind he began to drink heavily,
with the result that he was soon laid
in drunkard's grave. Strange to say
the physician died about the same
time.
The brewers property, including the
Infamous money for which he had
bartered; his wife, was divided between
his brother and young son. The
brother, who was In the livery business,
spent his share buying coaches and
horses and in otherwise improving his
property. But, like the brewer, he
soon waxed lazy and began to drink
heavily with the same result the he,
too, died early. The brewers Sol. was
now a young man and he became sole
proprietor OF the livery business. The
income therefsom was very satisfactory,
but he soon became dissatisfied with the
business, and so he sold 1t and deter
mined to live on the interest of the
money, which included the $4,000
marks for which his mother had been
sold. His next step was to marry a
pretty but otherwise undesirable wal
tress. His friends demonstrated with
him, but he would have his own way.
He and his wife went to live in Bran
denburg street, and 1t was not long be-
fore appalling stories Of domestic inf
deity began to circulate among the
nsighbors. The young husband quick
ly found out that be had made a great
mistake, and like his father and uncle,
took to drink, which very soon carried
him off.
His pretty young widow came into
ossession of the ill-starred property,
and straightway started to spend it Law
ishly. She kept open house, surround
ed herself with all the luxurles that
money can buy, and In short time be-
came the wife of retired officer of the
army. Much of the property had dis
appeared by this time, and she and her
husband went to Potsdam, where thew
opened fashionable wineroom. The
ex-waftress presided over this establish
ment, and by her beauty and seductive
wlles soon attracted host of customers.
But the profits OF the wine business
were not sufficient for her, and she let
it be known that persons who wanted
money could get it from her provided
they were willing to pay handsomely
Tor loans. Now, as regards money lend.
ing the German laws ara rather strict