The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-08-17
est. Louis Star.)

est. Louis Star)
She was not merely belle and a
beauty back before the war, this fas-
clnating and capricious Sue Pillow
Martin. She appears to have been a
new woman, born ahead of time, into
an epoch and environment that irked
her even more than she shocked
them.
When the Mexican war was fought
Pillow was Il General Naturally
that added to his social prestige
Renown was not needed. though, to
make his eldest daughter easily first
among equals i'll the land of her
birth.
She was pretty. she was witty, she
danced like Wyllis and was coquette
to her finger tips. She had lovers
and love affairs by the time she was
fifteen. Not very serious ones, vet
serious enough To show her quality
OF lmperious caprice. 1t was Il
caprice that set her world by the ears
and Mrs. Grundv at defiance. What
ever she willed to do. that she did,
regardless Of They Say and all his
works.
BY and by young McNairv, Of Ken
tucky, came couriing her. At first
she tossed her head. In a week they
were engaged and the wedding day
set. Friends and fortune smiled ap-
proval. 1t was most lit 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 resolved to make the in
fare, the brides homecoming. the
most notable social event in South
Kentuckv's history. He sent all the
way to New York for family car
riage. the first closed carriage ever
brought to that region. Much of the
supper was likewise ordered from
New York, also liveres for the black
coachman, the footman and young
McNairy's own man.
Four fine black horses, perfectly
matched and bitted, drew the car
riage. Everything was spick and
span when the bridegroom set out to
claim his bride. Elkton, his home
town. lies in border county, some
sixty miles from Nashville. The
Pillow homestead was ust outside
Columbia, which lies about fifty
miles due South of the State capital.
SO it was two days drive, but the
horses minded it no more than their
master. Thorou@hhreds in perfect
condition, they had no need OF 'sthe
rest day, the feast day and the press
ed day" allotted by the hospitable
proverb.
1t was very we'll they had 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 sensation.
She wrote McNairy 4 curt dismissal
and married Martin with all the pon,p
and circumstance prepared for the
man he had suPplanted.
McNairv faced the changed condi-
tions with a sort of grim humor. He
bought all the Grape in Columbia, put
horses and servants in deep MOURN
ing and drove home. There he in
sisted that the infare should 90 on
Just the same, although the bride was
conspicuously absent. He said OF
her only that she had exercised her
undoubted privilege of changing her
mind. If others said more he at once
| changed the conversation. He might
|
but, though gallant to all women, he
said he would die a bachelor.
| Sue PillowMartin meantime was
| leading her new husband the mer-
| riest sort of dance When he came
to understand that his money had
tempted her he gave it to her to
spend like water. She flung it away
with both hands. Every week almost
she drove to Nashville and went
about its finest shops, with her black
maid carrying rouleauN of gold to
pay for her purchases. The gold was
| but one of her innumcrable whims.
| She would not touch silver or paper.
| Doubtless had diamonds been mintod
| she would have demanded diamonds.
Hugh Martin had married her for
better or for worse. He bore and
| forebore until she came actually to
| despise him. She set her mind on
| divorce, then and there regarded as
almost indelible disgrace. But di-
| vorced she would be. and divorced
she was. in spite of her father, her
family, all her friends. Her freedom
| proved after all a sort OF crown OF
thorns. If men still crowded about
her. there was that in the eyes and
voices of the women that poisoned
life for Sue Pillow-Martin. BY way
of changing all that she whlstled
back her old lover, McNairv, and
married him out of hand
That would have made 4 seven
years sensation, only the Civil Nal
came on, and not so long after Me
Nairv fell from high window anc
broke his neck. The shock almos'
killed his wife. She came as neal
loving him as her supreme selfish
ness allowed. Trouble did not come
sinelv-her father died about the
same time. Both left estates much
involved. When, little later, the
fall of the Confederacy annihilatins
slave property, the widow found her
self with straitened prospects.
| Poverty was not imminent nu
the old lavish. luxurious life was Tor
ever gone. The brother reigning II
her fathers stead was brotherly kind
but she was no more supreme. Be
sides. her world was wondering wha
she could or would do next. Wha