The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-29
ACAPRICIOUS BELLE.
THE ROMANTIC LIFE STORY OF SUE
PiLlOW-MARTIN.
Pretty and witty, This Tennessee Co
Quette Flung Money Away With the
Same Reckless Abandon That she
Lacerated MASCULINE Hearts.

Same Reckless Abandon That She
L&cerated MASCULINE Hearts.
She was not merely belle and beauty
back before the war, this fascinating
and capricious Sue Pillow Martin. She
appears to have been new woman, born
ahead of time, into an epoch and en-.
virOnment that irked her even more than
she shocked them. When the Mexican
war was fought, Pillow was general.
Naturally, that added to his social pres
tige. Ren0wn was not needed, though,
to make his eldest daughter easily first
among equals in the land Of her birth.
She was pretty, she was witty, she
danced like Wyllis and was coquette
10 her finger tips. She had lovers and
love affairs by the time she was Is. Not
very serious ones, yet serious enough to
show her quality Of imperious caprice.
By and by young McNairy Of Ken
tucky came counting her. At first she
tossed her head. In q week they were
engaged and thooe wedding day set.
Friends and 5fortane smiled approval.
1t was most fit in every way. McNairy
was an only child and his father rich
man, withal an eminent judge. His
sons choice so pleased him that he re-
solved to make the infare, the brides
home coming the most notable social
event in south Kentucky history. He
sent all the way to New York for
family carriage, the first closed carriage
ever brought to that region. Much Of
the supper was likewise ordered from
New York, also liveries for the black
coachman, the footmen and young NC
Nairy's own man.
-Four fine black horses, perfectly
matched and bitted, drew the carriage.
Everything was spick and span when
the bridegroom set out to claim MS
bride. Elkton, bis home town, lies in
border county, some 80 miles from Nash.
vile. The Pillow homestead was just
outside Columbia, which lies about %
miles due south of the state capital. 30
it was two days drive, but the horses
minded it no more than their master.
1t was very well they did not since
they went home the very next day. MISS
Pillow had changed her mind, not about
marrying, but as to who should be the
man, A certain Hugh Martin, newer
and richer than McNairy, had come upon
the scene-she was fond of novelties and
dearly loved to give her world sensa-
ton. She wrote McNairy curt dis
missal and married Martin with all the
pomp and circumstance prepared for the
man he had supplantcd.
McNairy faced the changed conditions
with q sort Of grim humor. He bought
all the Grape in Columbia, put horses and
servants in deep mourning and drove
home. There he insisted that the infare
should 60 on just the same, although
the bride was conspicuously absent lie
said of her only that she had exercised
her undoubted privilege Of changing her
mind. He might have married hundred
times over, but, though gallant toward all
women he said he would die bachelor.
Sue PillowMartn meantime was lead
ing her new husband the merriest sort
of dance. When he came to understand
that his money had tempted her he gave
1t to her to spend like water. She flung
1t away with both hands. Every week
almost she drove to Nashville and went
about its nest shops, with her black
maid carrying roleaux of gold to pay for
her purchases. The gold was but one of
her innumerable whims. She would not
touch silver or paper.
Hugh Martin has married her for bet
ter or for worse. He bore and forbore
until she came actually to despise him.
She set her mind on divorce, then and
there regarded as almost indelible dis
grace. But divorced she would be, and
divorced she was, in spite Of her father,
her family, all her friends. Her freedom
proved after a sort crown Of thorns.
II men still crowded about her, there
was that in the eyes and voices of the
women that poisoned life came to Sue
Pillow-Martin By way Of changing all
that she whistled back her old lover, Nc
Marry, and married him out of hand.
That would have made seven years
sensation, only the civil war came on,
and not so long after McNairy fell from
high window and broke his neck. The
shock almost killed his wife. She came
as near loving him as her supreme self
ishness allowed. Troubles did not come
singly-her father died about the same
time. Both left estates much involved.
When, a little later, the fall Of the con-
federacy annihilatcd slave property, the
widow found herself with straitened
prospects.
Poverty was not imminent, but the old
lavish, luxurious life was forever gone.
The brother reigning in her fathers
stead was brotherly kind, but she was no
more supreme. Besides, her world was
wondering what she could or would do
next. What she did do was to write, in
her brothers name, to her divorced hus-
band, Hugh Martin, asking for infarma-
ton in regard to some part Of her ia.
TIERS estate.
Martin recognized the handwriting. He
had gone back to his old home--east Ten
nessee-and prospered there throughout
McNairy's lifetime. When news came
that his ex-wife was again free he took
to his bed, declaring he would never
leave it alive To the friends who rallied
Mt her and begged him not to think of
her he said humbly that he still loved
the earth she trod. She might not de-
serve it, but he would rather die than
live to know that she had married still
another man. as she was sure to do. So
her letter came to him as mama in the
desert. He answered it ut once; she
threw aside disguise and wrote again.
The second letter set him on his feet, al
though but ghost Of his old self.
A third came quickly. He packed his
grip, put money in both pockets and
went away. In a month or less he had
remarried-there was again legally
Sue Pillow. Martin. He found her just
the same, full of capricious Turing, Of
swift anger and sudden remorseful ten
deiness. But now she was content to
sun herself in the eyes Of an adoring
husband. There was the ohild-her lit
tie daughter by McNairy. Martin loved
it rs tenderly as though it were his own.